Stanley Kubrick's New York

Stanley Kubrick (July 26, 1928 - March 7, 1999) is regarded of one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. In the beginning though, he was more interested in still photography, rather then the moving pictures. When he was thirteen his father bought him a Graflex camera, and so it begun...

During the 40s he captured everyday life in New York. So let's travel back in time and look at The Big Apple through the lens of Stanley!

Self portrait with showgirl Rosemary Williams, 1948.

Student at Columbia University, 1948.

Shoe Shine Boys, 1947.

Shoe Shine Boys (Vendor), 1947.

Shoe Shine Boys (On Fence), 1947.

Johnny on the Spot, 1946.

Laboratory at Columbia University, 1948.

High Wire Act, 1948.

General Dwight D. Eisenhower at Columbia University, 1948.

Betsy Von Furstenberg, 1949.

Johnny Grant, 1946.

Showgirls at the Copacabana Club, 1948.

Walking the Streets of New York, 1946.

Waiting at the Dentist's Office.

Changing the Tire, 1946.

Boxer Walter Cartier, 1948.

Girl with Dolls, 1947.

Circus Woman With Rollerskating Monkey, 1948.

Police Athletic League Boxing, 1946.

Men's Fashion Show, 1948.

FIlm Crew, 1947.

Young Girl at Palisades Amusement Park, 1946.

Circus Side Show Performer, 1949.

All photos taken from here!

New York in the 50s

In 2007 a young eBay entrepreneur and real estate agent, called John Maloof, bought a box full of negatives for 400 dollars at a local thrift auction house in Chicago. He thought he was buying pictures of Chigago's Portage Park neighborhood, but soon realized he had found something else...The negatives turned out to have been taken by a woman whom "The New York Times" calls "one of America's more insightful street photographers". Her name was Vivian Maier. She was born i 1926 in New York, lived in France, and then returned, in 1951, to live in her city of birth for five years, before moving to Chicago. She used to wander the streets, taking photos - usually with her Rolleiflex twin-lens reflex camera - wherever she went.

Maier left behind her over 100,000 negatives, and hundreds of undeveloped rolls of film. She didn't share her photos with anyone else, so I'm glad John Maloof accidentally bought that box of negatives, so we can enjoy her work now. The pictures below were all taken by Maier in New York in the 50s, and I found them all on "My Modern Met". Looking at them makes me which I could travel through time...

New York Vintage

During my little trip to NYC I didn't just eat, drink and look at buildings - I did a bit of shopping too. Duh!!! I will now share some of my finds with you. In the first vintage shop I went into, I came out with a 70s dress:

It might look a bit boring on the hanger, but it looks better on. Sleeveless with a low turtleneck. It's one of those models where the bodice hangs over the snug waistline a bit. I saw the fabric first and was glad when I realized I liked the dress made out of it too!

One vintage shop I really liked was "Stella Dallas" on 218 Thomson Street. Lots of good stuff from the 40s - 60s! Here I ended up getting a 50s skirt: 

The fabric is taffeta (I think), and is covered with streaks of gold, a velvety black pattern, and little glitter dots. It will look nice with a crinoline underneath.

I also bought a 50s dress here:

The bodice and skirt are made of two completely different fabrics - but with the same print on them. The skirt fabric is very flowing and transparent, so it needs to be worn with a half slip. The dress also has a belt in the same fabric as the bodice attached to it, that closes with four buttons - also dressed in the same fabric - in the back.

Another amazing vintage shop I found was "What Goes Around Comes Around" in SOHO on 351 West Broadway. I had to take some pictures in there:

They sell vintage clothes from the late 1800s and forward. All the white clothing you can see in the upper of these two pictures are from around the turn of the 19th-20th century - in very good condition! They also have a big section for men's vintage, plus their own line of newly produced clothes, inspired of the 60s and 70s. What I ended up buying here was not vintage though: 

I got a bat bracelet from "Alkemie". I like bats. They are cool, a bit mystical creatures, and I remember thinking it was a bit special the few times I got to see one flying around, when I was little. All jewelry made by "Alkemie" are hand made and made out of 100% reclaimed metals. They have some great stuff, of which I want more! 

Of course I came home with some new shoes too! Only two pairs though. Not vintage, but very vintage looking:

I had been looking for a pair of wedges for a long time, so I was especially glad when I found these ones! My feet are slim and thin with very high insteps, so finding shoes that will fit them isn't the easiest task. Both these pairs of shoes felt good when I tried them on though. What happens when I start breaking them in is left to be seen...

New York, New York

Of all the places I've travelled to so far, NYC is the only place I could actually imagine living in. In fact, if it was as easy moving to the US - and working there - as it is in Europe, I might just pack my bags and move there today! A change in scenery would be perfect in my life right now. I love americans too. They're open, friendly and easy to talk too. But as getting into that country is about as difficult as escaping from a high security prison, I guess I'm going to have to be satisfied with just visiting this wonderful city now and then. This was the first time I went there, but I'm already suffering slight withdrawal symptoms, and feel I have to go back! Soon...

I didn't go there alone though. With me I had Sara...

Here with The Big Lebowski. And my sister Christine...

Who here can be seen sexually assaulting Elmo on Times Square.

I'm not so into either cardboard men or red furry creatures, so I went to Liberty Island - most known for The Statue of Liberty...

...and got myself three handsome sailors instead!

So, what else did we do this week? Well...

One day I accidentally did a "Marilyn Monroe", standing over one of those grids under which the subway passes. I was standing there thinking; "Oh, this is what Marilyn did in "The Seven Year Itch". I wonder if it works in real life?". And POOF, my skirt blew up. So, yes, it works in real life. The fabric in the dress I was wearing wasn't as flowing as Marilyn's though. Have to remember that for next time...

We shopped at Victoria's Secret - The Holy Church Of Lingerie! If you leave a city where this store is located, without having one of those pink, striped bags in your luggage, your trip just wasn't complete!

One day we bought beach mats and hung out in Central Park. I loved that place! A beautiful oasis amongst the skyscrapers. I want to know what it looks like during the year's changing seasons - which means I would have to go back for fall, winter and spring. What a shame...Somewhere nearby to where we put up our beach mat camp someone was playing the violin really beautifully. C'était parfait!

I'm sorry about that last picture. But when I see a sign like that, I just have to do something that expresses it's full meaning, underneath it...

We found lots of good food in NY! 

That raspberry was one of the best I've ever tasted! The rest on that plate wasn't so bad either. Closeup:

Yes! Yes! YES!!!!!!!

I really like my Shatter Dress by the way. It's perfect for every occasion. I feel I can wear it to both funerals and weddings, and sometimes even to a rock club, sipping margaritas!

We saw a really good cover band at this place. Sara - who has a beautiful singing voice - asked the singer if she could come up on stage and do "I Love Rock and Roll" with the band. She could!

And she did!

I found a cool restroom, where the walls were covered with mirrors, and snapped a few pictures of myself.

If you  - like me - happen to like architecture, NYC is like walking around in a big museum of amazing buildings! It's an insane mix of old, beautifully decorated buildings, and modern skyscrapers made of glass. When the sky is blue, with little white clouds scattered over it, and this is mirrored in the glass walls it almost looks like these huge skyscrapers disappear. Like they were just mirages...

The building above contains luxury apartments. It does't fit in with the rest of the architecture around it at all! But I loved this melange. The photo doesn't make it justice though. It looked even cooler in reality. Like shining silver which surface has been eroded by streams of water.

One day I found the street I want to live on, in West Village.

But since this is only a dream - at least for now - I will just have to look forward to my next visit to this wonderful city. Whenever that will be...Hm...Maybe New Years in New York? That sounds pretty good. Who wants to come with me?...