Gabrielle Ray – Fashion Postcards – The Daily Mirror – Tuesday 15th March 1910
FASHION POSTCARDS.
How Pictures of Actresses Are Used as Models for Dresses.
How is the woman who cannot afford the fancy prices of the great dressmakers to dress fashionably?
The great difficulty of the thousands of women who design their own dresses has always been to keep up with the constant changes of fashion.
Frequent visits to the theatre are one of the best ways, for it is well known that actresses are always up to date in dress, and the germ of a new fashion is often seen behind the footlights before it has been heard of elsewhere.
But many women cannot go often to theatres.
Yesterday a well-known woman-artist who lives in the country told The Daily Mirror the latest way to get knowledge of the newest fashions at an infinitesimal cost. Incidentally she disclosed why it is that the greater number of actresses’ picture postcards are bought by women.
“Every new fashion is at once reflected on the stage, even if it does not originate there,” she said.
“The actress who wears it is at once photographed. The photograph is at once reproduced by the picture postcard people.
“The town girl goes to the theatre and delights in the pretty hats of Lily Elsie, the quaint dresses allotted to Gabrielle Ray, the muff worn by Marie Lohr.
“Then she rushes to buy a picture postcard and sets to work to model her clothes on the same idea, or gets her dressmaker or milliner to copy the style to the best advantage.”
“Generally Lily Elsie and Gabrielle Ray easily lead as favourites with the modern girl,” The Daily Mirror was told. “Ellaline Terriss and Marie Lohr are also great favourites.
The Daily Mirror – Tuesday 15th March 1910
Staging Fashion, 1880-1920: Jane Hading, Lily Elsie, Billie Burke
Staging Fashion, 1880-1920: Jane Hading, Lily Elsie, Billie Burke (Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts, Design & Culture) (Bard … for Studies in the Decorative Arts(YUP)) Paperback – Illustrated, 31 Mar. 2012
Eric Loder – The Tatler – Wednesday 26th October 1938
Major and Mrs. Eric Loder have, since the picture was taken arrived back in London. She was the widow of the late Sir Mortimer Davis.
The Tatler – Wednesday 26th October 1938
About
One of my main interests is a love of old pictures and postcards that give us a brief glimpse into a past and often forgotten age.
Collecting old postcard and pictures enables the viewer to glimpse a brief moment from that individual’s life; often far removed from their own either by the passage of time or social class. Social History, often described as “history from below” shows everyday people, their social structure and the interaction of different groups; like the wealthy and politicians these people helped shape and maintain society and so shape history.
Examining the images one can’t help but wonder how the individuals lived, were their lives hard compared with today and were they happy. Often the images come with little or no information that can answer these questions, one can only imagine.
With each image saved and seen by others, so that moment, that person is kept alive, our understanding is increased and so our lives are enriched.
A picture is often more descriptive than words can ever be, but how true is this, if a picture enables us to gain entry to another time, another world, will, like the view from a different window, even in the same house provide a different image?
These images allow a glimpse into another time, another era; but what preceded or followed this image? As the individuals were positioned and posed like an artist’s model is what we see truly reflective or like the slightly softened image of an aging beauty a less that truthful representation?
I am reminded of a documentary I watched several years ago regarding the returning troops from the front during the First World War. The camera images show a broken, demoralised sea of humanity, young men who having seen images that most of us hope never to witness had lost that sparkle; that zest which only youth has. But bring on the news camera and that battered returning group came to life, the smiles returned and even though muddied and bloodied their heads and bodies became erect, their arms swung in time and they demonstrated a swagger that spoke of courage, defiance and determination; an image that gave hope to the viewer.
It seems to me that even in the early days of photography all was not what it appeared and now in the advancing digital age a picture may paint a thousand words but will it be factual or fiction?
My interests And collections vary from Maids, Nuns, religious dress and the more risqué images of the French Maid. Often when searching for a particular subject the boundaries cross and as well as true Maids we find Edwardian actresses dressed as Nuns or Maids. During one of my searches I came across Gabrielle Ray dressed as a Maid, “Susan” in Lady Madcap and was instantly captivated by her.
Collecting the individual cards isn’t enough; I like to know more about the individual, which is easier when that person is an actress, although often the information is scarce
Searching for information about Miss Ray I discovered that she was one of the most photographed women of the Edwardian era and described in “Temps” as the most beautiful woman in the United Kingdom; but sadly her success, if measured by being visibly working or in the public eye was short-lived. She struggled with depression and alcohol abuse, and her health declined. In 1936, she suffered a complete mental breakdown and was institutionalized for nearly forty years; dying in 1973 at Holloway Sanatorium at the age of 90.
There are several other sites and blogs dedicated to the memory of Miss Ray and my intention is to share my small but growing collection of pictures and postcards with anyone who shares my interest. Reading about Miss Ray I was saddened that this lady, like many others before and since, after a brief moment in the sun they are soon forgotten. Hopefully as people view and enjoy this blog her memory will remain alive for a little longer.
I have started to write a short Biography about Miss Ray which I will try to update as frequently as possible. The Index page will show any updates under the Biography catagory.
I have also tried to link the various postcards and pictures to the plays in which Miss Ray appeared, however I realise, after several errors that this isn’t an easy task as many are decorative studio poses rather than production images. The individual Rotary, Philco and other publishers numbers are included with any description which should make searching for a particular card or ones from the same set easier. If I have made any glaring errors please feel free to let me know.
Thank you and I hope you enjoy my collection as much as I do.
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