Hollywood Siren during the day- Dorothy Dandridge. Whenever I am lost for something to complete, or I am getting that quiet moment by having an iced tea on the sunny mid-day, I’ll head to my old movie collection. Certainly, one of my favorites having a strong, classic personality that I admire is Carmen. The spunky actress with the much allure and energy that can lure a guy into destruction, and finally to her very own tragic future. This can be a story to behold, a tale of lust and fatal attraction. The actress who plays this role, caught attention after I viewed a film about her existence.
Halle Berry, who plays her, was the very first African-American actress to become nominated to have an Oscar. Her route to stardom couldn’t become more glittery and filled with promise. Dorothy Dandridge was created in 1922, to Ruby Dandridge, an ambitious actress, and Cyril Dandridge, a cupboard maker and minister. After her parents separated, Ruby created an action for Dorothy and various other daughters, as of ‘The Question Children’. This existence of entertainment and dreams led to the existence of non-stop moving and non-existent schooling.
Becoming an adult within the depression era, Dorothy and her family endured great difficulty like lots of other Americans. Ruby moved the household to Hollywood and managed to locate steady earnings, playing bit-part roles as servants in movies. ‘The Question Children’ were renamed ‘The Dandridge Sisters’ plus they performed in famous venues like ‘The Cotton Club’. I viewed the film named following this famous venue, and it was instantly fascinated with the area. Full of black musicians and dancers, the wealthy and famous attended this decadent joint to see a few of the jazz magic.
Dorothy performed plenty of bit-part roles as exotic, beautiful ladies in Hollywood movies. She arrived in her first small, but the natural part with Lex Barker and Virginia Huston as Tarzan and Jane. Although her role was small, it had been significant enough for her to become observed.
The breakthrough that arrived her the main attraction, was the film about Carmen. Performed by an exciting black cast, uncommon at that time, she gave an electrifying performance. This is an ode to some bygone glamorous era, where perfect grooming is anticipated by everybody. Men putting on suits with slicked-back hair, women putting on tight-fitting dresses effortlessly, and managing to appear elegant whatsoever occasions.
I especially love how Carmen’s flamenco-inspired, red skirt can be used as a symbol. Her attitude combined with her red skirt is inviting and welcoming, yet issues indicators simultaneously. Her look may be easily imitated along with some imagination, without dipping into the vintage drawers. She used an easy, jersey popped top and overlay wrap, red skirt. Teamed with little kitten heels or black court footwear, you may be the symbol for males that are awesome too.
Dorothy’s career was certainly short resided, with prejudice and mismanagement from the Hollywood system, damaged dreams, and promises produced by untrustworthy men round her, she will be a tragic, flaming siren within my heart.
Beatrice Cox is a writer and stylist with a passion for the intersection between biology, technology and design. High in Swedish Bali and Heritage, it travels around the world encouraged and informed a global perspective on the future of fashion and its relations with planetary health. She is currently working for a sustainable fashion label in Bali, Indonesia.