Walk Like An Egyptian
I've had a fascination with ancient Egypt since 5th grade history with Ms. O'Connell. My husband works a lot of nights and so I find myself unwinding in front of the TV alone. Lately, I've been having an allergic reaction to reality TV (Housewife induced nausea) so my go-to has been documentaries. I'll watch almost anything in the documentary genre on Netflix, but if it has to do with Egypt or outer space, I'm not going to miss it--equally enchanting, but wildly different topics, that is, unless you think aliens built the pyramids. I've watched around 5 documentaries on ancient Egypt over the past couple of months and I guess it has subliminally inspired my style. I've been drawn to serpentine accessories, gold collar necklaces, and gilded lace-up sandals.
Last month, I went to a showcase for the Whiting & Davis Heritage Collection. Celebrating their 140th anniversary, Whiting & Davis, is the oldest handbag company in the country! From the flappers of 1920's to the disco divas of Studio 54, glamour girls have been devoted to the glitzy metal mesh carriers for over a century. I'm a loyal fan of the brand and was amazed to find out that my great grandmother was as well!
In celebration of the milestone, Whiting & Davis hosted an exhibition from their archives of their most treasured bags throughout the ages. The company's head designer, Inge Hendromartano, not only took me on a personal tour of the archives that inspired the Heritage Collection, but she also gave me a history lesson. Seeing the evolution of the handbags teaches us a lot about the time. Not just about design aesthetic, but what were the priorities? What did women carry with them? Seeing makeup compacts, still intact over a hundred years later was mind-boggling.
The opportunity to be up close and personal with such personal property felt a bit eery and I found myself writing stories of the women who wore these bags in my imagination. Which brings me back to ancient Egypt. I'm pretty sure Cleopatra would have used a serpent-adorned purse like this to hold her compact and black eyeliner at her drinking society feasts with Mark Antony. Too much of a stretch? Well, Elizabeth Taylor was a Whiting & Davis fan and that's basically the same thing.
Wearing: Whiting & Davis Bag, Shein Dress, Charm & Chain Necklace, See by Chloe Sandals, Lanvin Sunglasses, Erickson Beamon Earrings and Bracelet
Photography by Edelle Kenny