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Cabinet of Chic Curiosities
Category / Life is Messy

The European Castles, Ruins and Unlikely Homes Opening their Gates to Refugees

Europe is filled with scores of enchanting abandoned and underused historic structures that have survived war and ageing. Only now, they’re offering shelter to those in immediate need: refugees. Cathedrals and churches, halls and barns have successfully sheltered armies, citizens and the sick in the past, surely the forgotten old wings of once-great castles and…

13 Things I Found on the Internet Today (Vol. DCXII)

1. Reviving 17 Original Orient Express Carriages, Forgotten in Poland Now destined for a comeback on the storied Paris-Istanbul route, the 17 carriages discovered in Poland (12 sleeping cars, a restaurant car, three lounge cars, and a van) are being restored in France and will hit the railways in time for the 2024 Paris Olympics.…

Before Parisian Runways, Fashion Week was Born on the Side of the Racetrack

In the latter part of the 19th century and early 20th century, spectating at the races was a glamorous event beyond comparison. Paris’ Hippodrome de Longchamp racecourse was the place to see and be seen; it was a stage where the bold and the beautiful would strut their perfectly tailored, coiffed and manicured stuff for…

In 19th Century Paris, She Held a Permit to Wear Pants

A cigarette-smoking, pants-wearing, animal-dissecting painter, Rosa Bonheur spent her life doing exactly as she pleased. 2022 marks the bicentenary of the birth an artist who opened countless doors for female creatives, both in her home country of France and abroad. Born in 1822 in Bordeaux, Rosa Bonheur was the daughter of Sophie Marquis, a piano…

Haute Couture? The Tudors Did it First

Just look at the details on that dress. Seriously, zoom in! Fashion trends have always been cyclical, and the latest inspiration may be coming from the ‘90s, the 1590s that is. The Tutor period marked not only a time of economic prosperity but also developments in the arts, notably in fashion and textiles. The French…

The Golden Age of the … Enema?!

Look, it wasn’t enough to have flawless skin, a great wig, and a plump derrière in 16th century France, you needed to have a spotless colon too. Luckily, there were a great abundance of people ready and willing to administer as many “clysters”, aka enemas, as your heart desired. Let us give you a little…

13 Things I Found on the Internet Today (Vol. DCIX)

“Women are like teabags. We don’t know our true strength until we are in hot water.” – Eleanor Roosevelt Today’s 13 Things is dedicated to women. 1. Tradeswomen, magazine for blue collar workingwomen in the ‘80s & ’90s it became an integral tool for organizing in a landscape of sexist gatekeeping. See the full article…

The American Art Scene was a Man’s World, Until They Came Along

When Francoise Gilot split from Picasso, he prevented galleries from buying her work. Camille Claudel’s lover, Augustin Rodin, signed a number of her sculptures as his own, and after their romance ended badly, it’s rumored he told the Ministry of Fine Arts to stop commissioning her. If you walk through any museum, you’ll often see…

Cool Down and Reminisce over the Wonders of Ski Ballet

There was a brief time in winter Olympic history when athletes would zip into their snow suites, strap on their skis, cue the music, and dance to victory. Ski ballet is like the love child of figure skating and skiing. Routines lasted for two minutes, and athletes competed alone or in pairs. The result was…

13 Things I Found on the Internet Today (Vol. DCVIII)

1. This Abandoned French Chateau, on sale for €150,000  How it was: The castle dates back to the 15th century, located in the Loire-et-Cher region of France, 2.5 hours southwest of Paris. The castle was last the property of art dealer and collector Sylvain Durand (1928-2018) who made his fortune with the paintings of Fernand Léger. The castle’s…
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