August Already

Another month, another page of the calendar is flipped over. It’s August already! In August 1933, British Vogue featured this illustration Beauty Number by Benito on its cover. What lovely, graceful lines he has drawn – that simply drawn face is quintessential Benito, as is the minimal colour palette Art Deco.

The issue might be about beauty, but all I’m thinking is coral. The eye immediately is drawn (pardon the pun) to the three strands of coral gracing this underwater lady’s neck.

It puts me in mind of an incredible antique coral necklace I saw in Essaouira, the seaside town of Morocco. Only that one was far more magnificent and would have hung halfway down this lady’s chest. I enquired about the price and was not at all surprised to hear it was €1000. (I had already bought a more modest piece for around €20 in Fez, so I didn’t suffer too many heart-burnings.)

Now I’m all inspired to do a photoshoot in homage to Benito. All I need is a blue wig…