Best Femmes Forever

Once upon a time, the first Jewish film starlets were striking, young first-generation Americans: vamp Theda Bara, Yiddish darling Molly Picon and comedienne Fanny Brice. These beauties weren’t exactly bosom buddies during the years their careers overlapped (Fanny Brice even parodied Theda Bara’s seductress persona in Ziegfield’s Follies), but we like to imagine them as a power threesome, joining forces to seduce Hollywood with their talent and feminine charms.

Top photo: Theda – Vintage black lace gown, Yves Saint Laurent; Jet wreath necklace with cameo and pearls, Subversive; Black spider hair clip and long black pearl necklace, Girlprops; Gold snake belt from Vintage!; Gold and rhinestone ring, J. Crew.

Molly – White, black and pink staley dress, Abaeté; Vintage cream silk shrug with gold beaded embroidery from Tahir Boutique; Fendi gold and pearl choker and Chanel gold earrings, Bruce Snell Collection at Tahir Boutique; Pink pearl necklace and pink rhinestone flower ring from Girlprops; White leather quilted bag with gold chain, stylist’s own.

Fanny – Chanel Black Dress and gold and black chain belt from Vintage!; Ivory wool cashmere cropped sweater, Anthropologie; Gold Cuff from Girlprops; Black snakeskin bag and black wool hat, stylist’s own.

Director – Lavender button-down from Screaming Mimi’s; Wool plaid pants, Ted Baker at Tahir Boutique; Black wool hat with leather trim, Still Life.

Camera Man – Gray tweed newsboy cap from Tahir Boutique.

Bartender – Fendi brown silk Suspenders, Dior silk tie, and Pierre Cardin white and purple striped button-down from Tahir Boutique.

Theda – Black lace and sheer dress with beaded shoulders from Screaming Mimi’s; Purple and turquoise peacock-feather headband, Plumashop.com; Long black pearl necklace, black lace gloves and diamond-shaped crystal ring from Girlprops; Black multi-strand chain necklace, Astridland; Black beaded evening bag from Tahir Boutique; Onyx and diamond zebra ring from Vintage!; Black and white bakelite earrings, stylist’s own.

Molly – Burberry vintage gold clip-on earrings, Bruce Snell collection; Teal, blue and pink printed silk dress with fringe from Tahir Boutique; Opal and gold antique ring, gold and pearl bracelet, and gold sequined clutch from Vintage!; Antique gold cameo and long pearls, stylist’s own.

Fanny – Rouge knot pendant necklace, Subversive; White dolman-sleeved wrap dress with crystal beading from Screaming Mimi’s; Gold Star of David necklace, gold “F” ring and rhinestone necklace from Girlprops; Gold lucite and rhinestone clutch from Tahir Boutique; White leather belt, stylist’s own.

Fanny – White flapper dress from Screaming Mimi’s; Crystal and pearl mini hermitage necklace, Subversive; Gold, diamond and shell oversized chandelier earrings from Vintage!; Vintage chocolate brown mink fur shrug and black suede wedges from Tahir Boutique; Gold leather opera gloves, La Crasia; Large pink stone faceted cocktail ring, and gold and rhinestone necklaces from Girlprops; White thigh-high stockings, The Sock Man.

Molly – Vintage cream silk crepe dress with silver beaded embroidery and light brown mink capelet from Tahir Boutique; Dewdrop necklace, Subversive; Dior gold and diamond faceted clip-on earrings, Bruce Snell Collection; Beige suede Mary Janes from Screaming Mimi’s; Vintage aluminum chai necklace, silver and crystal bracelet, and pink and gold “M” ring from Girlprops; Silver python clutch with gold hardware from Vintage!; Gold and rhinestone urchin ring, J. Crew; Pink Swarovski crystal watch, stylist’s own.

Theda – Black and silver ruched lurex dress from Screaming Mimi’s; Swarovski crystal belt (worn as headband) and Crystal evening bag from Vintage!; Black leather and rhinestone gloves, La Crasia; Black multi-strand chain necklace, Astridland; Silver Star of David ring, pink and crystal cocktail ring, and black crystal choker from Girlprops; Nude thigh-high stockings, The Sock Man; Vintage faux leopard coat and silver mesh and rhinestone cuff, stylist’s own.

What do you think?