Josephine Baker- totally banannas...

Josephine Baker  was a Parisian dancer and singer, the most famous American expatriate in France.

Throughout her life, Baker drew on her personal experiences to shape her performances. In turn, she transformed her everyday environments into stage sets where exciting dramas unfurled.

Overcoming the limitations imposed by her gender and the color of her skin, she became one of the world's most versatile entertainers, performing on stage, screen and recordings.

Josephine lived her life passionately, having four husbands and driving men to such passion that one killed himself at her feet. 

Josephine was unable to conceive but adopted orphans from every country she toured - she hoped to create a 'rainbow tribe' of all cultures, races and religions. When she died in 1975 twenty thousand people attended her funeral in Paris. 

check out her dancin'...

Moon Trips... Prangsta Costumiers

A  treasure cave/ giant dress up box founded by Central Saint Martin's grad Melanie Wilson and run by a team of young, talented and eccentric Londoners. On entering one is overwhelmed by an array of decadent period frocks, embellished hats, lovingly customised vintage pieces n blingin' jewels. According to manager, Holly Jade, the Prangsta team 'try to purchase as little material as possible so we go to a lot of vintage markets and also get a lot of materials donated to us. We take apart old costumes and old fabrics and then restore them and make them into our own Prangsta designs'.

Mel, Prangsta's brainchild, began by squatting in what is now the shop premises. 12 years in the running and the business has expanded well beyond your standard 'stume house with a 1500 square foot studio in Deptford, dress making classes and a regular string of events for local artists and bohemians such as such as  'Prangsta Presents...Freaky Fancy Finery at The Prangsta Dinery' incorporating entertainment, performance, live music & catering. 

 The Prangsta team also do the festival circuit in the summer, creating one mobile boudoir/ fantastical oasis after the other  at the likes of Bestival and Glastonbury. 

I wants it....

the following photos curtesy of the metro online

304 New Cross Road

London

SE14 6AF

0208 694 9869

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