Fashion Friday: Gone With The Wind’s Honeymoon Necklace & Lovebird Dress
In Gone With the Wind, Vivien Leigh’s costume jewelry was created by Eugene Joseff. Joseff worked with his longtime friend, Walter Plunkett (Gone With the Wind’s costume designer) to create the perfect pieces for Vivien to wear onscreen. Joseff began his Hollywood career in the 1920s, creating some of the most gorgeous pieces of jewelry ever seen on the silver screen. After his death in 1948, his wife, Joan Castle, took over the business, creating jewelry for the movies until 2006.
Besides Gone With the Wind, their work can be seen in hundreds of movies such as The Shanghai Gesture, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Cleopatra, The Virgin Queen, Cover Girl, High Society, That Hamilton Woman, Anna Karenina and the list goes on!
In the movie, we only see Scarlett sitting down, while wearing this dress. The Butlers are eating at a restaurant with CanCan dancers as the entertainment. I really wish I could find a full-length photograph of Vivien Leigh in this dress.
Scarlett eyes the desserts! |
Walter Plunkett’s sketch of the lovebird dress |
Around Vivien’s neck is this gorgeous diamond and amethyst necklace. The diamonds are really iridescent stones, which set off the simulated amethysts. Joseff certainly knew how to deliver the Wow factor!
Image is from the SFO Museum’s website |
Scarlett’s necklace is set to go on the auction block in November. Since it’s from one of the most iconic and beloved movies of all time, I think the selling price will be quite high. In addition to the necklace, Vivien wore a matching bracelet, which is stunning with its intricate detail.
Besides Gone With the Wind, the necklace appeared in three other films.
The next time we see the necklace, it’s adorning Ginger Rogers in The Barkleys of Broadway, in 1949. It appears that the strands were tightened to give it more of a choker look.
Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire |
Torin Thatcher and Linda Darnell |
Thanks for joining me for today’s Fashion Friday post!
3 Comments
ATB
I saw that necklace in the Gone with the Wind Museum in Marietta, Georgia. They said it was the one, the original that Vievien wore.
Vivien Leigh
Yes, they had that necklace and some other GWTW items that are going to be auctioned this month.
Nikki via The Scarlett Rose Garden
The necklace can also be seen in the film "this Time for Keeps" with Esther Williams.