Jean Harlow models a blue taffeta wedding gown for a fashion spread on her matrimonial staircase

 

Jean Harlow models a blue taffeta wedding gown for a fashion spread on her matrimonial staircase

89 Years Ago: Fashion at Easton Drive

JULY 5, 2021 ~ SOPHIA D.

89 years ago, July 5, 1932—Jean Harlow models a blue taffeta wedding gown for a fashion spread on her matrimonial staircase at Easton Drive, just three days after her wedding to Paul Bern.

Here’s the original press caption that accompanied this to print, complete with description of the gown:

“THE WEDDING MODE. A powder blue taffeta frock with full flounce is advocated by Jean Harlow, MGM player and recent bride. Huge petaled flowers of taffeta edge the armholes, with the evening type hat completing the ensemble which is suggested for the girl planning a six-o’clock wedding.”⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

One can easily spot the “sunburst of tuckings” on the bodice in this close up.

The Los Angeles Times offers even more detail on the gown, as they published these portraits in a spread that August. Their caption makes mention of its “rows of taffeta bindings and bodice showing a sunburst of tuckings” with “hat made entirely of blue velvet flowers with a forehead band of marching velvet ending in a bow”:

You can spot Harlow in the lower right of this “Olympic Fashions” spread featured in the LA Times on August 7, 1932.

A closeup.

Jean was such a good sport in modeling such an interesting creation, as this totally isn’t her style (and frankly, it’s a little silly). What’s your opinion? Would this dress be becoming on the modern bride, or is it a relic of the past?

These two portraits are from a much bigger session—photographer Clarence Sinclair Bull had a field day on July 5 taking publicity shots of Harlow. He would come back to Easton Drive for multiple photoshoots over the rest of the week. No downtime or fancy honeymoon for the new bride—not when she’s MGM’s up-and-coming star!

Here’s more of Jean by Bull from earlier the same day, a bit more relaxed here:

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Harlow in her robe shows off her perfumes, of which she had a notable collection. A few survive today! Original caption: “An intimate glimpse in the boudoir of Jean Harlow, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer actress, discloses her Venetian dressing table with mirror top lavishly equipped with her favorite beauty accessories. In pink, flower trimmed negligee, matching the chiffon-and-lace lampshades, Miss Harlow sets off the feminine luxury of her makeup table.”

One more Bull portrait from July 5, notable due to its presence of an extant Harlow artifact:

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Harlow takes coffee on the couch in this cozy photo; just off to the right, you can spot her green bakelite Frankart cigarette holder.

Amazingly, this piece of Art Deco Harlow history still exists, and was apparently on display at the Hollywood Museum as recently as 2016. (I went in 2017 and didn’t see it, but, oh, well.)

Jean Harlow’s Frankart cigarette holder as it appears today. Photo courtesy of Martin Turnbull.

As you can see, not even celebrities of Harlow’s stature were spared relentless exploitation after something as personal and significant as a wedding. Instead, this was cause for extra publicity, especially in Harlow’s case—filmdom’s reigning platinum vamp being married off to a famously single studio executive was of course huge news.

MGM acted accordingly—their publicity department had been engaged in a campaign to “tone down” Harlow’s public image since she signed with them just three months earlier, and her marriage was handled with the same approach. Her saucy roles and suggestive poses were supplemented with idyllic scenes of the new bride relaxing at home.

Despite glaring problems within the relationship and Bern’s personal issues, which would soon become all too apparent, one can almost picture the future Harlow likely envisioned when she posed for these photos, completely unaware of what was in store just two months later.