What first attracted to me to Gustav Klimt's paintings was his use of gold leaf because...I love gold. Nothing more, nothing less...I love gold. After purchasing Eva di Stefano's Gustav Klimt: Art Nouveau Visionary, I noticed his fascination of women and the divine fashion that he often captured them wearing. The inspiration came from his long time lover, original gangster of Boho-chic, and the first woman to rock a permed afro, Emilie Louise Floge.
I was originally assured that the late "beautiful and damned" (as quoted by Yves Saint Laurent himself) Talitha Getty was the grandmommy of all things bohemian. Kind of embarrassed to say that as much as a fan I am of Gustav Klimt's artwork, I never knew anything about his longtime lover and muse Emilie.
She was an Austrian couturier born in 1874, along with her sister Helene, who traveled to London and Paris to draw inspirations from other Haute Couture designers such as Christian Dior and Coco Chanel. Holy shit, right? Towards the end of the 19th century, the "see you next Tuesdays" of the world- the French, started this ridiculously amazing sub-culture of bohemianism referred to as "fin de siecle" (end of century in French). It was basically an group of cynical, bored "I like Art" type people who I imagined smoked cigarettes and haughtily chuckled at sarcastic jokes about Americans. Emilie began dating Klimt shortly after her sister married his brother and he broadened her clientele by introducing her to the many women he painted...and presumably slept with. Yet, with 14 kids and numerous affairs, Emilie stayed devoted and by Klimt's side until his death. Why? Because she's Austrian that's why.
Pictured below are a few of Emilie's most chic bohemian style attire which was depicted in many of Klimt's paintings. With ruffled embellished maxi dresses that could compete with a Dolce & Gabbana dress today, Emilie reminds us why Europeans are so much cooler than us. Behold, Emilie Louise Floge.
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| "Hurry up with my damn croissants." |
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| "These are my work clothes." |
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| Stacking jewelry, like a boss. |
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| Mother, before the term Mother was coined. |
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| Dancing to "My Cherie Amour." |
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| You wear a fancy hat to church on Sunday...Emilie Floge wears a hat because it's Tuesday. |
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| The Olsens have nothing on Floge. |
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| Gustav...You randy fella you. |
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"The Kiss" by Gustav Klimt is allegedly a depiction of he and Emilie. It also assumed that this very same kiss was given each time Gustav had to explain to Emilie that he was having another child. Worked like a charm.
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