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• October 7, 2008
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The Original Dragon Lady: The Dark Flapper Style of Piccadilly

By Sarah Maher

The 1929 silent film Piccadilly features the first Chinese-American Hollywood film star Anna May Wong as Shosho, a dishwasher turned exotic dancer. With a sense of style for any financial bracket, Shosho turns an economic crisis into career advancement and kicks it up in her flapper grunge wear. When the Piccadilly Club starts to collapse, a sleazy owner replaces his irksome dancing mistress with the exotic Chinese scullery maid Shosho. Pre-success, Shosho has a cute 1920's grunge appeal with her oversize straw bag, striped sweater, snug beret, kiss curls, mary jane shoes and torn stockings. Once prosperous, her hair in a braided side knot, wearing a cloche hat, and velvet cocoon coat, she parties in the seedy Limehouse district. Whether seductive in her downtown boudoir sequins or swathed in a two-tone black satin cape and armful of pearl buttons, Shosho beckons with a thinly penciled brow and expertly sharpened talons, confusing men, annoying women, and enjoying her new opulence. Shosho's story involves a striking hair cut, decadence, naughty behavior, and lots of booze&mdsah;exactly what we love in the middle of a financial meltdown.

Try Pleasure Principle's flannel zip kimono and split-knee jean with a black Calyptic beret and BDG's striped shirtail tee from Urban Outfitters. Pair Therese Rawsthorne's fringe dress with Devotte's Mascara heels hand wrap more flapper fringe with Cavern's crinkle scarf. Be sure to arch those brows and sharpen your claws before you climb to the top.