Fashion advice?

[saxikath]

So, I'm in this Broadway revue. One of my solos is a song called "I Want to Be Bad," from a 1927 musical called Good News. The director's basically left it up to me what to wear.

Bearing in mind my general size, shape, and appearance, and the fact that my mother will be in the audience, any suggestions?

Comments

[davehogg.livejournal.com]

I have several suggestions on how you can be bad, but none of them really work with a mother watching ...

*rereads*

Oh, you were talking about your clothes. Never mind.

;-)

[crossfire.livejournal.com]

I have an idea, but I'm not sure if it would work with the song, since I'm not familiar with it. How is it sung? Is it funny? Is it bawdy? Are there lyrics online anywhere?

*goes off to Google*

[saxikath]

It's... it's 1920s. :) The lyrics are:

To be or not to be,
That is not the question;
I decided long ago to be.
For me, it's what to be,
Make me some suggestion:
Good or bad, which is the best for me?
When you're after fun and laughter,
This aggravates you:
Some reformer says a warmer climate awaits you...

If it's naughty to rouge your lips,
Shake your shoulders and twist your hips,
Let a lady confess I want to be bad.
If it's naughty to vamp the men,
Sleep each morning 'til after ten,
Then the answer is yes, I want to be bad!
This thing of being a good little "goodie" is all very well.
What can you do if you're loaded with plenty of hell -- th* and vigor?
When you're learning what lips are for,
If it's naughty to ask for more,
Let a lady confess I want to be bad!

* That is, of course, "health" -- but it's sung as "hell -- pause -- th".

[red-queen.livejournal.com]

Plain black dress, maybe with black or gold beading, but not much. Either flapper cut, or loose-but-slinky. Long string of pearls, knotted 2/3 way down (flapper-style), feather boa (big & fluffy), character shoes, rhinestone earrings (or pearls). Spray gel and curling iron to get a little more oomph out of your hair. Grey eyeliner, extended slightly on upper lids for cat's eye effect, with some sparkly eye shadow w/ glitter in it. Whorehouse red lipstick, applied after liner, with gloss on top.

Somewhere between "cabaret singer" and "very expensive hooker."

Let me know if you'd like help with the makeup -- 'twould be my utter pleasure. :-} I have a few pairs of suitable earrings that I can lend, too...

[bookishfellow.livejournal.com]

Kath, IM me when you get a chance. I have a bunch of photos of bad girls of 1927 for you (Clara Bow in "It" and "Children of Divorce," Mae West at her "Sex" trial, Greta Garbo...being Greta Garbo).