JAMES VAN DER ZEE

James Van Der Zee was born June 29, 1886 in Lennox Massachusetts. He was a leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance. Producing the most compelling documentation of that period through his camera lenses. In his early days, Van Der Zee was highly skilled as a violinist and pianist working with such jazz greats as Fletcher Henderson. His love for photography soon surpassed his love for music and within two years he managed to open his own photo studio in Harlem on 135th street. Thanks to his genius ideas for darkroom experimentation, retouching negatives and creating double exposures, he composed images that reflected his clients dignity, independence and material comfort. He characterized that time as one of, achievement, idealism, and success. Van Der Zee's photographs portrayed Harlem in the 1920s' and 1930's as a community that was talented, spiritual and prosperous.

His works brought a tremendous amount of warmth, pride and true insight into the long neglected history of African Americans during that time. I remember the first time I saw a Van Der Zee photograph. It was a photo of a well dressed couple both in mink coats posed with their fabulous vintage car! For a vintage lover like myself, I was inspired and yearning for more! The black and white crisp images of a time when everything looked beautiful. The likes of Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Count Bassie playing at some cool sexy juke joint way up in Harlem. Women dressed in sexy flapper dresses, sweet hats and fur stoles. Men looking fine in dapper suits, hats and spats! A time that my soul longed to relive! I was then Bi-coastal living in Brooklyn NY spending most of my free time sniffing around the old books and ever so beautiful architecture at the Brooklyn Library. I came across a book titled Van Der Zee: Photographer 1886-1983 by James Van Der Zee. The images inside were all that and more! I wanted to dive inside and live in every photograph! Van Der Zee approached photography as an art. Using the Calumet box camera to shoot family portraits, wedding portraits, funerals and lots of beautiful women. He also photographed the likes of celebrities like Bill Cosby, Lou Rawls, Muhammad Ali, Miles Davis and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Van Der Zee's subjects also included returning heroes and soldiers of World War 1, Marcus Garvey and his "Back To Africa" movement, and the hardships of the great depression. All of the photographs confirm that Van Der Zee was an idealist, a dreamer and a romantic at heart. He took pleasure from posing and costuming all of his subjects. Whether they were famous or unknown Van Der Zee treated his subjects with equal respect. He used elaborate backdrops and filled his studio with scenery as though it were a stage, setting his subjects in dramatic situations. After reading Van Der Zee's book I decided to move to Harlem to relic in the energy left behind from one of my favorite decades. I bought a Cannon G10 camera and fell in love with photography just as much as fashion! There is still vibrant energy in Harlem and beautiful architecture and historical monuments from those days. One great monument I found is the old sign from Van Der Zee's GGG Photo Studio that still remains above the door of the original location on 125th & Lennox Ave.

In 1969 New York's Metropolitan Museum Of Art held a major photographic exhibit of Van Der Zee's work titled "Harlem On My Mind". This resulted in him becoming something of a celebrity and with more than forty years into his career, interest in his work increased. "Harlem On My Mind" revealed that Van Der Zee produced the most comprehensive documentation of this period for the better part of the twentieth century. In 1976 Van Der Zee's collection of prints and negatives eventually formed the core collection of the Van Der Zee Institute, which became a permanent installation at the Metropolitan Museum Of Art. Sadly Van Der Zee died in 1983 at the age of 96 of a heart attack only hours after receiving a Doctors Of Humane Letters Degree from Howard University. Leaving behind a legacy of images so compelling that it's hard to see Harlem through any other eyes. A major retrospective of Van Der Zee's work was exhibited at the national Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C from October 1993 through February 1994 solidifying his reputation as the premier photographic chronicler of the Harlem Renaissance. Harlem is always on my mind and in my heart!

Endless Love,
Ronnie.B

Footsteps On The Roof (Jean Seberg Tribute)

The Mouse That Roared (O Rato Que Rugi) - Jack Arnold

Breathless (1960) Hotel Scene - Jean Seberg / Jean-Paul Belmondo

Jean Seberg

Born Jean Dorothy Seberg November 13, 1938 in Marshalltown Iowa. She was a beautiful american actress starring in 37 films in Hollywood and Fance. Most notably known from her role as Patricia in Jean-Luc Godard's 1960 film Breathless, French title: À bout de souffle, in which she co-starred with Jean-Paul Belmondo. During the later part of the 1960s, Seberg used her high-profile image to privately voice support for the NAACP and Black Panther Party. Though she had done nothing illegal, FBI director J. Edgar Hoover considered her a threat to the American state. Her telephone was tapped and her private life was closely observed, similar to the way they did Martin Luther King Jr. She knew about this and felt chased. According to documents that had been obtained by Seberg's lawyers and were released publicly by the FBI, an unnamed agent in Los Angeles proposed to Hoover that the actress, who was several months pregnant, be discredited with a rumor that her baby's father was Black Panther leader Raymond Hewitt. Said the agent in a memo, which was dated April 27,1970: "The possible publication of Seberg's plight could cause her embarrassment and serve to cheapen her image with the general public." Hoover agreed to the plot against Seberg and in a memo to Washington her stated that Seberg was a financial supporter of the BPP (Black Panther Party) and that she needed to be neutralized. These reports were picked up by French publications, The LA Times and Newsweek. During this time Seberg was a huge star living in Paris. At 7 months pregnant on August 23, 1970 Seberg went into labor and gave birth to a girl named Nina. Sadly the baby died 2 days later. The actress claimed that the shock of reading all the false stories had caused her premature labor and led to her baby's death. Seberg proceeded with a law suit against all the publications and won an out of court settlement and public apology (To bad this apology from the FBI wasn't given to Martin Luther King Jr. or his family) Later Seberg's husband French Author diplomat Romain Gary insisted the child was his, but Seberg says she confessed that the chid was a result from an affir she had with revolutionary student Carlos Nevarra during their separation. Gary and Seberg divorced by years end and she became dependent on alcohol and prescription drugs. She had two more marriages and the latter of the two she claimed abuse.

In August 1979 Seberg went into hiding and was found dead in the backseat of her car 11 days later. The police report stated that she had taken a massive overdose of barbiturates and alcohol. A suicide note that read: "Forgive me. I can no longer live with my nerves" was found in her hand. However, it is often questioned how she could have operated a car with that amount of alcohol found in her body, and without the corrective lenses she always maintained while driving. A year later, her former husband Romain Gary committed suicide too.

Seberg remains a female icon with her timeless beauty and classic style. I loved the quirky innocent role she played in Breathless. I remember seeing her in fashion magazines and different articles on her life. I felt drawn to her the first time I saw her beautiful piercing eyes and can't imagine how it must have been to know her. Although she lived a troubled life she remains talked about and emulated in fashion today. To Mark the 50th Anniversary of the film Breathless Rialto films has acquired the US Theatrical rights to re-release the film with a new 35mm restoration which was recently unveiled at the International Film Festival. The theatrical release launches May 28th at New York film forum. I can't wait to see it!

Endless Love,
Ronnie.B

Clips from Paris Blues

Stevie Wonder - Diane Carroll

THE MAKINGS OF YOU

DYNASTY: Enter Dominique Deveraux

DYNASTY Alexis Dominique Catfight

Diahann Carroll

Born July 17, 1935 as Carol Diahann Johnson in Bronx NY. Her family later moved to Harlem when she was an infant. At age 14 one of Diahann's first jobs was modeling for Ebony magazine in a Petticoat layout for Johnson Publication the magazines publisher. She later went on to work for Macy's Dept store at age 15 in the hat department. After graduating from high school she enrolled at New York University where she intended to study psychology. Despite her attempts to comply with her parents desire that she complete her education, singing and modeling proved a more compelling lure than school work. After winning $3000 on "Chance Of A Lifetime" television show, it netted her a weeks engagement at a nightclub and the club owner also ran a talent agency and soon offered her a contract. She later went to California and auditioned for the film Carmen Jones. Diahann didn't get the lead role but was cast sidekick to Dorothy Dandridge instead.

Diahann Carroll spent more than 40 years in show business, making a name for herself as a glamorous night club singer and as an actress who has performed on Broadway, Feature Films and Television. She appeared in prestigious African American themed films such as Carmen Jones (1954) and Porgy and Bess (1959). Between 1968 and 1971 she starred in her own television series, Julia. She was the first African American woman with her own television series! In 1960 a Broadway musical was written specifically for Carroll. The production depicted a fantasy story of a top African American model in an interracial romance with an American writer who suffered from writers block. The costumes cost over $15,000 just for Carroll. After helping her lover recover, he goes back to Maine and she stays in Paris. The couple part ways with no strings attached, the title of the musical being, No Strings. Diahann Carroll's amazing role in No Strings won her a Tony award for Best Actress. She later went on to do the film Paris Blues starring opposite Sydney Poitier with whom Carroll had a 9 year love affair. Diahann and Sydney were engaged but decided to call it quits in 1968. Carroll is compared often by her well coiffed images and was called the "Black Jackie Kennedy" and much later was compared to a "Black Barbie Doll". In 1974 Diahann was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the film Claudine (I love that film!!) And in 1984 she starred in one of my all time favorite television soap operas Dynasty, where she played the beautiful stylish Dominique Deveraux!! The cat fights with Dominique and Alexis were classic and her boyfriend on the show was no other than the hot and sexy Billy Dee Williams!! In this same year she released her autobiography Diahann! Well known for her extravagant taste in clothing and lifestyle, Diahann Carroll is a vintage icon!

I'm sharing my love for Diahann Carroll because I think she exudes beauty, grace and style! During a time when the industry was ran and dominated by men it took a strong feisty woman like Diahann Carroll to open doors for women and break barriers for women of color. She is a strong role model with a sense of independence. When I was younger I dreamed of being her as Dominique Deveraux!! I wanted her clothes, her wigs, her jewels, but mostly her ATTITUDE! Diahann Carroll is an award winning actress, successful entrepreneur, devoted humanitarian and breast cancer survivor at age 74. Indeed, Carroll's ability to survive and preserve has made her career an example for us all!

Endless Love,
Ronnie.B

Classic Cars & Trucks

The 1970 Mercedes 280SL is one of my favorite classic cars!! Known as the "Pagoda" because of the concave bow in it's hard top roof, reminiscent of the shape of a Japanese Pagoda. The 230SL, 250SL and last the 280SL, was available as a coupe with a removable roof and roadster soft top. The 230SL was introduced in 1963 known for it's sporty qualities. It was replaced by the 250SL in 1967. There was a version called the "Californian" because a rear seat replaced the roadster and it's boot. In 1970 it was replaced with the 280SL. The SL stands for "Sports Light" or in German, "Sports Leicht". Mercedes Benz achieved a timeless design with slick and proper lines, and it has been in this shape that the SL was sold for over 20 years. The SL was manufactured from 1968 until 1971, and a total of 23,885 units were produced during it's production run. The SL was available in both 2-door roadster and 2-door coupe options. It could achieve top speed of 121 mph, and could reach 0-60 mph in 9.3 seconds! Highly desirable when first launched, the SL models still remain as much sought-after classics to this day. Though expensive they are in stock. They are also the most stolen car out of all the Mercedes models. My dear friend Exec Producer Mara Brock Akil had hers stolen right out her driveway after only having it for 1 month! We had a fun girls day out in it and I was loving every minute of being up close and personal with my favorite vintage car! A perfectly balance vehicle, the Mercedes SL is a vehicle with a quiet confidence and truly no competition!


The fifth-generation Ford F-series trucks from 1966-1974 and The Ford Bronco 1966-1968 are some of my other favorites!! I imagine Kiwi and I rolling through LA in our vintage F100 blasting Stevie Wonder on the radio! I'm currently watching/bidding on a sweet baby blue F100 on Ebay as I type, wish me luck! History on F100's: In 1966, a new "Low Silhouette" pickup featured a single speed transfer case and mono-beam front axle. The truck sat lower than a typical 4WD pickup, but had a 2 inch higher break-over point. The mono-beam front axle used coil springs and large radius arms similar to the twin I-Beam set used on this generation's 2WD trucks. Ford chose 1967 to introduce its fifth generation F-Series pickup truck. Body lines became more squared and flat side panels were accented with a narrow indention, which was highlighted by a stainless molding on Ranger models. in 1968 truck interiors became more "plush" with the addition of a padded dash, padded sun visors and seat belts with shoulder anchor harnesses, all as standard equipment. Federally mandated reflectors mounted on the side of the hood and rear of the bedside made it easy to distinguish a 1968 truck from '67. The F100 was introduced in Brazil in 1971, which remained in production until circa 1992[5] with a slight redesign and changes in its motorizations. It was the last Ford truck manufactured in the Ipiranga plant, that was soon closed.

History on Broncos: The Ford Bronco was introduced to the public in August of 1965 to compete against Jeep's CJ-5and International Harvester's Scout in the burgeoning recreational four wheel drive vehicle market. The Sport Package was introduced in 1967. This package included bright finished horn ring, windshield drip, head and tail lamp bezels, side window frames, instrument panel trim and tailgate handle, cigar lighter, chrome-plated grille, bumpers and front guards, red die cast F-O-R-D letters appliqued to the grille, and 15" wheel covers. A bright trimmed hardboard headlining and vinyl floor mat were also added to the Sport Wagon. 16,100 Broncos were built in 1967. The 1966 Bronco Roadster is very unique vehicle in its own. The standard basic version was an all-purpose vehicle without a top or doors. Another interesting option of the Ford Bronco was the ability to lay the windshield flat on the hood. In this position it would be secured in place by the loop catch on the hood and the windshield mounted spring-loaded pin. This held the windshield firmly in place in rough terrain allowing for a true open-air drive! Standard colors for the roadster were: Raven Black, Caribbean Turquoise, Rangoon Red and Springtime Yellow! Unfortunately, popularity and sales were so low in 1968 that Ford discontinued the Roadster for production year 1969. The Bronco lineup continued for the next eight years without the roadster and eventually ended in 1977, the final production year for the first generation Bronco. Only 5,000 Roadsters were produced out of a total 225,585 early model Broncos.


The early Bronco today enjoys a cultlike status among four wheel drive and collector car enthusiasts alike. Its simple, sturdy construction, V8 power, and excellent maneuverability ensure good off road performance and provide a platform on which many modifications can easily be made. The popularity of the classic 1966-1977 Ford Bronco will no doubt continue to soar in the years to come. My sister had a 1984 Bronco II (2). I was with her the day she bought it in San Diego, CA. She didn't know how to drive a "stick-shift" so I had to drive it home from the lot and teach her how to drive over the next week! It was fun but scary, especially when trying to go up hills!! We would both scream with laughter! The color was green with tan interior. Fun times in deed!

Now, who says women don't have love for cars?

Endless Love,
Ronnie.B

The GQ Eye The GQ Eye: GQ.com

The GQ Eye The GQ Eye: GQ.com

Vintage Shoes and Accessories!!

What good is an outfit without great shoes and accessories? I've been collecting vintage shoes, handbags, hats, eye glass frames and more since I was in high school in the late 80's. I love finding designer vintage pieces like Gucci, Pierre Cardin, YSL, Ted Lapidus and Chanel. I have a sweet collection of Pierre Cardin that I could never part with! A pair of Pierre Cardin sandals in particular that I own are very rare! I get stopped on the streets when I wear my Ted Lapidus frames. Today they are worth about $260 per frame. I own at least 10 pair that I bought for no more than $15 each!! The thing I love most about vintage pieces is more than likely you will be the only person with that item. Nowadays with fashion so accessible and trends found at Target, you are bound to see everyone wearing the same thing! Buying vintage items gives you that exclusivity and you are also recycling which is good for our planet! I've scoured several flea markets, thrift store, antique shops and my family's closets looking for unique vintage pieces that stand out and have great design. It's fun to collect and trade! Here are some photos of a few pieces from my collection. Enjoy!!

Endless Love,
Ronnie.B

Diana Ross & the Supremes: Cornet Man

Diana Ross - interview Los Angeles 1978

Diana Ross - I'm Coming Out & The Boss 1981

Diana Ross

Since I was a small child Diana Ross has been my Icon. Her style, her independence and her music has inspired me through out my life. In fact, the name of my blog Endless Love was inspired by the title of one of Diana's biggest hits; Endless Love, a duet with Lionel Ritchie. Diana Ross starred in a couple of my favorite films, Lady Sings The Blues, Mahogany and The Wiz. Her grace, talent and style was impeccable in all three! One of my most favorite memories was in 1981 at age 10 my dad surprised me by taking me to see Diana live in concert at the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles. I cried and screamed the entire show and went home trying to recreate all the amazing costumes! Diana also performed live at Central Park in NY a few years later. Most of the costumes for both shows were designed by the great Bob Mackie. Diana Ross exudes beauty and style and will forever remain my icon!



Endless Love,
Ronnie.B

It's On!!

Welcome to Endless Love Vintage! My goal for this site is to share my love for everything vintage! Whether it be vintage fashion, music, art, architecture, furniture and cars there is an endless amount of information to share. Some of the best things were created decades ago, still remaining relevant to our lifestyles today. Most fashion designers such as Marc Jacobs take inspiration from vintage fashion in the 1920's- 1980's. A lot of current music you hear today uses samples from music by such great artist like Chic, Lakeside, Patrice Rushen and Carrie Lucas to name a few. I'll be sharing the history on everything posted and give tips on where you can find the best vintage items along with information on restoration and upkeep. The music posted will be informal but also inspiration to spread love through out your day.

I hope you enjoy all the entries to come! Feel free to post comments and share your love for vintage too! It's endless...

Peace & Love
Ronnie.B