Jayne Mansfield Wore That???

One of the discoveries I made at the Open Studio yesterday was a vintage clothing shop called Hollywood and Vine, run by a personable transvestite named Bruce. His business card shows one of his over-the-top creations modeled by....which Hollywood bombshell was that...? wait a minute, it's Bruce himself! Fucking gorgeous.

This shop has been more artistically laid out than most of the other spaces in the Mills. Deco display cases hold rhinestone and Bakelite jewelry; Lucite purses are showcased on shelves. Faceless mannequins model dresses; those with features are reserved for the to-die-for hats.

Bruce hasn't named his shop "Hollywood and Vine" without good reason. He's got creations worn by Faye Dunaway, Carole Lombard, Greta Garbo. Bruce's favorite designer is Norman Norell. A fabulous Norell creation, a short-sleeved semi-formal in rosewood lace buoyed up by a half-dozen crinolines, caught our eye. Geri made the mistake of remarking that, although dated, it was somehow classic.

"Dated!" spouted Bruce. "Dated!!! Crinolines make every woman feel and look fabulous! And look--under all these crinolines is a silk slip. Comfortable! And this lace top falls away--you could wear it as a strapless gown. It's totally today! And nobody makes dresses like this any more."

My favorite was a black peek-a-boo bathing suit once modeled by Jayne Mansfield. For $250, it seemed like a steal. Of course, her measurements were 44D-18-36 (after her first baby! And that was before silicone implants were invented.). There's probably nobody in the world who could fit into that suit today, even Bruce.