Opera Ladies

Even studying singing at a conservatory,  its hard to remember that opera was once the most glamourous profession and its performers the most sought after fashion icons.  In school, opera singers mostly wear the same jewel-tone wrap dress and pointy kitten heels, accessorized with nude panty hose and a pearl necklace.  Not too exciting.  Even the big names don't do much to inspire fashion-wise; their gowns are usually dull or unfortunately huge-sleeved.  And we won't even get into Cecilia Bartoli's scrunchie.  However, because opera singers used to be so stylish, lets look back at some of the best of their day.

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Obviously Maria Callas has to come first on this list.  She's probably the one opera singer who still remains relevant as a fashion icon.   There were so many before her though, and one of my favorite books, called Lost Divas, contains the most beautiful photographs of some forgotten stars.  Here are a few:

Lina Cavalieri would easily be one of our most beautiful movie stars if she lived today.

Geraldine Farrar and Mary Garden.  The hair jewels! 

Beautiful veils on Germaine Lubin and Fanny Heldy.

Rosa Ponselle was probably the sexiest Carmen ever, judging by this photo alone.

However, my favorite fashion heroine of opera is Anna Moffo.  Her life story was pretty glamourous as well- started her fantastic career young, burnt out a bit and did nude films, then became a TV personality in Italy.  I'd take it.  Here she is:

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I'm a dork and have this poster hanging in my living room.

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 I'll leave you with a video of her singing one of the most gorgeous arias ever written.  She cracks a bit near the end, but she looks so fabulous it really doesn't matter.