Uncle.Macaroons: THE START OF THE MUSE

Born in LONDON April 16th 1889, Father Charles Chaplin.Sr versatile vocalist and actor, died when Chaplin was just 10 and Mother Hannah Chaplin, known as Lily Harley her stage name for when she was a Music Hall entertainer, she was a beautiful actress and singer. Chaplin's older brother Sydney was also an actor.

Charlie Chaplin is most famous for and most recognised as an icon of silent film, his most famous and popular character he played called "Little Tramp", sporting a toothbrush moustache, bowler hat, bamboo cane and a funny walk.

Charlie Chaplin made his first professional debut in 1898 as a member of the juvenile group called "The Eight Lancashire Lads", he rapidly became popular with his outstanding tap dancing. He starred in a variety of shows for the next few years, at 12 years of age he starred in his first stage show 'Sherlock Holmes' , then onto Variety show "Casey's Court Circus", but at the age of 18 (1907) he joined his Brother Sydney in Fred Karno's vaudeville troupe, nicknamed 'The Karno Troupe', touring the States and Canada with them in both 1910 and 1912. He travelled to California in 1913 and signed with Keystone Studios' popular comedy director Mack Sennett. Chaplin appeared in and directed 35 films whilst at Keystone, in nearly all of them he would star as his most iconic character "Little Tramp"

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He left Keystone and signed on at Essanay (1914), where he made 15 films.

Chaplin starred in a film named "Easy Street", considered as his best Mutual Film, a company he signed with in 1916, with them he created up to 12 films.

Both the FBI and House Un-American Activities (HUAC)believed that Chaplin injected communist propaganda into his films, some believing that he had no loyalty to his home country, England. Many in Britain called he a coward and a slacker during World War I, due him living in California, US. I suppose it was thought as though he had abandoned his home country. In his whole time in the United States he never applied for a US citizenship and he claimed to be a 'paying visitor'.

Suspicions mounted when Chaplin created a film called "The Great Dictator" 1940, it was the first talking film .

Chaplin was caught up in controversy and many scandals, he was criticised when he supported the aid given to Russia against invading Nazis in the Second World War. His morals and political views were questioned and was thought to be a danger to national security in the US ,due to the government having suspicions of him having communist ties.

Chaplins achievements/awards-

Decorated by French government for being an outstanding filmmaker
Elevated to rank of officer of the Legion of Honor 1956
Honoured with an Academy Award in 1972 for his "incalculable effect on making motion pictures the art form of the century "
Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire in the 1975 Queens Honours List of his services to entertainment
Chaplin was considered on of the greatest filmmaker in the history of American Cinema

Charles Spencer Chaplin dies of natural causes at his home in Switzerland December 25 1977 age 88.

<CHARLIE CHAPLIN INSPIRED FASHION>

JOHN GALLIANO SPRING 2011

Statement about new proportions in menswear
"Modern Times"
Dropped-crotch pants and jackets fitted to the body
The Little Tramp's shrunken jacket and baggy pants
Buster Keaton, porkpie hat, lugubrious expression, three-piece suit
"Death in Venice"
Boys in bathing suits and underwear

I love John Galliano's Spring 2011 Charlie Chaplin inspired collection, I think its completely wonderful. The way he has been able to capture all the different characters that Chaplin played throughout his carrer. Using different materials and fastenings to spice up the whole Charlie Chaplin look, making it more modern and eccentric. By using silver metallic trenches, mens sandal, gingham slouched low crotch shorts, over layering of vests on top of jackets, three piece suits that are almost tailored but then the trousers are slouched oversized and baggy and using patterned trim on jackets. There are a few looks I didn't particularly warm to, but overall I think the collection captured a very different look at Charlie Chaplin's style and expression in his character's clothing.

JUNYA WATANABE FALL 2013