Ladies and Maids in South Asia

As part of my neverending quest for ladies-and-maids material, I've come across a collection of pictures that, I am sure, fans of Maid in China in particular will find very interesting. It's called "Close Distance" and features joint photos of mistresses from Dhaka, Bangladesh together with their maids. The photographer commented on his work in an interesting interview.  I found these words particularly relevant for this blog:

Housemaids don’t cross class boundaries because house owners won’t welcome it if they do, and this behavior is part of the system of inequalities. Naturally, when I asked them to sit side by side, it was awkward, to say the least. In most cases, the house owner had to ask her domestic maid to sit beside her. The household helps were reserved. Many of them sat only after they had been repeatedly told to do so.

Indeed, you can almost feel this awkwardnes in most of the pictures!

Story: Russian Art

Dear all, I am sorry for the long absense, I'll try to make it up to you in coming weeks and months with new content. Please also remember that I am really dependant on you for ideas and suggestions so if you've come across interesting stories or links, please do not hesitate to drop me a line or comment here. 

Today I wanted to share with you a short story that, to some degree, influenced my interest in lady-to-maid and downgrade fiction. Apologies to early readers of my newsletter as I’ve already shared it with them, but I think it’s worth posting it to the blog as well. It’s a bit different and some of you might say “huh?” after you read it, but, I think you will notice some themes there that I’ve used in Her Most Remarkable Performance. The story is by Arkady Averchenko, a Russian turn-of-the-century playwright and satirist, whose skyrocketing career was cut short by the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, which forced him to flee the country. I don’t believe his work has ever been translated into English (at least not this story) so the translation of this short piece from 1922 is by yours truly. Huge thanks go to Robyn Hoode, who did an excellent job editing.

Russian Art takes place in Constantinople, which in the early 1920s was a major destination for Russian refugees (Averchenko himself being one of them) following the final defeat of the Whites in late 1920. The city was overrun with former aristocrats, military officers, government officials, politicians, journalists, and other unlucky souls that bet on the wrong horse during the Civil War. Needless to say, the vast majority of these people were struggling financially and often had to do the jobs that were well beneath them - as doormen, cleaners, shop attendants, guards, maids, cabmen etc. Some of you might be familiar with Anatole Litvak’s famous 1937 comedy Tovarich about two Russian aristocrats working as a maid and a butler under false identities in France (see photo). So, at least some Edwardian beauties had to go through a scary real-life lady-to-maid scenario.

Russian Art

"Is it really, you?" 

"It really is" 

“I can hardly believe my own eyes.” 

“It would be a crime not to believe eyes as beautiful as yours.” 

One has to be a man of highest society and utmost elegance to pay compliments like this during an afternoon in Pera, as hundreds of people are rushing past, constantly bumping into your sides and back. ... and this is what I am indeed. 

The owner of the beautiful eyes, a renowned dramatic actress from Saint Petersburg, was standing before me, her lively, sly, expressive face changing constantly from surprise to pleasure to delight to confusion and back again as I watched. 

“Listen, The Simple-Minded. I really would like to see you. You are like my good old and dear Saint Petersburg come back to me. Come for a cup of tea.”

The Diamond Heiress: Playboy May 2013

A magazine spread featuring Tamara Ecclestone and her adoring maids. Another one from a few years back for my lady-and-maid collection! 

Story: Lady Penrose. Chapter 6.

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Story: Daphne and the White Apron. Part 4.

by Monica Graz

It was 8.45 in the morning and Lita was walking fast down the street. Dressed in one of her uniforms dresses, the mint green one, her sensible working shoes and a cardigan to protect her from the morning chill she was heading for her first outside work as a maid and cleaner. Her heart was beating fast as she tried to avoid the looks of the morning walkers, though no one seemed to pay any attention to her, another domestic worker clearly running an errand for her employers in that rich part of Mayfair.  

She was carrying a small canvas shoulder bag with some basic cosmetics a couple of aprons and Daphne’s mobile phone and credit card for emergency reasons. She was slightly amused and excited as she looked at the hem of her work dress where a few spots of discoloration were very obvious, clearly the results of chlorine and a big tell tale for her activities. She also couldn’t’ fail to notice the state of her hands which already lost their softness and looked rather red and rough, the hands of a domestic. Miss Magda was very pleased when she noticed that in the morning before her departure from the Arnellos residence.

“You are safe Lita, nobody could detect anything else but a domestic worker on you at the moment. It is not only your uniform and hands but also the lack of any frivolous accoutrements, a totally utilitarian look.” She said chuckling happily.

Lita wasn’t certain if she should be pleased or worried with that comment so she simply said, “Thank you Miss Magda, that makes me less worried for my first day in a new working environment. I certainly am interested in keeping a low profile.”

Story: Lady Penrose. Chapter 5.

by Jackie J

When Bella entered the dining room carrying the tray with tea toast and eggs and started to present the breakfast Claudia frowned and stood.

“Oh, dear, this won’t do at all, Bella! No curtsy this morning for your Mistress?”

Bella blushed slightly and dropped a curtsy.

“Sorry, Mistress.”

When Bella curtsied and spread her skirts Claudia caught a whiff of the pungent odour of the carbolic soap - a stark contrast to the expensive perfume she was wearing, taken from Lady Penrose’s vanity. Claudia inwardly smiled seeing Lady Penrose bereft of makeup and carrying the scent of service.

“That’s better, Bella; if Bella is to see Percy again she will have to be a good maid, won’t she?”

Bella blushed bright red but also aroused, reminded of how the skilful use of that dong by Claudia, her Mistress, made her squeal and beg for more. She lowered her gaze.

Comme Deauville: "Rags to Riches" Fashion Editoral in Jalouse October 2010

The point of this "modern day Cinderella" editorial (other that getting model Ashley Smith into a maid's uniform) escapes me, but here it is anyway. As you know, I just can't get enough of lady-and-maid fashion editorials.