Two is Better than One
By Jillian Millsap
When two great minds come together they can often create masterpieces. While some partnerships are romantic and others are platonic, there is something special about meeting a person who truly understands and inspires you. Zadig&Voltair’s new ‘his’ and ‘her’ perfume line explore how two opposites can come together to create something timeless. Find out more in Two is Better Than One
F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda Fitzgerald met in 1918 and had a whirlwind romance. She is often thought to be the muse for Rosalind Connage in her husband’s novel This Side of Paradise along with being credited for some of her husband’s most famous quotes in novels like The Great Gatsby.
“I’m glad it’s a girl. And I hope she’ll be a fool—that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.”
Zelda Fitzgerald
While Zelda was a poster child for the fun, luxurious, free-spirited lifestyle of the 1920s, she suffered from various mental health issues, while Scott fell victim to alcoholism. In the end, none of Zelda’s own novels were critically acclaimed and she can be seen as a prime example of women during this time: often the muse, never the artist. Despite this, Zelda leaves a lasting impact on many of F. Scott’s most acclaimed works.
One extremely talented and highly publicized creative couple was John Lennon and Yoko Ono. The two met when the singer, Lennon, went to Ono’s unfinished art exhibit in 1966. The pair immediately hit it off and Lennon ended up leaving his wife to be with Ono, causing the couple to be highly criticized.
Even with the constant disapproval, Ono inspired many of The Beatles songs such as “Happiness is a Warm Gun” and she even had vocals on a few songs including “Birthday.” Eventually, the pair created companion bands, Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band and John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, where they shared both collaborations and songs inspired by one another.
The couple’s relationship was very tumultuous and they spent years separated, before inevitably coming back together and even having a child in 1975. It was while they were walking home from recording Ono’s song “Walking on Thin Ice” in 1980, that Lennon was assassinated by an extreme fan and lay dying in a hysterical Ono’s arms.
Despite the tragedy, some of Ono’s most successful albums, including Double Fantasy and Season of Glass were inspired by the death of her husband. The legacy of The Beatles and John Lennon has also proved to be timeless, as they remain popular even after forty years.
Picasso and Dora Maar were both talented artists, but Maar’s works are often overshadowed by her role as the muse for Picasso’s famous work, The Weeping Woman. The pair met in 1935 and had a relationship for nine years. During this time it is alleged that Picasso physically abused Maar and also continued his relationship with the mother of his child, Marie-Therese Walter.
Despite this, she inspired many of his pieces and also taught him skills in photography and printmaking. While Picasso saw her as a muse, Maar asserted that she did not see herself in his paintings. While their relationship was not always happy, the pair seemed to inspire and motivate one another at their crafts.
It is important to note that some of the most influential duos are not romantic ones, but rather, platonic.
Siblings Maggie and Jake Gyllenhaal grew up in the film industry. With a father who was a director and a mother who was a screenwriter, both siblings were introduced to the Hollywood scene at an early age. At the beginning of their careers, they were actually able to play siblings in the thriller Donnie Darko in 2001.
Maggie had a lot of success as an actress and even won a Golden Globe for her role in The Honourable Woman in 2014. In recent years, she has pivoted into a more behind-the-scenes role as director and was even nominated for an Academy Award for her film The Lost Daughter.
Jake has also had a very successful career, mostly in front of the camera. Early in his career, he even earned an Academy Award nomination for his role in Brokeback Mountain in 2005. As of recently, he has had a lot of successful roles in action films such as Spiderman: Far From Home and Ambulance. While Maggie has yet to direct Jake, they both are extremely supportive of one anothers careers and hope to work on a film together one day.
Maggie and Jake Gyllenhaal at the Venice premiere of her new film The Lost Daughter. Photo: Daniele Venturelli/Wireimage
Another powerful sibling duo is Finneas and Billie Eilish. While Billie Eilish is in front of the audience and the cameras, her older brother Finneas co-writes and produces all of her projects, including her award winning album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?. Together, they have reached immense success with nine Grammy wins, two Golden Globes, and two Oscars.
While Billie may be more of a household name, Finneas also has some astounding accomplishments on his own. With 10 Grammys and 17 nominations, he became the youngest person to win a Grammy for Producer of The Year. He also has his own successful singing career with popular songs like “I Lost a Friend” and “Break My Heart Again.”
The White Stripes have quite an unconventional story. While most people thought that this rock duo were brother and sister, it was later found out that Jack and Meg were actually a divorced couple that was together before they created their band.
Despite their strange background, The White Stripes were an extremely successful duo with six Grammys and many hit songs including “Seven Nation Army” and “Fell in Love with a Girl.”
Zadig&Voltair’s new scent duo, This is Really Her! And This is Really Him!, are inspired by a passionate love affair that takes place over the course of one night in Paris. Following a couple that has a whirlwind romance throughout the night, the pair must go their separate ways once the sun starts to rise. Before they leave one another, they embrace, his and her fragrance combining to make the perfect combination. Allowing for them to still be together even when they’re a part.
This is Really Her! is symbolic of the twinkling lights of Paris at nightfall. The top notes of the perfume are sparkling pink pepper with spicy undertones of basil-rose accord and run-amber notes. This combination is reminiscent of the elegance and sensualness of Paris.
This is Really Him! represents the dark shadows that reflect off of Paris’ stunning building. This perfume has notes of lemon and grapefruit that darken with contact to the metallic orange blossom accord. This, in combination with a subtle woody accord warmed by amber, make for the perfect scent for an adventure through the night.
Just like the many creative duos over the last decade, This is Her! and This is Him! are better together. While all good things must come to an end, the memories and experiences will last forever.
Just like the many creative duos over the last decade, This is Really Her! and This is Really Him! are better together. While all good things must come to an end, the memories and experiences will last forever.
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