When I wrote my review of Red Apple Lipstick, I got a comment or two on how some were distracted (I assume in a good way!) by what was going on in the background, so I figured it may be a good time to share a few pictures of my beloved vanity.
Hope you enjoyed!
One of the main reasons I think many of us are drawn to old photographs is the fashion. While old movies and patterns are great insight into periods of interest, photos are the perfect looking glass because they reflect real people in real clothes. So here is a sampling (with more to come!) of some of the fashionable ladies I have collected…
I adore this woman in her pantsuit! It’s pretty crazy fantastic!
I hope you enjoyed!
You can’t hardly go into an antique mall without seeing vintage photographs. And there is something about us that can’t help but look through them. We stare at images of people and places at dinners and graduations and we have no idea who these people are, but every now and then for some reason we end up buying one or two and, at least for me, they just go into a box. But recently, thanks to your positive responses on Facebook, I’ve decided to start sharing some of my “Instant Relatives” with you! Today I selected some of the more humorous ones from my collection…
What is truly wonderful about vintage photographs is that they are of real people wearing real clothes. It isn’t a movie star who has a custom made dress designed my a costume designer. These clothes actually existed and were available for purchase, or were made by someone from a pattern that you may be able to get your hands on today. They offer great inspiration for our everyday outfits and hairstyles.
How about you? Do you find yourself buying old photographs? Why?
A few weeks ago I walked into Antique Alley and Sarah (not only does she sell vintage wares, but she also is a stellar photographer) was wearing quite possibly one of the most amazing brooch sets I’d ever seen… Sitting on her shoulders were a devil and an angel. I pretty much flipped out and immediately whipped out my phone to find a pair for myself. I adore novelty prints and brooches and thought these conscience and temptation brooches were the epitome of novelty. Sadly, my ownership of them seemed thwarted. Sets were upwards of $100 and I just couldn’t bring myself to part with that kind of money. Oh well. Until Expo.
Yeah…I left out a find from the last Expo… I looked into a case and found what I initially thought was the set! But upon closer inspection I noticed the angel was a knock-off. The original set was done by well known jewelry company Tortolani, and the pieces are signed on the bottom and have a black wash to them. This angel was unsigned, had a different fastener and was very bright. But I didn’t care. The set was $25. When I got home I went on Etsy to see if I could find the devil’s true mate, and I did, thanks to My Vintage Jewels, a swank shop offering up a wide array of vintage jewelry at really reasonable prices!
Seriously…how fantastic are these guys? I love that the devil has little red rhinestone eyes and they angel has blue ones as well as rhinestones in the halo. I could wear these babies every day.
Need your own set? Here are three currently on Etsy: $120 from Carousel Vintage Jewel. $125 from JCR Historic. And unused, still with original tags, $250 from Mimi’s Closet.
Outfit
Devil Brooch: Expo
Angel Brooch: Etsy, My Vintage Jewels
Sweater: Antique Alley
Jumper: Bettie Page Clothing
Stockings: What Katie Did
Shoes: TJ Maxx
Three times a year a massive antique show rolls into town. The Palmer Wirfs Antiques and Collectables Show! Basically my whole year revolves around these events. They are the first things to go into my calender each year, and if you got something happening that weekend, I’m sorry, but I’m not attending! Yeah, it’s that big of a deal. No matter your fancy you’ll find something you want and I often come home with bags full of delightful vintage finds…
This year I stumbled upon three fabulous hats…
The tan, feathered one has no tag, but a perfect veil. The pale blue, floral one is a New York Creation. And the stellar black one is a Harryson New York. And really, none of these photos do the hats justice…I’m sure you’ll be seeing them though in future entries. Especially the black one!
As well as three amazing suits!
I really scored on the magenta suit by Brucewood. It had a price tag of $125, but due to some issues that had gone unnoticed by the dealer, I got it for $40! Once again, the photo does not do the beauty justice. It may get it’s very own post in the near future. The blue and white suits came together, but only the blue one has a label, which is a Sacony Palm Beach.
Additionally, I picked up a pair of fully-fashioned stockings (for $1!!), and a wonderful confetti bracelet and earrings set.
I also added to my anti-Vietnam/LBJ button collection (which I blogged about earlier)…
I thought the “Draft Beer, Not Students” one was rather fitting for Portland, since we’re known for our breweries.
On Saturday I attended with my dad and Ann, and on Sunday I went with Anthony, one of the employees of Antique Alley, and we had a delightful time bumping into various past and present dealers from the Alley, including Tawny. Tawny always had lovely bits of jewelry, and I am happy to announce that she along with a friend are opening up a new shop! Crackerjack, located at 2926 NE Killingsworth, here in Portland. Their first day is this Saturday, November 3rd and they will be open Thursday through Tuesday, 11 am to 6 pm.
I hope you all had a good weekend! And those of you on the east coast are safe!!
I collect a wide range of things from pin-ups to Pan Am to Zorro to vintage anti-war buttons…
Like sweetheart jewelry from WWII, these anti-Vietnam War buttons represent a very specific time in our history. The 1960s were a turbulent time to say the least. The United States was emerging from a rosy post-war haze into an age of civil rights and a war that divided a nation. The Vietnam War was the first war that was truly brought into the home, with graphic images and body counts each evening on the television, which fueled the anti-war sentiment. College campuses became places of protest as most our nation’s boys, as my mother puts it, “either heading over to Vietnam, already there, or coming home in body bags.” .
Youth were up in arms over what they thought was an unnecessary war and because many of who were being drafted couldn’t even vote for or against the politicians who were charge. Until the passing of the 26th Amendment in 1971, you had to be 21 or older to vote, but once a male turned 18, he was eligible for the draft – hence the button “Old Enough to Fight, Old Enough to Vote”.
My collection started when I saw the pin with the unhappy face which read “POWs Never Have a Nice Day”, a play on the popular “Have a Nice Day” smiley face buttons of the time. Prior to collecting these pins, I had already owned a few Ike jackets, and I ended up pinning the button to the Ike jacket I was wearing that day and the tradition grew since I liked the idea of wearing anti-war buttons on a military uniform. Additionally, these buttons, especially the Johnson related ones fall into my LBJ and Barry Goldwater memorabilia collection.
As you can see there are some that aren’t necessarily anti-war, as much as they are political, including pro-voting buttons, and anti-Johnson buttons. Truth be told, I may wear these, but I don’t agree with all of them. Johnson is in fact my favorite president, followed by Eisenhower, nor do I support taking LSD, I just think they are rather clever.
Outfit
Scarf and Sweater: Thrifted
Mini Skirt: Belonged to my Mother
Shoes: The Clothes Horse, Eugene
Ike Jacket: Flea Market in all likelihood.
Not sure how you spent your weekend, but I spent mine shopping with my pop. There were two antique shows back to back down south, combined with visits to various thrift stores. Plus, putting the finished touches on the 1960s rickshaw we purchased awhile back and seeing Raiders of the Lost Ark on the really big IMAX screen!
While neither show had much with regards to clothes, I still scored quite a few items. Saturday brought Antiques in the Streets in downtown Albany, and later that day my dad and I brought some fresh items (including the rickshaw! So if you’re interested, you must visit Retro Rejuvenation) into our space at my friend Lyndsie’s shop, Retro Rejuvenation, in the tiny town of Coburg in preparation for the Coburg Antique Fair on Sunday.
Retro Rejuvenation was hoppin’ all throughout Sunday, and Lyndsie had recently got a huge consignment of Bauer ware that drew many people into the shop. Now I rarely talk about items I didn’t buy…but this is too cool not to talk about… I found a perfume spray vending machine…yes, you read right, a perfume spray vending machine. You put in your dime under the cologne of your choice, then, holding your wrist or neck close to the spray nozzle push in upon the plunger to receive the spritz. It was a little rough, but tempting at $65. I ultimately passed, and instead dished out big bucks on a sweetheart bracelet.
In terms of purchases, I picked up this fabulous south of the border themed table runner, along with two Disney magazines featuring Zorro on the cover, and the Zorro plate and bowl that go with the Zorro cup I purchased awhile back at Antique Alley! So now I have the complete set! I also bought this great salmon colored bangle from Lyndsie.
More scores included two Starburst bowls – one berry and one cereal, the previously mentioned sweetheart bracelet and an Egyptian revival brooch.
I also picked up two fabulous 1940s hats! I’ve been craving one of these ladies fedoras for sometime, but never came across one that worked out, until I found this beauty. Then I also got this glorious black velvet number.
And last, but certainly not least, I bought this amazing 1950s desk! The Ikea creation we had when we first moved was planned to be temporary until we found something more suited to our mid-century needs. But finding old desks is quite difficult if you are in the market for something that isn’t a roll-top.
I also picked up the final pieces for my Halloween costume…which I am planning on getting done before the end of the month. I still have so much embroidery to do! I hope you had a lovely weekend!
