I recently picked up some great catalogs from smaller, high-end shops. I thought you'd enjoy looking through them as much as I have. This one is from Franklin Simon & Co., Spring 1924. The mid 1920s saw chic, simple lines and was greatly influenced by menswear fashions. All of these pieces seem so modern - wouldn't you just love to be able to actually shop from this catalog?!
Franklin Simon & Co, Spring 1924. Such a simple, gorgeous cover design.
1920s Knit Suits
1920s Spring Dresses
1920s Suits
1920s Spring Coats. Check out the prices - $155.00! Pretty pricey for the 1920s.
1920s Suits
1920s Swimsuits
1920s Lingerie
1920s Sprtswear - sweaters and skirts. These are some of my favorite looks from the 1920s.
1920s Shirts. You can really see the menswear influence here. And notice the simple cloche hats.
1920s Shoes. These women's oxfords are to-die-for!
Have you ever wanted to own your own Callot Soeurs dress? Me too...and now I finally do!
A few months ago I was going through some stored 1920s dress and made a most remarkable discovery. In a crate of dresses (don't worry, the are nicely folded in acid free tissue) that I'd purchased last year, I "re-found" a 1930s dress with a label still attached. A NOS 1930s dress is special enough, but when I red the tag I almost pasted out. I sat there for a few minutes reading it over and over...it couldn't really say what I think/hope it says...CALLOT SOEURS. Pinch me!
The dress is a dark black liquid satin with undulating soutache on the neckline. At the waist closure there is an abstract bow. The skirt has diagonal, bias cut gores that give the skirt an amazing drape. The sleeves are cuffed and tied. It has side snaps. I have to note that I have yet cleaned it or even pressed for fear of damaging it.
But, it is in truly amazing condition!
I've contacted a few museums in hopes of getting more information about the label itself. I'll keep you up dated if I get any responses.
These amazing 1930s beach pajamas got a chance to come out of the backroom (you know, that place where you store all of the vintage you just can't bring yourself to part with) for a quick photo shoot.
Made of navy rayon with white stars with a white crepe trim. The matching over-jacket has toggle-style wooden buttons. And there's even has a matching neckscarf (or headscarf).
There have probably already been a million blog posts about the Prada Fall/Winter 2012 Menswear collection, but I just couldn't resist...it is fabulous on so many levels! Prada combined some classic vintage and Steampunk fashion with some amazing contemporary actors to create some serious magic. Actors Gary Oldman, Adrian Brody, Jamie Bell, Garrett Hedlund, and Willem Dafoe pulled off a visually delicious runway show.
How original is this Prada collection? Well, probably not the most original or forward looking to come from Prada (by contrast check out the Spring/Summer 2012 collection) . But isn't kind of fun to see haute couture following street fashion?
So boys, get out your cravats, spectacles, and waist coats...its time to be the Dandy you've always wanted to be!
Although made entirely from paper and paint, these amazing dress recreations are not your normal "cut-n-paste" projects nor are they for your child's paper dolls. They were painstakingly created by Belgian artist Isabelle de Borchagrave inspired by real vintage dresses or paintings. The exhibit is currently on display at the Hillwood Estate collection (the former home of Marjorie Merriweather Post in Washington, DC).
YES, they are entirely of paper!
Left: A dress after Mariano Fortuny Right: Based on a 1924 Red Fern of London dress
Inspired by a Pierre le Grand dress based on a 1730 design
Based on a 1908 Callot Soeurs dress
Left: Inspired by a Mariano Fortuny dress Right: Based on a 1924 Lanvin dress
Check out more about the Prêt-à-Papier exhibition here:
Ok, ok...I know...with the premier of Season 5 of Mad Men, I should be gushing with 1960s Mad Men-inspored posts. But, I'm still enamored with the show that was supposed to be my "filler" until the return of Mad Men - Land Girls. In honor of my finishing season 3 of this lovely BBC series, I'm taking a closer look at that iconic uniform!
Women joining the Women's Land Army were issues a simple uniform consisting of 2 green sweaters, 2 pairs of brown breeches (either twill or corduroy), 1 pair of brown overalls, 6 pairs of brown long woolen socks, 3 shirts, a green tie, a pair of shoes, a pair of ankle boots, a pair of tall boots, 2 overcoats, 1 raincoat, and a brown floppy hat or beret.
The WLA uniforms were often ill-fitting and/or weren't appropriate for the season or the work to be done. Many of these crafty women altered their clothing.
I don't know if I'll ever get enough of the glorious colors of these photographs.
The photos collected below from the National Geographic Stock Photo archive are by Clifton Royal Adams. Adams was born in 1890 and was a National Geographic staff
photographer from 1920 until 1934, traveling throughout the United States, Central
America, and Europe. He died of a brain tumor in 1934 after becoming
ill while on assignment to photograph the California giant Sequoia forest. These are from his European travels; amazing photos from his US portfolio are coming soon.*
A young woman mails a letter in a red pillar box. Ventnor, Isle of Wight, England.
One of the Daughters of Erin stands beside the window box of her home. Ireland.
Two women buy ice cream from a vendor out of his converted car. Near St. Austel, Cornwall, England.
Two women talk in an Irish cottage garden.
An English woman points pridefully to her farm cart. Fenland, England.
A woman kneels in a field of flowers in the Fens. The Fens, Boston, England.
A woman looks down over the Cuckmore River. Cuckmore River, Westdean, Sussex, England.
Hikers rest on Skelwith Bridge, a boundary line between counties. Skelwith Bridge, Between Westmorland and Lancashire, England.
Women selling Queen Alexandra roses for charity. Seaford, Sussex, England.
A woman stands in a garden filled with Calendulas. Lincolnshire, England.
Locals enjoy the view of the Surrey Hills. Near Dorking, Surrey, England.
The former residence of the Duchess of Marlborough. Crowhurst Place, Surrey, England.
A young girl knits a wool garment. Ardara, Ireland.
A woman tends to her garden in the country near Exeter. Near Exeter, New Hampshire, USA.
Two girls send a letter at the red "pillar box" of the Royal Mail. Belfast, Ireland.
Two young adults sit in the grass by a cliff near water and a village. Rottingdean, East Sussex, England.
Two women sit near the Avon River with the Holy Trinity Church behind. Holy Trinity Church, Avon River, Stratford, England.
A group of women hike through Patterdale. Patterdale, Westmorland, England.
A girl stands in a field holding barley in Lincolnshire. Lincolnshire, England.
A girl looks at the tomb of Thomas Gray near a church in Stoke Poges. Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire, England.
Two country maids rest for lunch in a hayfield. Near Hawkshead, Lancashire, England.
