Tales From A Vintage Wardrobe

I'd Rather Go Blind

Etta James
(Jamesetta Hawkins)
25 January 1938 ~ 20 January 2012

I clearly remember the first time I heard this song...it changed my taste in music forever.  America's Top 40 suddenly sounded shallow and ridiculous to this teenager with a broken heart...goodnight Ms. James.

Victoria's Secret No. 10 Margaret Street, London W1

(Victoria Magazine - February 1990)

After a look at The Trad's post from M Magazine-1985,  I was motivated to dig out some of my beloved old Victoria magazines for a look-through.  Sigh.  To quote Karen in Out of Africa:  "How good it all was..." 

Art of Dressing

However you will be spending the coming days, I can only hope you and your man look this good...

 

 

Aubrey Beardsley~Let The Bidding Begin...

Vintage late 1960s-early 1970s Aubrey Beardsley "The Peacock Skirt" print dress
Live Auction 30 November-5 December
View Auction Listing

What's on Your Wish List?

 

Nothing Like a Man in an Ascot

Four lovely vintage paisley ascots/cravats are on their way into my Etsy Shop.  From left to right:

• Vintage Salterio Seta Pura Made in Italy in red, hunter green, gold & black on brown paisley
• Vintage Trademark "Celanese" Acetate Fabric British Made in green/gray, beige, black & holly red paisley
• Vintage Liberty of London All Silk in chocolate brown, salmon, deep gold & slate blue/grey paisley
• Vintage Made in England Liberty of London All Silk in khaki, russet, beige, sea green & pale blue/grey paisley

For the Captain Wentworth in your life...

The Language of Clothes

"In language we distinguish between someone who speaks a sentence well--clearly, and with confidence and dignity--and someone who speaks it badly.  In dress too, manner is as important as matter, and in judging the meaning of any garment we will automatically consider whether it fits well or is too large or too small; whether it is old or new; and especially whether it is in good condition, slightly rumpled and soiled or crushed and filthy.  Cleanliness may not always be next to godliness, but it is usually regarded as a sign of respectability or at least of self-respect.  It is also a sign of status, since to be clean and neat always involves the expense of time and money." 

The Language of Clothes by Alison Lurie (1981)

Or, if you prefer a more recent edition with a fabulous retro-looking cover and a new introduction about fashion today,  this was published in 2000...but it's paperback.

 

(First of what I hope will be many sartorial food-for-thought quotes from this captivating book.)

Please Pardon My Error

It has been brought to my attention from a fellow vintage fashion aficionada that the print on the dress in my last post, although Poiret~ish, is actually an Aubrey Beardsley illustration produced for the first English edition of Oscar Wilde's play "Salome" in 1894...It's called "The Peacock Skirt".   Please allow me to properly introduce to you "The Peacock Skirt Dress".  

 

 

Posh Poiret Print?

This stunning vintage dress was the result of a last minute, unplanned 10 minute treasure hunting expedition. I was avoiding doing things I didn't feel like doing and popped into one of the shops I frequent and there she was, waiting for me. Don't you just love when that happens? Serendipity, once again.

I was bit stumped as to how to describe the print on this dress at first.  But I keep going back to Paul Poiret, when his work took on the influence of orientalism. 

It's about a size 4/6...not a tag or label to be seen, so off to do some research.  Look for it soon in The Shoe.

(Addendum~4:00pm EST 23 November 2011: In the six hours that have lapsed since this post, I have been provided with updated information about the print on this dress.  Please visit here for more information.)

Harvard-Yale "The Game" 1947

(photo credit: Collectible Ivy )

My treasure hunting expedition over the weekend landed a late 1960s Harvard crimson athletic jacket in my arms.  Sweet, I know.  So while doing a bit of research about it, I came across this program cover from 1947.  That year, Yale took the game with a final score 31-21.  But yesterday afternoon, Harvard dished out some embarrassment to them right in their own back yard.  Final score: Harvard 45 - Yale 7.  That's pretty sweet, too, if you're a fan of Crimson.