1929 Wedding Dress

                       Clayton H. Parkinson 1889 - 1973             Sarah Ann Hill 1892 - 1971     


                                                         Married August 28, 1929

I have a great collection of vintage keepsakes and I want to share them with you.  My first post on this blog is a great vintage wedding dress of cream silk. The dress is sleeveless with a sort of smoking just below the hip area and the three layers of gathered fringe The original Lyle stocking remain with the dress but the veil shown is not original.  Over the years the dress was re-worn and some vintage flowers are were hand sewn to the dress.  The picture of the bride and the dress were given to me by Mrs. Dorothy Russell of Clarksburg Ontario
visit my website at vintagecatwalks.com

Celebrate New Year's Eve in (Vintage) Style!

We of vintage age remember the days when our parents, and then, later, we ourselves, would go out on the town for New Year's Eve. That meant getting "dressed to the nines" and going out for dinner and a party afterwards. Even the most casual of restaurant dinners or a typical house party called for dressing up. Short dresses, maxi skirts, or evening slacks were standard fare for those events. And then there were the formal galas, held at fancy ballrooms or the most elegant restaurants in town. Ladies in evening gowns and their finest jewelry, men in formal suits or tuxedos, an orchestra to which to dance....

I remember my mom and her friends breaking out their fancy stoles or wraps, beaded and sequined clutch bags, and dressiest heels. My sister and I were in awe of how lovely they looked and how their dresses "swished" as they danced out the door on their way out for the night. And, when we were older, we would get dressed up and go out as well. Although the "age of casual" was approaching even then, we women would wear cocktail dresses or casual long dresses, and the men would wear sports jackets with ties. Dinner and dancing were still standard entertainment, then we would do the rounds of the house parties, at which you almost never would find anyone wearing jeans. Can you imagine that!

Alas, those indeed were the days.... However, there are still parties and dinners to attend on New Year's Eve, and you don't have to go casual as most everyone these days does. Break out a vintage dress or gown, carry a dressy vintage bag, or wear some stunning vintage jewelry--be as bold or as subtle as you wish. No matter whether you dress in vintage or accessorize with it, you'll feel great and look great--and we're sure you'll get lots of compliments and admiring looks!

We at Vintage Reflections wish you a Happy New Year, and may have some goodies in our shops to help you ring it in!

From Alley Cats Vintage:

Vintage 1960s 60s Party Dress Bright Red Chiffon Strapless Cocktail Formal by Lilli Diamond B 38-40

and a Vintage 1980s 80s Black Beaded Drop Waist Party Dress by AfterDark Sz 12



Vintage Formal Gown1960s 60s Black Satin with Jeweled Bodice Party Evening Dress by Pab B33 W24




At My Vintage Cocktail:

Vintage 80s Designer Ruched & Draped Party, Cocktail, Disco Jersey Dress, Med Lg 10 12

and this Vintage 50s 1950s Strapless Full Skirt RED Evening Gown, XS / Small



SALE Vintage Crystal Necklace & Dangle Earrings in Original Box, Wedding, Party, Holiday Jewelry




And from Catseye Vintage:

Vintage 80s Dress 1980s Cocktail Party Hand Beaded Black Silk Chiffon DEADSTOCK Size XS to S

and a Vintage 80s Strapless One Shoulder Evening Gown Dress Black Chantilly Lace with Bow by Karen Okada Climax Size XS to S



Vintage 60s Woven Metal Handbag 1960s Purse Bridal Evening Gold Tone

Merry Christmas Eve!

May all your dreams come true!
From your friends at Figure 8 Studio

Stunning engagement rings added to Vintage Seekers' fine jewellery collection

Vintage Seekers' Fine Jewellery section has this week welcomed some new additions in the form of stunning vintage engagement rings.

A vintage ring given as an engagement ring has a meaning and stock behind it far deeper than simply a beautiful piece of jewellery.

Rich in history and romance, one can imagine the couples from times past who exchanged the rings before you; their love stories and the secrets behind it. Testament to the enduring nature of gemstones, vintage rings are symbolic of permanence and uniqueness - Two things any couple aspire to.

Circa 1930, this ruby and diamond ring is of English origin. The central trapeze cut diamond, which weighs around 1ct, is surrounded by a calibre cut ruby and diamond border.

By Bailey Banks & Biddle, a leading American jeweller, this 1930s diamond ring is mounted in engraved platinum bearing the inscription BB&B.

A vintage 1920s art deco ruby and diamond ring mounted in platinum, thought to be from around 1925.

This 1930s onyx and diamond half hoop ring is mounted in Platinum, and believed to be of American origin.

Of course, these beautiful pieces could also be given as eternity rings, birthday or anniversary gifts.

Original 1960s photography by Ronald Falloon on Vintage Seekers

Newly added to Vintage Seekers is a collection of original 1960s fashion portraits by the seminal photographer Ronald Falloon, a contemporary of renowned photographers John French and David Bailey.

Originally a music student at Heidelberg University, Falloon was encouraged to pursue photography after his raw talent was recognized during a summer placement in Cannes. He went on to work for French, eventually shooting all of the same models and celebrities as his mentor.

The collection consists of both black & white and colour photographs, all signed and numbered according to their edition. Each print offers the buyer the opportunity to own a rare piece of vintage memorabilia.

The collection is an intriguing symbiosis of the fashion and artistic flair for which the 1960s are famed. Truly capturing the zeitgeist of that era, it includes shots of a typically sultry Twiggy in her 'Bambi-eyes-and-pixie-crop' heyday, snapped in the surroundings of her Ladbroke Grove flat. Two striking photographs of Jean Shrimpton, widely regarded as one of the first supermodels, reveal an altogether more vulnerable side to this icon of the ‘swinging sixties’.

The remainder of the collection is composed of fashion models sporting the likes of Biba and Mary Quant, those stalwarts of 1960s fashion design. All of the images subtly evoke the cutting-edge nature of the decade.

Below are a select few examples of the stunning prints now available in Photography, within the Collectibles category of Vintage Seekers online.

Twiggy, 1967

Model in Nina Ricci dress, 1965

Model on bridge, 1960s

Jean Shrimpton, 1964

Vintage Seekers

Liz Taylor Couture Auction Sets Fashion Record

The record-breaking $115 million realized for Elizabeth Taylor's famous jewels didn't come as much as a surprise as the prices realized for her clothing. All of the 67 lots sold, most beating their high estimates and raising $2.6 million for Taylor's AIDS foundation (10 times the estimated total.)

The priciest item was a 1968 Christian Dior gown of beaded silver brocade with a matching purse. It had an estimate of $6,000 but fetched a whopping $362,500. Two other items soared past the $100,000 mark: a Chanel ball gown and cape with shoes and matching bag ($134,500) and a Gianni Versace bolero jacket, beaded with portraits of Taylor in her famous roles ($128,500).

Legendary fashion leader/industry consultant Fern Mallis, who attended the auction, said, "Vintage clothing is like buying art these days. It will only increase in value.”

For more information about the auction, read my blog at http://www.chelsea-girl.com/blog/

Vintage Party Dresses for New Year's Eve on Vintage Seekers

With the party season in full swing and New Year's Eve just around the corner, why not browse Vintage Seekers' extensive collection of vintage party frocks for the ultimate festive attire. Whether you're in the market for a cocktail dress or an evening gown; something from the modest styles of the 1930s or the ostentatious prints of the 1960s, the Vintage Seekers' fashion section boasts the best of 20th century style. Here are a few picks to whet the appetite.

This Petal Mini Dress by Pierre Cardin perfectly captures the zeitgeist of the 1960s. Playful and daring for its time, it showcases the decade's prominent silhouette - short hemlines and no sleeves. Cardin is renowned for his innovative and futuristic designs - He created the 'bubble dress'.

Another offering from the 1960s comes in the form of this gorgeous evening gown by Morelly.

It features a delicate knot waist, bubble skirt and a pretty deep blue leaf print.

Thanks to some rushed detailing around the waist this 1960s metallic cocktail dress by Marshall & Snelgrove promises a flattering silhouette. Made from a black base fabric shot through with rose gold metallic thread, its suitably festive colour is perfect for whatever occasions may crop up over the Christmas period.

This stunning Ossie Clark evening dress from 1970 is very on-trend with its maxi-skirt and figure-hugging bodice. It is a combination of moss crepe and satin, and comes in an ivory colour way. Ossie Clark can be credited as one of the pioneers of '60s and '70s fashion, alongside such stalwarts as Mary Quant and Biba. Manolo Blahnik remarked of Clark's work: "He created an incredible magic with the body and achieved what fashion should do — produce desire."

Wallflower Vintage Presents: Christmas Morning Memories

Imagine twinkling incandescent lights heating up the real tree overloaded with a thick dusting of silver tinsel; the faint stale scent of cigarettes and whiskey sours in the air. The still, silent, expectant darkness only seen in the dark hours before Christmas morning.

The first scout is sent out in a practiced army crawl - past mom and dad's room - not breathing; heartbeat so loud they're sure to wake up.

Success! Through the kitchen to the living room where the treasures await - baby dolls in high chairs, long orange track racing around he base of the lit tree, waiting for racing cars. Little sister's first game (Candy Land of course), big brother's first collection of books and of course the family View Master.

Magic is not just the thing of fairy tales.

*McCalls December 1963

Original Audrey Hepburn Costume Sketch on Vintage Seekers

Vintage Seekers currently has on sale an original piece of movie memorabilia from the 1954 motion picture Sabrina - A costume sketch for its leading lady Audrey Hepburn by the prolific costume designer Edith Head. Sabrina is the classic tale of a working class ugly-duckling transformed into sophisticated swan, ultimately winning the man of her dreams. This watercolour sketch onto paper has Hepburn donning a stunning black ballroom gown with full skirt and bow-strap detailing.

Oft-dubbed 'the Fairest Lady of All', Hepburn's status is cemented as a film and fashion icon, due in part to Head's simple and elegant design trademark. Indeed, Head is famed for her extensive consultation with the actresses with whom she dressed and designed for.

Head's own career is worthy of film plot material. Starting out as a French teacher, she began teaching art having been motivated by its higher salary in spite of only having her rudimentary high-school art class experience. By some bizarre stroke of luck she was hired by Paramount Pictures in 1924 as a costume sketch artist and went on to receive eight Academy Awards for Best Costume Design, Sabrina being one of them, from a total of 35 nominations. Her unparalleled success is rendered all the more incredible by her eventual admission that she had borrowed a friend's sketches for her interview. Head designed for many of the silver screen's greats - Grace Kelly, Ginger Rogers, Bette Davis and Elizabeth Taylor.

This piece is made even more desirable by the fact that it bears Head's signature in the lower left corner, and comes framed; A must-have for vintage film and fashion buffs alike.

Sabrina Film Costume Sketch

New Items Now Available from SLV!

An unusually mild December so far, but I'm already thinking of a tropical holiday!

Have a great weekend everyone!

New items now available at Some Like it Vintage.

1950s Ruched Peach Nylon Dress

1960s Cranberry & Gold Satin Brocade Purse

Vintage Celine of Paris Black Suede Sandals

Eduardo Calucag Silk Gradient Dress

Wallflower Vintage Presents: Bucilla

Bucilla advertisement from Modern Priscilla Magazine, February 1925

Christmas Bucilla ad from 1967 McCalls.

The Bucilla company was founded in 1867 by Bernhard Ullman. Originally engaged in selling fine yarns; the company expanded their inventory to provide ladies with knitting, embroidery and needlepoint kits, books and instructional material. They exist today under the Plaid Enterprises umbrella.

You can still find wonderful vintage kits and finished products on sale at garage sales, Ebay, and Etsy.

Goldfinger

My vintage Holy Grail is not lingerie but if I were to ever find something this special I think I would faint.



ebay listing for Vanity Fair gold set

How lucky we were in those days that someone could slip into such luxuries. Wear 24 carat gold against the skin without stepping foot in a jewelry store.

So sexy!

From the seller's description it feels as soft as it looks. Im hoping the seller does really well with the listing, it is a true treasure. At the time of my posting, there are still two days left to bid.

The holiday season inspired me to lift the tissue from my lovely vintage fashion pieces.

Gold Brocade Wiggle Bombshell Halter Dress & Jacket



Vintage 60s Metallic Gold Evening Swing Trapeze Coat



I imagine a very special someone wearing them with the "Cloth of Gold" Vanity Fair under garments.

Now Im in the mood for Shirley Bassey singing Goldfinger...

There are many Goldfinger youtubes in existense some from back in the 60s ...till now. All fabulous. I chose this one because I can hear the needle on the vinyl.

Red and Green for the Holidays

Thinking about what to wear for the upcoming Holiday season? We love green or red which are so representative of the Holidays.

The members of the Vintage Reflections sellers network have the perfect vintage items in green or red for your consideration.

Please visit our shops to see more beautiful vintage clothes and accessories!

Catseye Vintage, who is having shopwide 25% off Holiday sale, has a gorgeous green velvet and tulle strapless party dress, a wonderful 40s cranberry red rayon dress, and a 50s green and black striped taffeta shirtdress:

Vintage 50s Strapless Cocktail Party Dress Full Skirt Wedding Chartreuse Green Tulle and Velvet Size xxs to xs from CATSEYE VINTAGE

Vintage 40s Dress Swing Cocktail World War 2 Era in Cranberry Red with Hand Beaded Ribbon Size M to L from CATSEYE VINTAGE

Vintage 50s Shirtdress Circle Skirt in Green and Black Stripes Taffeta Size M to L from CATSEYE VINTAGE

Alley Cats Vintage on Ruby Lane has a lovely celery green party dress, a wonderful embroidered black on red pillbox hat and a stunning red wool hat:

Vintage Hat Red Wool from ALLEY CATS VINTAGE

Vintage Dress 1950s 50s Celery Green Satin Party Formal Cocktail B34 W26 H35 from ALLEY CATS VINTAGE

Vintage 60s Hat Red with Black Embroidery Pillbox by Amy from ALLEY CATS VINTAGE

My Vintage Cocktail has a wonderful Art Deco Little Nemo red rhinestone brooch, an exquisite green silk shirtdress, and a stunning green beads two tier bib necklace:

Vintage 30s Art Deco Little Nemo Filigree Pot Metal, RED Rhinestone & Enamel Flowers Brooch from MY VINTAGE COCKTAIL

Vintage 50s Full Skirt Shirtwaist Party or Day Silk Dress, Med Lg from MY VINTAGE COCKTAIL

Vintage Chunky Bead Statement Choker Necklace, Christmas Green, Mad Men, 50s 60s from MY VINTAGE COCKTAIL

Wallflower Vintage Presents: Drats - Foiled Again.

Have you heard?? Every issue, every page of Vogue from 1892 to today are available online! I was so excited - I rushed over to the web page to see.

Then: The cold hard chop. $1,575.00 for a ONE YEAR subscription. One year ONLINE subscription. Sure, you can print out anything you want, read all the advertisements etc., etc. But how does the average small business justify that kind of purchase? Sigh. I can't. So, resourceful as I am I surfed a little and came up with some nice Vogue pictures, not to mention the coffee table book I own and some nice old vintage magazines in my own archives. Thanks Vogue - for nothing.

It used to be the only thing I could afford was your magazine.

Can't even do that.

I Love it When You Talk Retro-Holiday Gift Guide

Now for something a little different:

Hoochie Koochie, Double Whammy, The Buck Stops Here, You Sound Like a Broken Record, You Are Skaing on Thin Ice.....

Do you say any of these in your daily speech? If you do you are at least my age. I am especially fond of the broken record one...kids today don't even know what that is. Doesn't quite sound the same when you say 'You sound like a broken MP3' does it?

Anyway, with the holidays fast approaching, here are my retro book picks that I'm sure will suit just about anyone on your list!

I Love it When You Talk Retro:




Better Homes & Gardens 1953 Cookbook





Retro Rock




Vintage Hairstyles: A step by step guide





Retro Makeup: Techniques for getting that Look





Vintage Cocktails





Vintage Face: Period Looks from the 20s, 30s, 40s & 50s




Ready to Roll: A celebration of the classic American trailer




Tiki Modern




Retro: A guide to Mid 20th Century Design



 All American Ads of the 50s





Dealer's Choice: At Home with Purveyors of Antique & Vintage Furnishings