Vintage Fashion Blog

When in doubt, wear a Handmacher suit!

by
Featured

When in doubt, wear a Handmacher suit!

I’m a huge fan of vintage skirt suits, and if you are curious about the reasons, read my article about the 1940s-1950s suits.  I don’t look for any particular brands when searching for a new addition to my growing suit collection. With the exception of the Taylored by Handmacher suits! You can see in the picture below, an example of one of my lovely 1950s Handmacher suits. The exact same one, at least style-wise, was featured in Harper’s Bazaar from 1952.

 

1950s suit woman

In the picture on the left, I’m wearing the 1952 Handmacher suit, that appeared in Harper’s Bazaar ad.

The 1940s DuBarry dress for the modern girl!

by
Featured

The 1940s DuBarry dress and its versatility.

The DuBarry brand was known in the 1940s – 1960s for simple yet elegant evening gowns, cocktail and prom dresses, as well as mother-of-the-bride wear.

Today the label is synonymous, amongst us vintage girls, with the best that ready-to-wear vintage has to offer. I love how easy it is to dress up or down the DuBarry gown. It makes the perfect choice for many occasions, although I personally like to treat it as a day-wear. As you can see in the photographs below, I removed the original, embellished with crystals belt, and replaced it with a simple black one. By doing so I turned the evening gown into a simple yet elegant day dress.

How to store vintage clothing like a pro!

by
Featured

Learn how to store vintage clothing like a pro!

I’ve already written an article about how to take care of vintage clothes but this is a more in-depth piece. I’ve consulted with textile conservators and costume collectors, and hope that this post will answer most, if not all, questions about the do and don’ts for storing vintage clothing.

STORAGE MATERIALS:

How to take care of vintage clothes

by
Featured

How to take care of vintage clothes!

A few months ago I was devastated to discover that my favourite authentic Victorian funeral cape, bought in near mint condition several years earlier at a vintage fair in London (you can read about vintage fairs here), had seemingly overnight, developed brown spots all over. Doing some online sleuthing, I was able to ascertain that my mistake had been to store it using a recently purchased plastic garment cover. This was a crime! As it transpired that what I thought were spots, was actually a layer of silk that had deteriorated because of a reaction with the plastic.

What to do during self-isolation!

by

What to do during self-isolation!

Part1

If you’re self-employed like me and mainly work from home, you’re probably quite familiar with the need for self-discipline. Following a routine is essential, as it’s far too easy to find distractions. A walk with your beloved pooch or a lengthy perusal of your favourite seller’s page on Etsy. Do these things and just watch those hours slip by, leaving you wondering where the day went and why didn’t you get any of those things done that you promised yourself you would.