At the heart of London’s Vintage Fashion scene: Vintage Modes

Hello my dear!  So I wanted to take you to last week’s Thursday’s vintage catwalk at Vintage Modes in Gray’s Antiques; you know the beautiful building just behind Bond Street station where you can revel in antique jewellery, watches, objects d’art, exquisite amber designs…

                                  Vintage Modes Fashion Catwalk at Grays Antiques

   This met us when we arrived at the vintage fashion catwalk at Vintage Modes in Grays Antiques

The downstairs area of Vintage Modes had been turned into a catwalk, and the models came pouring down the runway, wearing the most gorgeous vintage outfits!  I had a lovely chat to the newest member of the Vintage Modes team, Geeta Handa of C-Atomic, who showed us some of her own designs that often feature original period fabrics as well as our favourite details from eras gone by.  I fell in love with this 70s style dress and I couldn’t take my eyes off a 60s dress in a dark blue pattern fabric and that time typical high collar!

                    Umm hello 1970s!  From Geeta Handa of C-Atomic at Vintage Modes

                       Vintage Fashion Catwalk at Vintage Modes, Grays Antiques

The funny thing is that we see so much 7os revival fashion in all the contemporary fashion shops around town at the moment – and here we are, walking into Vintage Modes where the walls are draped with all these stunning pieces that are actually FROM the 70s!  I don’t think that I am the only one preferring to do my shopping here, where we know the designs will last us years and years..!

                          Vintage Fashion Catwalk at Vintage Modes, Grays Antiques

Who can say no to some Brigitte Bardot inspiration on a vintage shoppimg? Apparently she rivalled Marilyn Monroe as the world’s most photographed woman

The catwalk featured designs from Chanel, Biba, Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, and Ossie Clark and gave us some great inspiration for the autumn.

  Just a few pieces from Arabella Bianco‘s vintage costume jewellery collection 

                                          Vintage accessories from June Victor

                                 Vintage Costume Jewellery from Gillian Horsup

                      Suffragette jewellery from Richard Ogden, Burlington Arcade

And wore this glorious pieces of suffragette jewellery from Richard Ogden to the catwalk, love!!!  You might remember that we have looked closer at the suffragette movement in an earlier post: Suffragette Jewellery and the history is very fascinating indeed. In the pendant the three colours of the movement; green, white and violet, are symbolised by a pear shape peridot, three natural pearls and a round pink topaz.

And so I just can’t wait for the next show at Vintage Modes, and I do hope to see you there my dear! (Please watch this space for further info on timings!)

The Trifari Birthstone Range at Arabella Bianco in Grays Antique Centre

 

Grays Antique Centre

I popped by Grays Antiques the other day to look at Arabella Bianco’s collection, which was a treat as always!  I am definitely getting my Christmas presents from these lovely vintage jewellery dealers instead of fighting my way through the crowds on Oxford Street!  I have already seen a bunch of beautiful and unique pieces, and if you are thinking along the same lines then definitely try Grays Antiques Market!

Beaver County Times 22 March 1973 – The Birthstone Bracelet by Trifari

At Arabella Bianco’s I was drawn to the bracelets and necklaces in the photo above and Lesley, the owner, told me that they come from a Trifary collection from the 60s/70s.  They are simulated birthstones for each month and I was delighted to stumble across the above article from the Beaver County times, 22 March 1973.

Birthstone bracelet by Trifari at Arabella Bianco at Grays Antiques

Above we have January’s Garnet and February’s Amethysts, and below April’s Diamonds.  In newspaper adverts from the 70s we could read that the designs were the perfect way of  “celebrating the month that she was born” and that “one way to her heart was Trifari” – I love it!  It is also great that they come in white and yellow gold tones (not real gold though as it is costume jewellery after all) as it gives us more choice when it comes to styling them with our outfits.

April’s Diamond Birthstone from Trifari at Arabella Bianco

We have learnt about Trifari in an earlier blog post: A Trifari Vintage Treasure, so do revisit that post if you can’t quite remember the fascinating story about this design house.

April’s Diamond Birthstone from Trifari – at Arabella Bianco in Grays Antique Centre

So do make sure that you put Grays Antiques on your list of places to visit for your Christmas shopping, as I can promise you that you will find some unique and beautiful pieces of jewellery, to surprise and delight your family and friends with this Christmas!

Grays Antique Centre

58 Davies Street
& 1-7 Davies Mews
London, W1K 5AB

Ann’s 50- & 60-tals Bijouterier

Is there anything more romantic than a collection of vintage pearl necklaces?! 

I just realised that I had one shop left to write about from Vintagemässan in Stockholm earlier on this year!  Ann’s 50s and 60s Costume Jewellery – in Swedish known as: Ann’s 50 & 60-tals Bijouterier.

Some of the glorious necklaces worn by the ladies in the 50s and 60s

The vintage fair in Stockholm was incredibly popular and busy, and at one point I found myself floating along the tide of people through the venue, more or less unable to choose where I wanted to go!  Well, luckily I came to a halt by a table decorated with all these beautiful vintage costume jewellery pieces – from beaded necklaces to pearls of all colours and sizes with matching earrings and bracelets:

A blue vintage dream of a necklace

This blue beauty immediately took me back to my Finnish grandmother’s atelier when I was a child, with all her hats, beads, trinkets and stones – as the walls in the room were this very colour!

Gold and reds.. such a beautiful match – what would you wear them with?

As for the Swedish ladies in the 50s – they all followed the international trends of wearing figure hugging dresses with tiny waists and full skirts, and they would accessorise this with pearl or beed necklaces like the ones above, and also wear high heels and stockings.  Women drew inspiration from Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly and Brigitte Bardot, whereas the gents were greatly influenced by Elvis Presley and Jimmy Dean.

Some more beautiful pieces of vintage costume jewellery from Ann’s 50 & 60tals bijouterier

Some happy yellows to brighten your day!

Often the ladies would wear outfits with colour coordinated accessories, and the jewellery definitely was neither subtle nor  minimalist!

Such an array of colours and styles!

So if you anyone of you wants to get in touch with Ann, do write me an email on info@decadesofelegance.com and I will make sure to pass it on.

Now go and put on something gorgeous to meet the day!  I for sure got inspired while writing this post, so will have to wear a lovely dress and some matching jewellery today!!!

Sixties Inspiration

You guys!!!  I have been watching Mad Men a lot lately (and yes I know, I am about 7 years behind, but I am here now!) and getting so inspired by the amazing fashion on the set!  As I was rummaging through my wardrobe, trying to find something fun to wear to the antique shop yesterday, I came across a favourite from Vintage Shrewd (and PLEASE do bear with me as the below is such a typical blogger selfie-shot!)

In my beloved 1960s shift dress from Vintage Shrewd!

Isn’t it just wonderful how they incorporate the fashion of the time so well into all these series?  Downton Abbey obviously being a favourite with the stunning Roaring Twenties in style – and in Mad Men the sixties with its structured dresses, fabulous hats, gloves, hairdos and shoes shoes shoes!

I just LOVE the high collars that were so prominent in the 60s – the only problem is that can’t successfully model any antique necklaces at work!  

The first part of the sixties resembled the fifties in style, with conservative and ladylike designs.  I love the transitional time between the 50s and the 60s, as designs gave ladies of all sizes and shapes something flattering to wear, be it a shift dress à la Jackie Kennedy or a figure hugging wasp waist-dress in the spirit of Marilyn Monroe!  I will have to research this era a little bit more to give you a full post on the style so for now I will also just show you the jacket that I decided to wear with my dress:

A-line jacket, very much inspired by the sixties

I picked this jacket up in Cape Town earlier this year, and absolutely just love the collar with that big, brass button!  I wanted to share this look with you because it made me feel so incredibly well-dressed and proper!  I ended up going out for a drink in the evening and put on a pair of vintage looking heels and also my grandmother’s clutch from the sixties, which just perfected the look.

I don’t usually wear vintage top to toe, as I like mixing things up a bit to create my own style and look, but this was definitely more vintage than what I usually do – topping it off with the subtle bouffant hairstyle and feline flick eyeliner..!  I think that I will be promoting more of these ‘done up’ styles from now on, as it really put a silver lining on my day.  I would love to hear about your favourite style, or how you make an outfit feel a bit more special?

1960s glamour from Vintage Shrewd

There are a few women in history whose sense of style influenced the whole world around them to the degree that when we today see a specific style of outfit, our thoughts are immediately drawn to that person.  Well, I immediately thought of a beautiful lady on Saturday, when I popped by Vintage Shrewd and saw this beautiful wool skirt and matching suit jacket.  Yep, Jackie O was my first thought:

Chanel-style 1960’s dress and suit jacket at Vintage Shrewd

Jacqueline Bouvier was a mere 24 years old when she married John F. Kennedy, yet she already presented a sophisticated style and taste.  She had a love for classic, tailored suits and ladylike dresses in strong, solid colours and very much influenced the style of the ladies in the sixties.

This dress and jacket are indeed from the 60s, and this what I just love about vintage shops: you find the most stunning pieces for no money at all, as this little combo is yours for just £75 ..!  I also that the high street chains are just getting ridiculously expensive now (a dress for £150 – it is so not reasonable!) so all the more reason to turn to vintage, where you can get pieces that will last another few decades for a fraction of the price!

A close up of this beautiful, soft pink suit jacket

Can you imagine wearing this with a fabulous handbag and some heels to work?  I didn’t buy it as I had to hurry to another appointment, but I am really having second thoughts about it.  It would be the perfect outfit for a day at work in the antique shop!

Some more treasures in the Shrewd-window…

… and a few more pieces in a heavenly blue-colour scheme

And above are two more sneak peeks into the current Shrewd collection… as the days are suddenly getting a bit chillier these autumny-coloured ensembles looked very appealing to me!

Alphen Antiques and Collectibles Market in Constantia – chapter I

I visited a lovely antique fair in Cape Town at the Alphen Centre in Constantia last month, which I wanted to bring you along to today:

Alphen Centre in Constantia

This is the first post out of two, and the second post is unique and incredibly charming, so make sure to keep an eye out for it!

I thought we should start with the collection from Then and Now –  a beautiful mix of vintage and modern pieces:

I loved this silver bracelet with all these lovely chunky stones!

Vintage bracelet in a beautiful design

A girl can never have too many cocktail rings – that is my philosophy in life…

… and this green beauty simply had to go come with me!

Green and silver cocktail ring

… and it is for sale so get in touch if you love it dear!

Groot Constantia Wine Farm

And when you visit the beautiful Constantia, make sure that you pay the famous wine farm Groot Constantia a visit.  It is the oldest wine farm in South Africa and the most beautiful place!

You Brilliant Tanzanite

I have heard so many fascinating stories about the gemstone Tanzanite, that I simply had to to dedicate today’s post to this unique gemstone!  In the photos below you will see Tanzanite jewellery from the antique jewellery shop Jewel Tree in Cape Town – and yes, many of the pieces are for sale so do not hesitate to get in touch if anything in particular captures your heart!

Tanzanite rings at the JewelTree in Cape Town

Tanzanite was first discovered in 1967 in the East Africa state of Tanzania, as you can probably tell from the name.  Tanzania remains the only place in the world were the gemstone can been found, and so it is considered a geological phenomenon.  Upon its discovery the specialists were absolutely thrilled; they were raving about  its intense blue colour with a purple hint, and referred to it as the ‘gemstone of the 20th century’.

Natural Tanzanite and Diamonds – at the Jewel Tree in Cape Town, South Africa  – Photography: Jewel Tree

The stone was given the name Tanzanite by Tiffany & Co in New York, because they thought that its original name ‘Blue Zoisite’ was too close to the English word ‘suicide’..!  Tiffany went ahead and presented the extraordinary gemstone to the public in 1969, and its beauty did of course receive a wonderful response from jewellery enthusiasts worldwide.

Tanzanite and Diamond Ring at the Jewel Tree, Cape Town, South Africa

Today they are stilling mining of tanzanite in the Merelani Hills in the north of Tanzania, but only small scraps tend to be found these days, which is why it is feared that the gemstone supplies are running out.  Every now and then a larger crystal is found though, which of course sparks a lot of excitement among tanzanite fans around the world!  It is disputed how much longer the mine can supply us with Tanzanite, but the general estimation seems to be another 15-20 years.

Tanzanite and Diamond Ring at the Jewel Tree in Cape Town, South Africa   Photography: Jewel Tree

When it comes to caring for your Tanzanite jewellery, do remember that it is very soft and brittle, so always wear it carefully and store it in a soft cloth, to prevent other jewellery from scratching it.  As you can see in the photos, its dazzling colour ranges from ultramarine blue to light voilet-blue, and even though gemstone cutters will try to produce a violet bluish colour, I am pretty sure that everyone has their own favourite nuance of the stone:

An example of the various colours of tanzanite – at the Jewel Tree in Cape Town, South Africa

Tanzanite has the rare ability to display more than one colour at the time, depending on what angle it is viewed from.  You will also find that the price of tanzanite jewellery ranges greatly, as almost any price is being asked – and paid – for it.  Its scarcity and beauty are two contributing factors, and obviously a lot of people love how unique the stone it, since it can only be found in one place in the whole world!

 

Tanzanite and Diamond Ring at the Jewel Tree in Cape Town, South Africa  Photography: Jewel Tree

… and if I had been Rose in Titanic, I probably would have thought twice before dropping the “Heart of the Ocean” – a 50 carat heart shaped Tanzanite surrounded by diamonds – into the ocean!

Tanzanite and Diamond Ring at the Jewel Tree in Cape Town, South Africa

And you lovely December children might already know that Tanzanite is your birthstone – together with Turquoise.

Sources:

the International Coloured Gemstone Association.

Tanzanite Authority

Vintage Dress Alterations and Late Summer Roses

Good morning lovely!  I wanted to start this week with a few photos of late summer flowers that I came across at the weekend – straight from the garden:

Arthur Bell Rose and Gerrie Hoek Dahlia in the background

Orange Roses

I mentioned in an earlier post that I bought two glorious 1960’s dresses in the Shrewd sale, and that I would have to have them resized.  Well, I finally dropped them off with Liz Robinson in Dorking where she pinned them onto me for that perfect fit.  We will see the results next week – oh so very excited!

My two 1960’s dresses – one baby blue and one white and golden with typical 60’s buttons.  Marilyn is also excitedly waiting to see the results!

Liz is a wonderful seamstress whose acquaintance we will make very soon, but for now I can let you know that she is able to help with alterations, and specialises in vintage wear and wedding dresses.  Do let me know if you would like to get in touch with her – she is based in Dorking.

Antique Fair at Dorking Halls, Surrey

Pistachio and Chocolate gelato outside Cafe Rialto – with the beautiful Surrey hills in the background (please forgive the construction works!)

This weekend went in the air of vintage!  On Saturday afternoon I went to Dorking and visited Chantecleer Antiques (post coming up on Wednesday!) and Shrewd, before trying the fabulous gelato at Cafe Rialto.

Cafe Rialto Gelato, Dorking

I went for my two favourite flavours: pistachio and chocolate, that are both to die for.  My two fellow ice cream lovers however were very brave and tried Rialto’s specialty, Kibana = Kiwi and Banana.  They both loved it, so if you are curious to go for it you will be advised to try a spoonful before getting a whole scoop.  It is such an interesting mixtures, as both the banana and kiwi flavours come through separately – both absolutely yummy.  It is also really refreshing and has this enticing mint green colour.

Until Wednesday Aug 21st you will get a free scoop of ice cream when you buy at least one scoop of ice cream on its own, upon giving the password ELEGANCE of course!

Beautiful costume jewellery at SGS Collectibles, at the Antique Fair at Dorking Halls

On Sunday morning I went to Dorking Halls, which had turned into a big antique heaven with lots and lots of traders showing off their beautiful collections.  I just love browsing all the beautiful pieces of silver, jewellery, accessories and home-ware at these fairs.  It is also so interesting to listen to the trader’s stories about how they started out, their love and dislikes about their chosen careers – and finding the most unique pieces to bring back home is obviously a huge plus!

Green and gold vintage jewellery from SGS Collectibles

I soon came to SGS Collectibles where the most fascinating pieces of dress jewellery (costume jewellery) were on display.  I ended up talking to the trader Sally for almost an hour and I wanted to share with you something very interesting that she taught me: how to wear clip-on earrings.  See, I avoid wearing them because:

1. I can never get them to stay on and

2. They hurt my ears

Apparently the trick is to hold on to your earlobe with two fingers, and gently pull it out so it stretches a bit.  Then you clip on the earring as close to your face as you can, before letting go.  You can now adjust the earrings as you wish and it will happily stay on all day, as it is sitting in the thinner part of the earlobe.  Easy pie!

I adore gold and pearls so obviously these beauties caught my eye 

… and more lovely pieces and designs – all at SGS Collectibles

Sally then showed me her collection of the most colourful necklaces, earrings and accessories – all in wonderful condition, which is so important when you work with antiques and vintage.  I can’t take a trader seriously if their stock isn’t well looked after, as in my eyes it shows their devotion to the trade.

Some glorious sparkle – clip-on earrings

Gold coloured brooch with dazzling rhinestones

Stunning vintage jewellery at SGS Collectibles 

A collection often reflects a trader’s own taste (I know mine does!) and whichever piece Sally showed us looked absolutely gorgeous on her!  So if 50s/60s jewellery is your thing, this is the lady you want to speak to.

Happy colours from the stylish 60s 

My favourite thing about vintage jewellery is the detailed work that has gone into making the pieces

I don’t often rave about vintage handbags, but I must say that the few in Sally’s collection really had me swooning: wonderful condition and I loved the elegant and ladylike designs:

… not to mention the accessories…

I actually ended up buying a beautiful 1940’s leather handbag, which – judging from the condition – doesn’t seem to have been used before.  It reminded me of Audrey Hepburn, as the design is very simple and elegant and will go with more or less everything in my wardrobe.  My favourite part is the clip on the side of the bag, where you can fasten a scarf and get a whole new look to the bag!  Sally had this beautiful, very Scandinavian looking silk scarf, which was like made for the bag, so I had to buy that as well.

My new vintage handbag perfected today’s work outfit, which is a mixture of COS, DKNY and Keds 

The bag is my arm-candy worn to work today and I am just loving it!  Do you have any vintage/antique pieces that you just adore in your wardrobe or jewellery collection?

Frock Me! 1960s style and beyond

 This post is long overdue and I have so been looking forward to bringing it to you!  We are back at the Frock Me! vintage fair at Chelsea Town Hall, making the acquaintance of the fabulous Frillseekers Vintage:

The next Frock Me! vintage fair will be at Chelsea Town Hall on Sunday June 30th, 11am-5.30pm

At first I thought that the stall was focused on 1960s design, but it turned out that it was just my inexplicable love for 60s design that made me zoom in on those pieces!  They do however carry a great range of items all the way from the 1920s and have the most beautiful pieces for day and evening wear.

I was oh so pleased to find the gorgeous jacket above, as I adore the tall 60s collars – think Jackie O, Audrey Hepburn.  The top above was just so beautiful in its elegant white, gray and black colours and the distinctive cut.  It was a size too big for me, but some lucky lady will buy it and I know that they will live happily ever after!

Buttons above that are so characteristic of the 60’s 

I found myself drawn to the patterns above, and from chatting with the trader Caroline we agreed that there were strong Marimekko influences in these pieces.  Marimekko is, as you might already know, a very famous Finnish brand that has been around since 1951.  I have always been surrounded with these beautiful patterns, and they are fascinating as the style seems to appeal to so many people.  I even ran into a lovely Marimekko wall piece in Cape Town once – you can probably imagine how proud that made my Finnish self!  I am now very pleased to have found a Marimekko shop in London, as  it is the perfect antidote to homesickness for me!

Now back to Frillseekers – I was very pleased to find out that we can make appointments with Caroline at her studio, or find her on Portobello Market on Fridays, and get the chance to buy these amazing pieces.  So to market, to market my friend!