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Vintage party dresses for your vintage-modern bridesmaids

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

When my mom got married, the “rainbow wedding” was so in vogue. Asking your best ladies to don different colored pastel dresses was all the rage. Somehow, the different-but-similar look can still be pulled off quite well if you have a good eye & know where to find just the right kind of frilly, flouncy 1950s party dress.

A glance at these and my, oh my, bridesmaids or otherwise, who wouldn’t love to jump into one of these & head off somewhere exciting in a pink Cadillac convertible? They’re from the etsy shop of The Ritzy Rose, a design-minded gal from NY who moved to Ohio (whereas, I grew up in Ohio then moved to NY) & now pursues many passions incluing her online store. She’s just getting started on etsy; I can’t wait to see where she goes. Three of my favorites are below: a First Dance penant flag for the flower girl to carry; a vintage brooch bridal bouquet; and a vintage pink silk chiffon 1950s party dress. (Too big for me or it would already be sold…)

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Fit for royalty: a new antique necklace just waiting for a wedding

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

Tracy Porter has an eye for goodness.

{And that’s an understatement!}

This vintage-inspired necklace is her latest treasure to catch my eye. Her fascination with kings & queens be praised!

If there’s a bride for every necklace, let her come forward for this alluring cast brass & crystal confection…

Artisan hand-cast in Istanbul, the necklace is, as Tracy puts it, “An homage to bewitching bygone eras… Hand-made & tarnished to perfection.” Of course!

She’s so very talented at transporting us to other lands with a single, decadent purchase.

Stolen Glamour Necklace, $498, by Tracy Porter.

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Vintage bridal handbags, beaded by hand from across the world

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

We’ve just added a few new vintage clutch purses to the shoppe, so it seemed like a good time to showcase them together. No fashionable 1950s girl would have left the house for a special evening out without a beaded handbag at her side. Over the past year, we’ve featured bridal-beautiful bags from Germany, Belgium, France & Japan — some of the most popular places of origin for these collectible accessories. Artisans of the era hand-beaded intricate designs, usually over the entire clutch, which was often handmade as well. The craftsmanship shows; the quality can be felt when you carry one. For vintage-inspired weddings, beaded handbags are a not-to-miss touch that marries well with any gown. They pair well with jeans after the big day, too…

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Could this rhinestone cami top be bridal? It’s definitely honeymoon…

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

Why do I like this so much?

I actually have a similar top in black from my days in NYC working down the street from not one but two H&Ms. Ah, the lunch hours spent treasure hunting there with a coworker or two were more than occasional…

Now here come the Dazzling Fringe Cami from Boston Proper, $119. “Three tiers of rhinestone-kissed fringe comprise this sexy spaghetti-strap knit cami.”

Very sparkly and swingy but it does have a certain class to it, don’t you think?

With the right pants, earrings, bag… I do like it.

Maybe it’s not exactly bridal, especially since the straps aren’t made of rhinestone strands. But then again, that’s up to the bride to decide.

Honeymoon? Bring it.

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A recycled clutch for the seriously eco-chic bride

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

At first glance, guests would never guess this shining handbag was pieced together from hand-crocheted swirls of aluminum pull tabs surrounding discs made from post-consumer recycled bottoms of cans.

But indeed, this visionary, earth-friendly purse would make a stunning sidekick for any bride who even takes her wedding fashion to the eco-smart extreme. It’s metallic, modern, edgy, and a definite conversation piece for occasions well beyond the wedding day.

Zipper closure with one interior zipper pocket. Handmade by fair-trade co-ops, $145 from the MoMA Store.

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Thank you for not trashing these dresses: true vintage beauties

Monday, July 12th, 2010

At the risk of becoming unpopular, I freely admit I am not a fan of the “trash the dress” trend. Seeing beautiful gowns in water & mud & paint, even when done artistically in amazing photographs, always leaves me a little sad. With the eco-movement in full swing—not to be hip, but for our planet’s survival—I’m still surprised to see bridal gowns forever retired after just one wear. Absolutely, each bride is entitled to do as she pleases and what feels good & right to her surrounding her wedding and beyond. For me, though, I say. “Save those dresses!” These vintage confections are just seven reasons why. If they had been trashed, no one would ever have the exciting chance to slip them on again… If you act fast, some might still be yours next.

Clockwise from top left: Vintage 1950s blue oragandy party dress with lace, net and tulle; Vintage 1970s hippie-style white Mexican dress with lace inserts & bell sleeves; Vintage 1960s Jackie O.-style shift dress in light pink with silver & white diamond detail; Vintage 1950s white chantilly lace gown with Gone With the Wind style & lace rosettes; Vintage 1960s flapper-style dress with lace bodice, dropped waist & chiffon skirt; Vintage 1960s chiffon Greek goddess gown with pleated skirt, rhinestones & beading; Vintage 1950s tulle & blue chantilly lace strapless gown with silk velvet bow.

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Much adoring: bow-topped Italian leather ballet flats for the bride

Tuesday, July 6th, 2010

I’ve a weakness for bows that runs far, deep & wide.

For months I’ve been eyeing these decadently soft ballet flats from Sundance Catalog in yellow, turquoise & orange, willing them with my eyes to go on sale.

But this morning, I noticed the buff color & realized it could be the ideal bridal ballet flat for any bride looking for luxury without the height of a heel.

From Sundance: “Graced with a satin bow, our buttery soft, Italian leather ballet flats will dance their way into your wardrobe, partnering beautifully with everything from cropped jeans to ethereal skirts. Leather insole and outsole. Made in Italy. Exclusive. Euro sizes 36 to 41.”

Just $98. (I really should get them, huh?)

So… you get the buff, your bridesmaids get one (or all) of the other juicy colors. And all of you will wear them again.

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New vintage bridal accessories: eternal bouquet & feather collar

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

Added today are two of the most glamorous vintage wedding accessories we have seen to date: a fluffy boa-style collar of snow white ostrich feathers and an eternal bouquet made of wax orange blossoms with crystal centers (especially popular from the turn of the century to the 1930s), small lucite flowers with faux pearl centers, and other detailed beadwork and millinery touches.

These two heirloom pieces can change the look of your ensemble & the feel of your whole day in an instant. The stunning feather wrap with knotted tassels on the end would transform any wedding gown with a simple neckline or a strapless dress, worn with or in place of a necklace.

The bouquet, made by hand to last forever, would make a beautiful display, until you pass it on to your daughter.

How I do adore these! … you will too.

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Vintage-style wedding shoes from Italy

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

If you’ve been looking for a vintage bridal shoe and happen to be a size 7, these romantic vintage wedding shoes by Peter Fox might be what you’ve been searching for. Made in Italy, they lace up with cream-colored ribbons and have been worn just once. So pretty for those Victorian, Art Deco or Flapper dresses. Or even with a shorter dress that poufs out… you know which kind I’m thinking of. The eBay bidding ends March 6, 2010 and starts at $30. Wow!

Peter Fox has been making Italian shoes for the fine ladies of Broadway, film, television & the wedding aisle for nearly 30 years. The site is filled with vintage-inspired & modern styles for brides, though not all are as lovely or refined as this pair. And they certainly don’t start at $30! At right, Annabel (sale price: $296) has a decorative fan & beaded brooch, as seen in “The Butcher’s Wife” with Demi Moore. Below, Fleurette (sale price: $280) has a decorative fan & faux pearl brooch. Both are Italian silk-satin with a wearable 2-inch heel.

Does a vintage wedding and/or a vintage-style dress require vintage-style shoes? Of course not. The choice is yours. But true vintage wedding shoes that are in good enough condition to wear as well as comfortable enough to boot are pretty rare finds. It’s nice to know that new, vintage-style shoes, though more expensive, are an easy click away.

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Still loving them: all the wedding feathers you’ll ever need

Friday, January 29th, 2010

After adding yesterday’s vintage feather-beaded bridal handbag to our vintage wedding boutique, I decided to round up some other favorite feathery wedding accessories for you. I especially like them for destination weddings, in which you may not want to wrangle with a far-away florist once you arrive. To be honest, many times I favor what is easiest, simplest, painless. These are all that, and undeniably beautiful…