New Items Now Available!

Well, we just had out first snowfall here in Toronto. For those of you who have already had their white stuff, I apologize. No matter how long I live here, it's just getting colder! It was pretty though...for about 5 minutes.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Vintage 50s black soft fabric purse

Red Hollywood satin and marabou feather slippers

Brown felt bowler style hat with feathers

Vintage Lomonosov Russian Tea Pot

Vintage daffodil plate by Mikasa

In just a couple of days, it will be December.  Christmas is less than a month away.  That means we will subject ourselves to tiresome shopping but it also means that our calendar fills up with party invitations.  I can always recycle a pretty vintage dress but it's always nice to get a cute purse with history and style...





Vintage 60s Beaded Purse A3073






Vintage Purse, Silver Mesh A3039



Retro Small Handbag Purse, Silver Sequins A3074



Vintage 60s Purse, Black Patent Leather A3066

Vintage 1950s Purse, Minda Lee A3013





Vintage 1920s White Beaded Wrist Purse A3007






Vintage 50s Gold Clutch Purse A3099



New Items Now Available!

The weekend is here again? Not that I'm complaining....enjoy the days everyone!

BCBG Max Azria Gold Lurex Dress

Modern cream chiffon tunic blouse dress with petal sleeves

Gent's vintage tuxedo

Retro VERA chiffon scarf

Retro dove grey suede purse

Vintage Erwin Pearl floral spray brooch

New Items Now Available!

New items now available. Have a great weekend everyone!

Valentino Silk Striped Blazer

Early 1950s soft fabric black handbag

Men's brocade Asian smoking jacket

Vintage silver & white rhinestone brooch

Yves Saint Laurent black velvet & leather slingbacks

Lucite in the Sky With Diamonds

Lucite is a term for plastic. Specifically, it was DuPont's name for an acrylic resin that they developed, which when molded into a purse, can create some stunning accessories - works of art really!

Lucite purses were very popular in the 1950s, and over at Collector's Weekly, there is a fantastic write up about these gorgeous handbags.  I encourage you to read the article and drool over the beautiful bags! All images courtesy of Collector's Weekly.

Read here at Collector's Weekly.

Favorite Fridays!

Favorite Fridays!

Today's favorite comes from Catwalk Creative Vintage, located in the UK. If you shop like I do, then the ownership and the way a store is run is just as important as the products stocked. This shop happens to be run by a fabulous lady, Louise, who via the internet and our fields of work, is a good friend of mine. She makes shopping a delightful experience and is always willing to help and chat with you - that to me is a sign of a proud shopkeeper. Wish we had more of those today!

 

Vintage 1960s brown silk & corded purse with gold tone hardware, made in Italy. $19

What's a Batchel?

In the 1950s, school children would carry their books in something called a satchel. A leather made bag with a shoulder strap.

Today, kids carry their books in backpacks and lately, luggage on wheels. (I assume because they are studying a lot? They look like they are going to the airport.)

As a result of the Harry Potter movies, a Welsh businesswoman, Julie Deane, has revived the use of the satchel. She has even created the 'batchel' = a satchel with a handle.

When she struggled to find replicas of the Harry Potter satchels for her own children, she decided to make her own and then set up The Cambridge Satchel Company in the UK.

“The no-fuss, no-nonsense bags have been embraced by stylists and designers as consumers turn to the vintage look and want a bag to last.", she says.

Available in traditional brown and black, kids and adults alike can also choose from bright colors such as red, yellow and pink.

Aren't they fabulous! The Cambridge Satchel Company

Other satchels also available:

Hide & Seek

The fall trend runway shows are showing lots of leather - jackets, skirts, pants, vests and anything else that can be fashioned from leather.

When you think of the history of leather clothing, how far back do you think? That heavy shoulder padded purple jacket from the 80s? Your fringed moccasins from the 60s? Or maybe the Marlon Brando classic leather jacket and white t-shirt is what comes to mind.

No matter when you think leather began as clothing, think farther back - at least to the Romans. A Roman soldiers' main piece of protective clothing was a leather shirt. Before wool and flax was spinned to make cloth, people made more of their clothes out of leather and furs. Once they began to have wool and linen cloth, they didn't need leather as much for clothes, but it was still used for many other daily items. Used for carrying water, making shoes, window coverings, or for something to write on, leather is a versatile and sought after material.

Items now available:

Retro 80s Bomber Leather Jacket

Cap Toe Leather Cowboy Boots

Italian Leather Vintage Purse

Collection of Leather Bound Vintage Books

Leather Buttons

Rolls Royce Leather Flask

Size Matters!

Have you ever "tried on a purse"? Just like a piece of clothing, a purse needs to fit the body it is hanging next to. Wearing the wrong style, size or shape for your body type can be very unflattering. The part of the body that the purse rests on will be where the eye is drawn to.

Here are some tips.

If you are slim and tall like a model, you can pretty much wear any style purse. But, be careful of too small a size. Small bags will make you appear larger.

If you are short and petite keep in mind the proportion. Smaller bags should be chosen and worn close to the body.

If your hips are large you want to draw attention away from that area. Wear a shoulder bag with a short strap so the purse rests under the arm and above the hip.

If you are top heavy you will probably want to draw attention away from your bosom or waist. Use a fairly large shoulder bag with a long strap.

If you have great curves try a shoulder bag that ends just above the waist to accentuate your curves. Avoid ones that are either really big or really small.

If you are a plus size use a purse that is wider in width, like a hobo style. A small bag will make you look larger. Go for bags with short to medium length straps.

And please, avoid carrying something so large that it looks like luggage! Unless of course you are going to the airport.