1920s and 1930s

I am currently LOVING the 20's and 30's although I'm not sure I'm "streamlined" enough for the fashion. I recently saw an amazing pattern book for sale on eBay, unfortunatly the postage from the US made it a little too expensive, however I did maybe save the photos so that I can share them with others and have them as reference.

Why pay day should come twice a month

I've been a bit eBay crazy this month and here are two other finds of mine. I've decided to put a limit on my eBay purchases otherwise I'm going to be very poor! Also as it's a free listing weekend I've put a lot of stuff up for sale as well in hope of selling it and making money for once instead of spending it!

The first is a 1940's sailor dress which looks even better on than it does here! It does have a few armpit stains which I'm hoping to get out tomorrow and I need to replace the buttons as I don;t think they're original- if they are they are very very white and I think black buttons may look better.


And the second is this adorable pair of 1930's brogues from Pogues department store in Cincinnati and unbelievably they fit- I've been so lucky with these vintage shoes!

I know it's not Christmas

but look what I found the other week in an antique shop- it was too cute to leave there!

Inspiration

I've started to pick up old photos from antique shops, I was originally going for a sisters and best girlfriends theme however I thought why limit myself, if I find them inspiring I'll have them and it makes me sad seeing their happy faces and knowing that their families will never have the photos to treasure and pass down the generations (well it's extremely unlikely anyway). So here are my recent ones and at the bottom are 4 cigarette cards I found, they were 5p each, turns out the set is from 1926 and a full set is worth about £50 so I only have another 46 to find.

The Changeling

I'm rather late in discovering this beautiful film, not only was it visually amazing but emotionally too. It's a story set in the late 1920's (mostly the 30's) about a missing boy whos mother is desperate for his return, the LAPD claim to have found her son- only when they are reunited she states that he is not her son. The LAPD refuse to accept this and Christine Collins is interned in a psychiatric unit for trying to shame the police. I would tell the whole story but I'm not one for ruining films.

What I found most amazing is that it's a true story with its script and plot taken from original LAPD records and newspapers, I love the fact that for once someone (Clint Eastwood) has decided to produce a film that is a true story, not just loosly based on one. It's an emotional film but definatly one of my favourites and it's one that shocked me with its truth and history and if you haven't seen it, do - it's brilliant. Not only is it a great story it shows the attitudes of the era- how independent woman were seen (when Collins was taken into the mental institution the doctor told her 'Something is wrong with you. You're an independent woman') and political corruption in an era we often look back on as being innocent and care free.

I also have to mention my favourite line of this film which was said in the face of the psychiatric doctor by Collins "Fuck you and the horse you rode in on" defiantly not words for a lady but defiantly words of a strong woman. Angelina Jolie is excellent in this film, I'd say its one of her best and it's no wonder why she won best actress at the Academy Awards.

Antique Adventure

well I've been neglecting this so I'm to try and start writing more....again.

Yesterday I went into Rochester for lunch with my mum and ended up spending a little too much money in antique shops. I bought a beautiful paper parasol, I have no idea how old it is but it has some wear and tear which I hope to repair at one point (when I can find somewhere that can help me with a 'how to') then I ended up in my favourite antique shop- Fieldstaffs. I've been going in there for years admiring everything, I remember when it changed hands and it has a magnificant new lease of life, its like a magpie's den. There's hundreds of shiny brooches and necklaces, upstairs is a treasure trove of vintage curtains, clothes and furs and out the back is one amazing library of postcards and photos. I recently starting collecting 'sisters and friends' photos and slowly add to the collection each time I go there- after all 75p isn't a lot for a great collection. Anyway as I was paying for my little photo I spotted the most amazing bag and it was love at first sight. At first the price tag and my sensible side said 'wait for your birthday' but then the fear of no one actually buying it for me and that someone else may buy it before set in and I snapped it up!




I must admit recently I've still been undecided about the vintage wardrobe adventure (and truely massive dedication) mainly due to rude comments that I've received, however this trip made me realise that vintage is me and not only that but vintage is brilliant. If there's one generation who's opinion I hold higher than any elses is those cute little grandma's and grandpa's out there (including my own) they went through a lot, have amazing manners and respect (also I find the majority of them adorable). So when I was in Rochester I was so happy to see them smile and compliment my dress and say how beautiful I looked and not only did they compliment me but many others did and (without sounding big headed) I felt like a tiny ray of happy sunshine for the rest of the day. So the vintage wardrobe is here to stay! and I've even cleaned out 2 sack fulls of clothes from my wardrobe since yesterday and if I'm going to do this properly I need a 'wish list' well more of a 'must-have' list so I have vintage for everyday! And I thought of sticking to just one decade but why should I? I love the 30's, 40's and 50's aswell as bits of the 60's and the 1900's so I'm going to shop across it, focusing maybe more on the late 40's early 50's.



Also a few days before this antique adventure I bought a pair of wooden tiki wedges from eBay, they're from the 1940s and were originally made in places like The Philippines for soldiers to bring back for their sweethearts, they came today and they are beautiful and they fit so I'll be wearing those in the future. And from Etsy I bought a 1940's overcoat for a playsuit/ swimsuit set that I think at one point was shortened but I loved the print- I'm so easily swayed!

why I almost forgot you

I haven't been on here for an age, I had lots of work and then I went away on a little trip to Manchester last week so haven't really had much time to do this.

Since my last post I've decided on my 'summer colouring' I'm going for pale but healthy tan, basically I'm not going to go bake myself in the sun when there's better things to do with my time. I've bought a few more clothes, I found an amazing pair of chequered capri's from Next in a charity shop and bought this adorable top from New Look to go with it- I'm loving the Audrey Hepburn look at the moment. A silk kimono to use as a dressing gown and a brilliant blue party dress and thats about it other than the Twilight DVDs =D




I'm currently keeping my eye on a few things on eBay including a sarong dress and a pair of vintage tiki shoes- fingers crossed that no one else has found them!!! I also had a small wardrobe clear out and ended up taking one large black sack to the charity shops but something tells me I still need to clear out more! Ebay have a free listing weekend today and tomorrow so I plan to put a Monsoon dress on there and maybe a few other bits but I'll do that tomorrow as I'm on nights at the minute and my body clock is all confused. Other than that I'm just going to keep a mad eye out on vintage a buy lots of good things but not spend too much (that's the plan anyway)!