The White Album: July 20, 2011

Despite the extraction of the red items, my "must blog" list is only slightly diminished. We have so much ground to cover, so many fabulous garments to talk about, that we have not a moment to lose!

I'm bending my own rules for this blog post. I generally believe that wedding attire is too specialized for someone like myself to write about. I have, however, decided just this once to indulge my taste for white lace on the excuse that each garment selected (with the exception of one pair of wedding gloves) could be worn at an affair other than a wedding.

This absolutely exquisite Edwardian duster jacket is constructed of lovingly hand made Irish crochet. It's been amazingly well preserved, and waits at 1stDibs for the right woman and the right outfit. Personally, I want to see it added to someone's wedding gown to take the ensemble from beautiful to unforgettable. This jacket is too rare and gorgeous to be wasted on anything less than a Very Special Occasion.

Look at the quality of that crochet work! At first I thought the hanging acanthus leaves with attached pom-poms were bakelite, but closer inspection reveals that these were created by some magic needlework from the same yarn used on the rest of the garment.

Only rarely do I get so vested in a garment that I care who gets it, but this piece positively demands an owner who cherishes it and who has the necessary background to appreciate the special treasure that this is. Offered by The Way We Wore with a price to be disclosed only upon inquiry to the merchant.

A special occassion always calls for a special piece of jewelry, something unusual, something like..

This bridal necklace is composed of a triple strand of the finest swarovski pearls with swarovski crystal accents forming the vine. Perfect not only for a bride, but a perfect gift for a bridesmaid as well. The pearls are a gleaming white, but ivory pearls are available as well. The necklace is 17" And comes with an extender. Offered by Bridal101 for $119.00. Though vintage inspired, this is not a vintage item.

The lovely tea stained lace dress above is from what is rapidly becoming my favorite shop at Etsy, VintageOppulence. This dropped waist dress with the bow on the left hip is advertised as a wedding dress, but i think it would make a lovely garden party dress as well.

The lace has been tea stained a shade just past cream and just short of beige. A size medium, this dress has lost its label along the way, but it has retained all its charm. It would make a lovely companion for the Irish crocheted coat above. A true bargain at the price of $90.00.

This charming lace cloche hat simply took my breath away! Perfect for a wedding or any special occasion wherein you wish to be the star. Decorated on the right side in 20's fashion with a silk flower, and a second floral design of capiz shells and pearls. This is a vintage inspired hat, not an actual vintage hat, but its the perfect touch for your vintage outfits. I'm a firm believer in mixing decades and following your own personal style. I can see this with the spring collection from Alexander McQeen as well as I can see it with the lovely lace dress and the priceless Irish Crocheted coat above.

I found this lovely cloche at Etsy from Ludascrafts for $144.99.

This 1950's cream colored bubble dress with sequins is tiny, but packs quite a punch, fit for lunch at the white house or a chapel to exchange vows. The bubble hemline is as fashionable today as it was the day it hit the catwalk.

This lovely dress is available at SenseoFashion from YumYumVintage for $165.00.

And to wear with this dress? Take a look at that picture in the upper right of Coco Chanel. Notice anything in that picture? That right. Oodles and oodles of pearls. Of course, you could collect these strings of pearls one at a time over years. or...

That's right! A whole treasury of pearls, all in one fell swoop! These may be worn a strand or two at a time, or all at once ala' Coco. If you really want to imitate the way Chanel wore pearls, allow the longer strands to hang down in back as much as they do in the front. The effect is incredibly chic!

This set includes strands of pearls from 17" to a whopping 70". Included in the mix is a strand of Austrian Crystals, which were the height of chic in the late 1920's. So few of these have survived that they are highly prized today.

These are available at Etsy's from MissAnnieMays for $125.00. If this is a bit more than you wanted to bite off at once, there are smaller collections at smaller prices at Miss Annie's too.

This lace appliqued and beaded silk suit is fit for a country wedding or a formal brunch. Custom tailored of dupion silk, the notch collared short jacket has three quarter sleeves to show off an heirloom bracelet or merely your lovely arms. The blouse is cut with a low scoop neck, a dipped front, and nipped in at the waist. The skirt is cut slim through the knees then flairs out. Beautifully made by LaCostureraShop of Etsy for $1,155.45.

I was thrilled to find this graduated 8 strand pearl bracelet at Etsy. Unadorned pearl bracelets are so hard to come by, and at $25.00 this one is a steal. I love it's simplicity and it's abundance. While there are no fancy rhinestone buckles, there is nothing skimpy about an eight strand bracelet, and the pearls are perfectly graduated across the top. The perfect accompaniment to so many outfits, this bracelet is available from RockyPatch.

Famed purse maker Mary Frances designed this lovely calla lily bag. Adorned with rhinestones and pearls, this vintage inspired bag is available new with original tags on Ebay from RebeccasCollectableFinds for $220.00. The perfect bag to carry with any formal white outfit.

Another great find from the 1950's is this fabulous "illusions" dress from eBay.

This dress displays the very raison dėtre of the crinoline (which is, ironically, not included). The bodice, when properly fit, will nip in at the waist and exagerate the bust. But perhaps the greatest attribute of this fabulous sheer lace dress is that it has never lost it's lovely rhinestone edged sash. Available from Great_Lake_Outfitters for the Buy It Now Price of $198.00.

The neckline of that dress fairly begs for the right embelighment, and in my wandering through Etsy, I found this:

This gorgeous rhinestone wedding parure (earrings not shown) is by Pennino. The ribbons are formed by carefully set baguettes, the floral pieces are done by marquis and princess cut stones, and the drops are one large pear shaped stone flanked by two marquise. This fabulous set is part of the offerings of JewelsVintage for $196.00.

I'm also hopelessly enchanted with these fingerless white french lace gloves:

These lovely fingerless gloves are the perfect thing to wear in lieu of jewelry, or for any formal occassion (though naturally, especially as a bride). I love these type of gloves, and I'm especially fond of this pair. Available on Etsy from MaryandAngelika for $22.00.

And to wrap around you if you should catch a chill in the evening air?

Created of either silk or rayon this lovely shawl is crocheted in a rosette pattern and is lavish in its 15" fringe. The shawl measures 44" long with fringe by 60" minus fringe. The shawl is off-white in color and perfect for any outfit from jeans to a wedding dress.

Available at Etsy from LaMeowVintage for $89.00.

And though the following items are hardly bridal, I think you'll agree that The White Album issue of Second Hand News is the only true place for them.

Also in the white / off-white category, though definitely not bridal is this luscious vintage butter cream dress.

A retro-styled dress from the 1980's, the sash hangs asymetrically, so putting a crinoline under this is a non-starter unless you wish to completely rework the waistband. As it is, however, the dress is lovely and fresh as a spring morning. The color is the lightest yellow and the fabric is described as a satin or a light brocade. To me, the combination of satin and "light brocade" spells a moirre tafetta perhaps? Tagged as a size 9-10, the dress is offered by AdVintageous for $55.00.

I've also completely lost my heart to this nostalgic, one-of-a-kind, assemblage necklace beautifully crafted by RomancingTheBling:

Is that charming, or is that charming? This necklace is so gorgeous I'm not sure which I would look forward to more if I were to own it: wearing it; or hanging it on the wall. The framed vintsge photograph has a touch of the fairy princess to it. Above that is a beautifully rendered rhinestone bow. The frame itself is rhinestone embellished and the silvertoned floral arrangements are host to a rose quartz crystal and some ballet shoes. All this loveliness is available to you for $125.00. This is a vintage inspired item, and though it contains vintage parts, but it is not a vintage necklace.

This 1940's blouse with the lovely eyelet lace jabot has survived the past 70 years in miraculously good condition. Great for pairing with anything from a pair of jeans to a black pencil skirt for thenoffice. Its wonderfully old fashioned and feminine and you just don't find treasures like this anymore. available from DearGoldenVintage for $38.00.

And my final entry for the white / off white I submit this amazingly well preserved five piece Hollywood Regency Hand-Painted French Provencial bedroom set currently on sale at Etsy.

This set includes a twin size headboard, a lovely lingerie chest, a chest of drawers with an attached mirror and a bedside table. The seller, Rhan from Los Angeles is willing to part with the entire exquisite set for a mere $999.00.

The furniture is all a very soft yellow. The tops are not lighter than the rest, this is a photographic effect the seller was unable to correct, even with their best photo-shopping skills. There is wear to the corners of the furniture, wear which I feel only adds to its vintage charm.

It is early yet, for the 70's. I don't think these pieces will be fully appreciated artistically for another decade. Financially, of course, the set can only increase in value. I do not pretend to offer financial advice. My advice remains what it always has been: buy what you love.

And so I say goodnight, and happy shopping!

Second Hand Roze




Deep in the Heart of Uncertain Texas

Simply Red: July 18, 2011

There is an expression: "biting off more than you can chew." With this blog post, I hadn't just bitten off more than I could chew, I'd somehow managed to stuff an entire turkey into my mouth. Not only could I not chew, I could just barely breath. I'd selected so many things for this blog post that I'm afraid of writing it. I have this vision of writing without stopping. No food.  No sleep.  Calling in sick for my straight job. Just writing endlessly on this single blog post. Sort of a purgatorial sentence, except I love writing, and I don't think you get to do something you love in Purgatory.

I went ahead and collected all the photos of the items I hope to write about so that I can impose a bit of order into the chaos. I'm too afraid to count the photos, but my plan is to present an item, say a polka dot dress, and then within the same portion of the post, present the other items that would go with say, the polka dot dress. We'll see how this works. It's not my usual structure. Much more  restrictive than the usual blog post, but hopefully it will give us some structure.

All that's been on my computer for over ten days. I finally realized the only way to get this blog post out is to cut it up into pieces. This is the red piece.

Finally, I should warn you that this blog post and the posts immediately thereafter will be "Etsy Heavy". I've discovered that through following circles, Etsy is an almost never ending path. I've gotten lost in Etsy. A find leads to another find which leads to another find, etc. ad infinitum.  A lot like the way I used to when the internet was new and eBay was still experimental.

Since I've already suggested starting with the polka dots, so, by all means, lets start with the polka dots. It's worth mentioning that I adore polka dots. If you don't know what to do with that hand-me-down chest of drawers? Paint polka dots on it. Polka dots make everything better. And for a lady who generally dresses in solid black, polka dots are by far my favorite pattern. For those of you who doubt polka dots, hey, God chose them for the Ladybug, what greater proof of their divinity do you need? Polka dots are da bomb, though my neice tells me (while rolling her eyes in that special way reserved for adults shooting for cool and missing the mark) that no one uses that expression anymore.

Oh well. My cool factor went down some. I might as well let it slip. I found an actual gray hair the other day. My cool days shall soon be long behind me. It is worth mentioning that my neice likes polka dots even if she would not call them da bomb.

I decided to start with the handmade polka dot hat instead of the dress. I do not suggest wearing the hat with the dress. That would be a bit much of a good thing, but the hat is just too Cool.

Useful for all sorts of occassions, wear it jeans and a chambray shirt to spiff up that outfit a bit. Wear it with a simple red (or white) dress to give it some panache and lift the simple into the chic (especially if you have those just right shoes to pull the whole thing together. What? Not the right shoes. Relax darlings. Roze can fix that. Just hang on.)

You could also make it your gardening hat! (Saying that reminds me of the scene in Steel Magnolias where Shirley McClain shows up at the beauty shop with her basket of tomatoes proclaiming that gardening and wearing hats are requisites of Southern Womanhood. I happen to agree, and this is a hat that would do any Southern Woman proud.)

The hat is made of linen and has a slightly coarse, stiff texture, and should have considerable body to it. This is not a hat that will lose it's shape. This hat will stand up to time. You can wear the brim up or down or whatever combination of the two fits your style. The hat is offered on Etsy by BonniesKnitting for $65.00. BonniesKnitting has charming hats of all styles, varieties and vintages. Absolutely the go-to place for hats!

Anyway, I think my real point is that it's possibilities are endless, and such a hat can and should be a wardrobe staple.   And may I, for a moment, lobby for hats.  Hats and gloves particularly.  When I was a child, women did not leave home without hats and gloves.  Hats and gloves were the mark of a lady.  In the years since our gloves left our hands and our hats left our heads the world has declined considerably, and I blame it on the lack of hat and gloves. 

So next time you go marketing, put on a hat, and slip some simple white gloves on your hand.  You may take them off when needed.  They look just as chic gathered in the non-dominant hand with their empty fingers drooping in your hand.  And just see what happens.  At the very worst, this could not possibly hurt.

And besides darlings,  you will look so chic.

Now, the shoes. I promised you shoes and I always keep my promises! These killer hand painted damask shoes with red anemonies and rhinestones on the heels could transport a solid color dress with that hat to anoutfit worthy of a lady who lunches.

Even if you have no interest in the shoes,the outfit, or the idea of the outfit, you still should follow the link to these shoes. Why? You ask. Well, because the woman who writes the product descriptions for the purveyor of the shoes, NoraKaren went to great lengths of research and can and will tell you more than you ever dreamed of knowing about the history of damasks (damaskeen?) and the symbolism of red anemones than you would even dream of finding on a casual catalogue browse. One has an obligation to render such research its due. Her prose is a pleasure to read.  The words slip sweetly off the tongue, and as one writer to another, I salute her.  Also, , NoraKaren has a whole slew of shoes that are just the cats pajamas.

Imagine these shoes with a pair of black cigarette pants. Imagine them with a black 50's swing dress. Imagine them, if you will with some fine seamed black stockings, and a racy set of panties with a matching bra and garter belt. These shoes are shoes to go places in (or stay home in, in the last instance). And they can be yours for a mere $295.00, a bargain for fantasies in a box.

The shoes are not vintage (though they are vintage inspired!), and are available in medium widths in whole and half sizes from 5 - 10 and whole sizes 11 and 12. Hand painted by NoraKaren her very self.

You noticed the rhinestones on the heels and the center of the toe strap right? There! I thought you did, but I pointed them out just in case. A Blogger has certain responsibilities in such an instance, and I wish to be sure that I'm living up to mine.

Okay! At last we arrive at the much renowned polka dot dress! The possibilities of this dress just captivate me.

Wear it "as is" for a retro look and you have a lovely day dress, though I have to admit that I'm not nuts about the belt they chose. I think I'd prefer a white belt, probably one of those ridiculously wide ones. Or perhaps a lovely satin sash. Especially a long one tied in a nice big bow in the back or at the side.

But lets face it. What I really want to do with it is take in a few darts at the bodice, add a princess seem, and - what the heck - lets throw in some boning, and turn this loose puppy into a nicely tailored 50's bodice.  Take in the waist.  Shelf that bust. Them we can make a darling little bubble dress, or - naturally, I'd love to see this! - stick a crinoline under that nice full skirt. And the marvelous thing about fashion is that we'd be moving the dress simultaneously forwards and backwards through time. Suddenly we shall have a dress fresh off the catwalk and a dress to make some of us stop and smile and remember when...

In the alternative, you could take up the hem and make a mini. This is my least favorite option, but if you buy it, hey, it's your dress. But again, I don't mean to suggest that it's not fabulous just as it is. It already is a wonderful dress. And we're lucky enough that my being whelmed-over by the size of this blog post has allowed us to arrive at a time when it is on sale for a mere $30.00.

The dress is made of a rayon/acetate blend which just hangs beautifully. What it won't do, however, is stretch. The model is a size 2/4. I think it would be fine as a 4/6 as well, but this dress isn't going any larger than that. No. Not one inch.

Imagine yourself in this dress at a sidewalk cafe in Paris. Imagine it styling down the sidewalk in New York' clubbing in LA. Imagine yourself in this dress at work or at a party, but don't imagine yourself squeezing into this dress if you're a size 7 or larger. Believe me darling, I know. I feel your pain.

Also from NoraKaren are these stunning shoes with a red rose tattoo motif and pheasant feather design. These too were designed to be wedding shoes, but don't they look smashing with the cherry print dress the model is wearing?

These shoes are satin shoes and both the roses and the pheasant feathers are both carefully hand painted. They are not available in leather or patent. The roses have such a three dimensional look that i'm just shocked they're not leather!

Like the shoes above them, I think they would look stunning with the red polka dot dress, especially if you wore a crinoline over the dress. I like the introduction of the black to the Red and white color scheme, and the whole thing just screams, "Chic!"

I also think they'd look fabulous with jeans and a leather jacket, a denim mini skirt with a grunge type sleeveless shirt, or a dress in the color scheme of the cherry themed dress shown above. The possibilities are endless! Perhaps my favorite scenario is the classic Marlon Brando approach: some faded, if not ripped jeans, a white t-shirt, and a leather jacket. On my!

These shoes are available in medium widths from size 5 through 10 (including half sizes) and size 11; also available in wide widths from sizes 6 through 10. They have just killer 2 1/4" stilletto heels

Yours for a bargain $225.00.

I'd wear pearls with this classic dress. One strand. Five strands. Right at the neck, or long string(s) hanging down in front. You just can't go wrong, I haven't included any because they're ubiquitous, and because I've featured so many strings of pearls in the past. Also, if you lack the technical expertise to find a string of pearls on the internet, stop! put the mouse gently down, and return this computer to the person who owns it.

I did however, find this:

A fabulous, one of a kind, artisans pearl bracelet. Each one ordered is made specifically to fit your wrist, so no two are ever alike. Featuring real fresh water pearls with sterling and a design that is both extremely modern and absolutely timeless. You could wear this at a Ren Fair, on the set of Mad Men, and to the next opening at the Museum of Modern Art. Offered on Etsy from MythicSilver for $650.00

Since we're doing red, I'll introduce the next to-die-for garment.

This practically perfect red with leopard spot skirt showed up on Etsy and it was love at first sight. It's cut wide enough to take a crinoline, but surprisingly enough, the fabric is so lightweight, so loose, so billowy, that I'm actually nuts about it the way it is.Made of a soft chiffon with the feel of silk, this is a one-size-fits-all skirt. I'd love it with either of the pairs of shoes shown above, I also love the simple white shoes the vendor has chosen to share with the skirt. I'd love it barefoot.

Perfect for anything from the office to a night at the Opera. This lovely skirt is offered by Neerjcraft for $65.00.

This fun and flirty red watch also came from Etsy. Like the red polka dot hat, this need not be saved for strictly red outfits. I think it would look smashing with jeans and a white t-shirt, and would be fabulous with either pair of shoes I've included in this blog. It could dress up denim, or add a hint of casual fun to satin.  Wear it with a white and blue ring and go vote feeling American to the bone (or british, or even French.  Sadly, this won't work for Italian.  You Italians will have to get your own rings!)

Offered by AdornmentsbyAmber for $24.50.

On a more serious front, I found this timelessly chic dress (yes, also at Etsy. I warned you about that!):

 

This cherry red mermaid dress with the back ruffle would be a perfect opportunity to show off the fun side of that darling red watch. Made most probably from tafetta or acetate, this dress is tiny, barely a size 0. The strapless dress has a sweetheart neckline and a back metal zipper (which should place it in the 50's sometime). Wonderfully retro without looking dated, this dress is in excellent condition. Offered by Aiseirigh for a bargain $80.00.

Finally in this red post are the requisite red satin shoes:

Inspired by the tango,these shoes are vintage in spirit but modern in manufacture. Each wonderfully cut shoes is embellished with a matching red satin rose (or is that a runcula?) with a Swarovsky crystal in the center. The stiletto heels are 3 1/2" high. Offered by ParisXOX from Michigan for $142.00.

And that my darlings, concludes the red portion of this blog-post.  I shall continue with soon with white and off white.

Until then,  Happy Shopping,

Second Hand Roze

Deep in the Heart of Uncertain Texas

Delays...

An actual new post....

Coming soon to a computer near you.

Many apologies darlings,

Second Hand Roze

Catch Of The Day: Wednesday, July 6, 2011

I've done it again. Created such a monumentally huge bunch of bookmarks that I tremble at the thought of turning it into a blog. But in the interim, there is this one item at eBay for which the auction expires tomorrow. I don't want you to miss it, so here we are.



This charming silver Chinese fishing pier is an import from the late the late 19th or earliest 20th century. It is rendered in such exquisite detail, that each piece was cast separately, and then they were all combined for the charming scene above. Not only is it stunning, it's certain to make an excellent investment.

I can't help but wonder if the green yarn was originally silver chain. Were I to purchase this peice, I would replace the yarn with the chain for aesthetic reasons if not for restorational reasons.

This is one of the fine antiques placed for auction by the BubbleKing set to end in just over 21 hours and requires an opening bid of $275.00.

Wishing you the best of shopping,

Second Hand Roze



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Location:Deep in the Heart of Uncertain Texas