I’m sure by now that you heard that the Elizabeth Taylor auction set new auction records, but there’s other things to read in the world of collecting and vintage fashion… Did you know the swimsuit worn by Farrah Fawcett in that ultimate 70s poster was made by Norma Kamali? It was! And now it’s in [...]

At first look, this vintage fashion catalog from the 1930s is just a cool piece for ephemera and fashion collectors… But as you know, you should never judge a book by it’s cover! This is an incredible and unique vintage scrapbook as the 1931 Carlton Fashions catalog used as a scrapbook for crime clippings. According [...]

No, this stunning vintage yellow nylon nightgown isn’t an actual prop, but it does have ties to more than pom-pons — it has ties to television. This vintage nightgown or peignoir wasn’t worn or, to my knowledge, used on the set of TV’s Bewitched, but one just like it was! In fact, Lucie Ann lingerie [...]

As a proud feminist, the suffrage movement is near and dear to my heart; as a girlie lover of glam, jewelry with stones, especially sparkly stones, appeals to me.  So naturally I am drawn to suffrage jewelry.  However, all that glitters in antique suffragette jewelry isn’t gold — or as bought and sold. There’s a [...]

Over at My Humble Collection Rumblings, Stella Collector has a great article on collecting camphor glass jewelry — including fabulous photographs. Here’s a quick snippet to entice you to read the rest: Camphor Glass pieces started to be made first around 1890 mostly as mourning necklaces or brooches, and were made right up to the [...]

An adorable pair of 1960s little girls gloves with cross-stitched floral details: When I saw them, I immediately thought this would be a great thing to do to jazz up a pair of cheap gloves (or mittens). And then I thought, “Wouldn’t that be one way to salvage those lonely single mittens and gloves left [...]

Designer Elsa Schiaparelli made many fabulous things, but this pair of gold cat eye glasses with rhinestones and silver flower design are incredible. This pair, available from Vintage50sEyewear, are in excellent, unused, vintage condition because they are New Old Stock (NOS), complete with Farondole sticker.

In a 1940′s copy of Modern Woman magazine, this lore on the history of the handkerchief — attributing the hankie to Marie Antoinette.

It’s funny how things become vintage. I remember when my Aunt Alice (my Grandmother’s sister) came to visit me in the hospital and gave me my first pair of dangly earrings. They were not expensive made but they were gold and elegant looking and most of all, when I wore them I could feel them [...]

Another bit from that wartime issue of Modern Woman Magazine; this time War Production rules on clothing for children and women — including maternity fashions.

At first I was going to post this photo of Clara Bow posing by a Christmas tree because of the fabulous decorations and stuffed toys; but once I saw this photo of Martha Sleeper I was equally smitten! Martha Sleeper was a silent film star in the 1920s and, in the 1940s, a Broadway actress. [...]

This pair of vintage Beatles stockings was made in England by Ballito Mills for Scott-Centenaire Ltd.; the packaging features the face and signatures of the Fab Four. The individual stockings were packed in pairs, but they also were packaged in standard blue Ballito boxes. Beatles nylon stockings may be rare, but there were many variations [...]

This vintage wire photo was sent out to news outlets to promote the Harry Winston “The Court of Jewels” tour, which traveled to major American cities during 1949-1953. The traveling jewels tour showcased the Hope Diamond. From the back of the photo: New York: Lovely Margaret Wallace is just displaying her own charm enhanced by [...]

For you watch collectors out there, another scan from that 1954 issue of People Today: What Time Is It? Revolutionary Watches of the Future Indicate It’s Later Than You Think Watch at left shows time, date — and radioactivity level. Elgin watches (l. below) are experiments in plastic. “Capsule watch (r.) switches from finger to [...]

My mom has listed these pair of Julia Marlowe boots. Julia Marlowe (August 17, 1865 – November 12, 1950) was a famous stage actress. But why would a famous Shakespearean actress lend her name to a shoe? Was she just a heel? *wink* The best I can do share the following tantalizing tidbits… One, as [...]

Four collectors of vintage fashions and lingerie share their tips on what to look for when collecting vintage fashions. The experts are: Vintage lingerie collector Layla L’obatti, who is the designer behind Between The Sheets Lingerie. Theda Bara of Theda Bara’s Vintage Lingerie, a shop that specializes in selling vintage lingerie from the 30′s, 40′s, [...]

Often when a new collector finds unworn lingerie in a box clearly not its original, they shy away from the purchase, concerned the lingerie is not authentic vintage. While there are unscrupulous sellers, finding panties in a slip box is not uncommon; on the contrary, it is quite common. Those who collect vintage lingerie — [...]

Helga von Trollop shows off her handbag collection, including some great ideas for display.

Whether you like to collect television and movie props or just like to spot and collect them in your mind, it’s fun to notice when props are reused in other productions. Today’s example comes from television: The harem dress worn by Leslie Parrish in the Star Trek episode Who Mourns For Anonais? It appears the [...]

Where else can you find the best tips about caring for your vintage fashions and foundation garments then from vintage women’s publications? Then, as now, magazines shared tips for female readers interested in stretching their fashion dollars by not stretching their garments out of shape. Inside a 1941 issue of Modern Woman Magazine, tips on [...]

I haven’t worn a shower cap since I was a little girl visiting my Grandmother. I wasn’t even in the shower.  We were having a girl’s night and I went to bed with my head full of curlers. The shower cap was pink and plastic, with frills. My Grandmother would wear it in the shower when [...]