Thursday, February 24, 2011
SPRING MEGA SALE!
SALE alert! I just came back from an amazing buying trip with tons of new merchandise, and I need to make room! Loads of items in the shop just got marked down, and if you buy two sale items the third item is free (equal or lesser value, not including shipping).
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Being Bettie
To say that Bettie Page influenced my style is quite an understatement; I completely worshiped her as a teenager. I know; she's probably not the best role model for a young lady of 14... but neither are the Jersey Shore girls! I did everything I could to look like Bettie; I wore red lipstick every day of my life, dyed my hair jet black and rocked the bangs for years. I recently saw a little blip about how Bettie bangs are coming back for spring, and I got really nostalgic.
I started looking around online when I realized just how much her influence her style still has today; her bikinis are still being copied by major design houses 60 years later! I took a good look at a few of my favorite photos of her, then started doing some searching online and found some good vintage and new replicas that will let you get the look. When I searched for Bettie Page shoes, mine came up in the search results... that shows you just how deep she goes in my brain. So for all you Betties out there, check it out:
I started looking around online when I realized just how much her influence her style still has today; her bikinis are still being copied by major design houses 60 years later! I took a good look at a few of my favorite photos of her, then started doing some searching online and found some good vintage and new replicas that will let you get the look. When I searched for Bettie Page shoes, mine came up in the search results... that shows you just how deep she goes in my brain. So for all you Betties out there, check it out:
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Escape to Jamaica
It's about that time of year; my husband and I are making our annual visit out to Jamaica to visit his family (I know, poor me). Of course, I think I have nothing to wear. I need outfits that are lightweight, practical, and can easily convert from a beach day to a casual night out. AND I need something to keep covered up because grandma is super old fashioned. If I had unlimited funds I would buy all the things below, but for now I'll be on the hunt for more affordable copies or vintage lookalikes.
Diane von Furstenberg Striped chiffon shirt, $210
Chloé High-waisted bandeau bikini, $390
Vivan lace-up wedge, $495
Amazon.com: Moroccan Straw Summer Beach / Shopper / Tote Bag..., $27
Multi Feather Necklace, $29
Buy SurfStitch VON ZIPPER STRAW BOATER HAT - Westfield, 40 AUD
Lucia - Summer Safari Puma, $165
Amazon.com: Banana Boat Sport Sunblock Lotion, SPF 30, 8-Ounce Tube..., $18
Chloé High-waisted bandeau bikini, $390
Vivan lace-up wedge, $495
Amazon.com: Moroccan Straw Summer Beach / Shopper / Tote Bag..., $27
Multi Feather Necklace, $29
Buy SurfStitch VON ZIPPER STRAW BOATER HAT - Westfield, 40 AUD
Lucia - Summer Safari Puma, $165
Amazon.com: Banana Boat Sport Sunblock Lotion, SPF 30, 8-Ounce Tube..., $18
Monday, February 7, 2011
Shop Update!
A small, but quite good shop update is happening within the next 24 hours. There's a couple really unique pieces going in; a suede hooded coat in magenta and purple, a tapestry bag with a cartoon like character face, and a rare pair of Edouard Jerold cherry red pumps in a size...9!!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Beautiful Bags
It's that odd time of year when you're not quite sure what to buy; it's too cold to wear spring clothes, and you are so sick of winter you never want to look at a jacket again. So what do you buy when you need instant shopping gratification? Bags, naturally! You can wear them right now, and carry them into spring and summer... and a new purse never fails to perk me up. I'm stocking the shop with these beauties by tonight, enjoy!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Trench Art and Modern Attraction
There are many reasons we are predisposed to collect the things that we do. Objects, in their tangential form, have the ability to evoke the evanescent. They can evoke a memory of a time, place, person, or emotion. These memories are most often based on reality; definitive happenings experienced in our lifetimes. But sometimes, we experience a rarer, more profound form of attraction that has no obvious connection to the life we have lived.
This attraction, persistent, deep-seated and irresistibly magnetic will manifest as a cathexis of objects and symbols. A woman in the Midwest who has never visited the ocean might dream of it every night, and collect shells. A 21st century American man develops an obsession with French war artifacts during the reign of Napoleon. It can easily be argued that these choices to collect are entirely random, and it is also easy to argue that they are an unmistakable nexus to a past life. My personal belief is that certain memories are part of a collective unconscious, and some sort of catalyst triggers their discovery. I don't know what drives the catalyst, and don't think I ever will because that, my dear friends, is just too metaphysical of a question and I keep that can of worms closed unless you are really determined to engage me.
I've never been to war, despise violence, and don't have any family members that have seen active combat. Yet somehow, I have developed an affinity with trench art and decided to start a collection. "Trench art" is a term used to describe decorative objects made by soldiers during times of war, usually out of metal such as aluminum scraps and ammunition casings. The practice flourished during the first world war, but remained popular through WWII.
Small objects such as rings and sweetheart bracelets were essentially the only pieces that could actually be made in trenches. It would have been far too difficult and dangerous to utilize the tools necessary to make larger and more complicated pieces such as vases and miniature planes while in combat. Larger pieces were usually made by off duty forces, prisoners, and men behind the front lines. These objects were often sent home to loved ones as souvenirs and gifts. Civilians in occupied countries also created decorative items such as embroidered postcards and floursacks to make extra income.
My favorite type of trench art, no surprise, is jewelry. My first acquisition is a ring made of aluminum in Palermo, Italy in 1944. Soldiers would often create a new ring at each place they were stationed to commemorate their travels. This one belonged to a vet that was also stationed in Algiers.
A rare and well executed WWI lighter, most likely made from brass coat buttons:
This attraction, persistent, deep-seated and irresistibly magnetic will manifest as a cathexis of objects and symbols. A woman in the Midwest who has never visited the ocean might dream of it every night, and collect shells. A 21st century American man develops an obsession with French war artifacts during the reign of Napoleon. It can easily be argued that these choices to collect are entirely random, and it is also easy to argue that they are an unmistakable nexus to a past life. My personal belief is that certain memories are part of a collective unconscious, and some sort of catalyst triggers their discovery. I don't know what drives the catalyst, and don't think I ever will because that, my dear friends, is just too metaphysical of a question and I keep that can of worms closed unless you are really determined to engage me.
I've never been to war, despise violence, and don't have any family members that have seen active combat. Yet somehow, I have developed an affinity with trench art and decided to start a collection. "Trench art" is a term used to describe decorative objects made by soldiers during times of war, usually out of metal such as aluminum scraps and ammunition casings. The practice flourished during the first world war, but remained popular through WWII.
Small objects such as rings and sweetheart bracelets were essentially the only pieces that could actually be made in trenches. It would have been far too difficult and dangerous to utilize the tools necessary to make larger and more complicated pieces such as vases and miniature planes while in combat. Larger pieces were usually made by off duty forces, prisoners, and men behind the front lines. These objects were often sent home to loved ones as souvenirs and gifts. Civilians in occupied countries also created decorative items such as embroidered postcards and floursacks to make extra income.
My favorite type of trench art, no surprise, is jewelry. My first acquisition is a ring made of aluminum in Palermo, Italy in 1944. Soldiers would often create a new ring at each place they were stationed to commemorate their travels. This one belonged to a vet that was also stationed in Algiers.
I'm currently bidding on this sweetheart bracelet, hoping to add it to my collection:
A rare and well executed WWI lighter, most likely made from brass coat buttons:
bullet and aluminum plane
I hope you enjoyed this post and learned something new today. What do you collect that you have no explanation for, and why do you think you do it?
xoxo
Giana
xoxo
Giana
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