Fine Feathers

Soft suede fringe in exaggerated proportions, jade green and magenta feathers, and beads plaited through the collar make this necklace fit for an Indian princess. Pocahontas even.

It caught my eye many moons ago in Sportsgirl (where I often hunt for accessories), but I decided that I would not spend 60-odd dollars on it. Then came the end of summer and I wandered back into the store at sale time to find it reduced to $10. A bargain – that I didn’t bargain for! 

(Half) Hand in Glove

Gloves by Leibo Hate, top by Anthropologie, vintage hat

Last Sunday after I finished my marketing, I wandered down a sidestreet by the Queen Victoria market, peering into the windows of the new little designer shops that have sprung up there in the last year or so. There was a new one that sold vintage. I proposed to while away a little time before I wandered home.

There was a lovely navy maxi-dress in the best Margo Leadbetter style (played by Penelope Keith in The Good Life) all covered over with stars; regretfully it was on hold for someone else. I moved on. On a shelf I spied a little pair of – half-gloves? I made an beeline for them and tried them on in delight. I had never seen such a charming concoction and was instantly enchanted. I hardly need add that I elected to purchase them, do I?

Carrie Bradshaw wearing half gloves in ‘Sex & the City’Later on I discovered that they were made famous long ago by Carrie Bradshaw. They must have slipped my notice at the time; after all, they are such dainty little things it would be easy. I then searched online and apart from an expensive Italian website, found them available to purchase on eBay. Though I much prefer my buff-coloured pair (subtle to the point of invisibility) to the rather crudely bright hues in the latter marketplace.

What’s particularly appealing about them is the fact that while gloves today are no longer part of every woman’s daily wardrobe, and are worn chiefly in winter for the express purpose of keeping one’s hands warm, these half-gloves are deliciously impractical. That’s the beauty of fashion. 

Bang, Bang on the Desk Baby

I love bangles. I own too many really – a whole shoebox-full. I wear them too (unlike the drawerful of scarves, another love), although I have my favourites, such as my smooth black onyx that I wear nearly every day. The only thing is, they are so annoying when working at a computer! They bang around so much on my desk eventually I take them off for fear of earning my work colleagues’ censure. Hence the name BANG-le, I guess.

Here is a new purchase from China, found on eBay, carved from yellow lacquered cinnabar. I adore the colour – such a bright sunny,
summery hue. 

A closeup

What is cinnabar?

A bright red mineral, cinnabar is a toxic mercury ore, although in the form of cinnabar it is at its least harmful. It is also known as vermillion, and gives this name to the artist’s pigment, and has been used in decorative art and cosmetics since ancient times by the Mayans and Romans, among others. Probably the Chinese are most well known for utilising the mineral in their lacquered cinnabar decorative objects and jewellery.

First ground into a powder cinnabar is then mixed with lacquer – produced from the sap of the lac tree that is commonly found in central and southern China. Base objects are then coated with many layers of lacquer, which are finally carved. Some pieces may be coated 300 times: each layer had to dry completely before the next was applied, so these pieces could take up to half a year and more to produce. Sometimes other dyes, such as yellow, were substituted for red cinnabar, or layered between the traditional red to create a multi-hued effect.

(Clockwise from top left): powdered cinnabar; pair of Chinese cinnabar lacquer vases; of lobed form, with floral design featuring peonies; long neck with flared rim featuring small lotus blossom designs; carved tea flower ring by Rebecca Berry Jewelry.Cinnabar lacquer was produced and carved for many years before the toxic effect was known, after which a layer of clear lacquer was finally applied – particularly to jewellery – to prevent the spread of mercury to the skin. Most modern cinnabar decorative objects or jewellery have been made from lacquer that has been tinted with a simulated chemical cinnabar. But beware: any truly vintage pieces should be kept behind glass to prevent poisoning! 

A Hole Lotta Something

Last Saturday, after the fashion workshop on vintage fabrics, I decided to stop in the city on the way home and do some vintage shopping (but naturally) – in spite of the disagreeable, monsoon-like weather conditions.

I ventured into Retro Star and spent a pleasant hour or so, perusing the wares and trying on a few garments. But it was the orange and blue polkadot silk scarf wrapped around a mannequin belt-fashion that had captured my fancy.

There was only one problem: it had a little hole and pull in one end. I eyed it doubtfully. Was it worth paying $22 for a holey – albeit charming – silk scarf? After much dithering, I decided to purchase it, but I would present them with the hole and eye them expectantly. They discounted it to $15. Bargain!

Later that afternoon, after a chance meeting with a friend in Little Collins St, I was invited to partake of refreshment at a family gathering. I proudly showed my friend and new acquaintance my little polkadotted beauty – and then took several minutes to find the hole. “I’m sure there’s one somewhere here…”

It transpired that the hole is only visible when one pulls the fabric quite taut. My friends laughed with me. I call it a hole lotta bargain! 

Princesses and Ropes

No, this story has nothing to do with Rapunzel, but rather a strand of magical beads…

A little while ago I stumbled upon some vintage green wooden beads. Because I wasn’t sure what to make of them, I let them sit for a while.

I was tired of short necklaces – those pieces of a certain and most common length of 17”–19”. The Princess length. I wanted to make something in an odd length; something that, if worn with some other necklace, would not clash and hit the same spot.

So I made a queenly 52” necklace. Any strand greater than 45” is termed either a Lariat, or Rope. The former has no clasp and may be worn any way one pleases; the latter has a clasp. So the vintage green wooden beads, black onyx, and two old silver-toned Moroccan beads make up my new Rope.

I may have exaggerated the magical part.