A Heavy Blow

Back in the day, before air conditioners, before electricity, the elegant lady who wanted to keep her cool wielded a fan. The hotter it was, the bigger the fan. Fanning yourself with one of these babies was a good workout too. It was also an excellent method for shooing off flies and other unwelcome pests.

Blue Ribbon

This past winter I fell in love with a 30s style white silk blouse by label Kinki Gerlinki, from the Victorian boutique Vintage Now. It was patterned with periwinkle blue playing card icons – hearts, clubs, spades and diamonds, but sadly it was missing a belt. Rather than simply finding a modern belt to fit, I decided to take a vintage approach.

Since I was quite on a periwinkle blue kick at the time, I purchased some gorgeous vintage 30s/40s Swiss velvet ribbon from Etsy store Fini Ribbon. All it needed was a vintage buckle. I found that at Wee Sparklies, also on Etsy. Shop owner Carmen refurbishes vintage jewellery, and was sweet enough to include a second buckle as a present (“Oops, it fell into the package,” she told me).

Once both pieces of the belt arrived from America, I put them together. Of course, I might have known the buckle would be too heavy for the ribbon, but I found stick-on Velcro dots that I adhered to the end of the belt. Not the most elegant of solutions, but at least they are invisible, unlike other closures that I may have had to sew on.

The belt looks very sweet on the blouse, and finally Melbourne’s weather is warming up enough so that I can wear it!

Floral frame courtesy of The Graphics Fairy.

The Case of Bell vs. Pill

Background image: watercolour by Sonia Delaunay

While clearing out my closet in the past weeks, I came across this curious little hat in a hatbox full of hats I cordially dislike. For years I have kept them because they are interesting or strange. It was time to decide on their fate, and also photograph them for posterity (thereby freeing me of the guilt of casting them off like an old shoe).

I originally purchased this particular cream hat because it was somewhat reminiscent of the 1920s with its close-fitting bell-like shape. (Cloche means bell in French.) However, it was extremely tight-fitting, and I only wore it on one or two occasions. I had a strong suspicion that it was in fact not a 20s repro, but a 1960s pillbox, and it was meant to perch on top of the head – or ought perhaps be stuffed with a beehive. 

Background image: 1960s wallpaper

The 1960s are my least favourite fashion era …

The 1960s are my least favourite fashion era. In particular I dislike most 60s hats. Shapes in fashion besides the aforementioned cloche and pillbox include bubble toques, knitted skull caps, berets, newsboy caps, floppy wide-brimmed hats and long scarves that were wrapped and tied around the head. I admit to two berets and one newsboy cap (which I don’t really like much actually – I feel like a train-driver wearing it) and one or two others, but pillboxes are loathsome.

In this case of bell vs. pill, Princess Tatiana rules in favour of bell. Although the hat is still too small and unflatteringly helmet-like, so it will be sentenced to a week of community service on eBay. Case closed.

Check Please

The Vintage Hat Series: 1950s navy straw saucer hat, covered with pleated gingham and trimmed with red velvet ribbon

Out of all the styles of hats the 1950s brought us, the saucer hat is my favourite shape. Flat as a pancake, it perches atop the head and creates such an elegant silhouette.

This dishy little number from Etsy store Susie Q’s Vintage Shop, is made from navy blue straw, covered with pleated gingham and trimmed with a narrow red velvet ribbon. The gingham makes me think of Gidget, which makes it perfect for the beach. It looks just as cute paired with a polka-dot vintage 80s blouse. 

How Sweet It Is

Celebrating the Roaring Twenties in a Special Series

Boudoir cap, c. 1919I have always, always wanted to own an original 1920s boudoir cap. There are so many covetable 1920s garments, but these little confections must truly take the cake. They are the pinnacle of Twenties chic; the epitome of the darlingest flapper girl. And since I now have shorn my hair into a bob, there was no excuse not to buy one, especially when I found a pale pink silk and ecru lace version, trimmed with pink bows, for $15 on Etsy. I’ve looked at many online in the past, but I have never seen such an inexpensive original cap of the era. 

Generally not worn overnight, the boudoir caps hid messy morning hair, or protected an elegant coiffure while dressing.

Boudoir cap, 1920sIn the Victorian era, night caps were a little more hardy, made from cotton trimmed in lace. Then in the 1920s they were transformed: sewn from silk and lace, and trimmed with silk ribbons, bows and flowers.

They were usually worn first thing in the morning in the privacy of the bedroom. Generally not worn overnight, the boudoir caps hid messy morning hair, or protected an elegant coiffure while dressing. Of course, I can’t possibly keep mine hidden in the boudoir – I must wear it out to astonish my public.

Boudoir cap, 1920sMy little cap really is so sweet that the immortal words sung by Marvin Gaye sprang immediately to mind:

How sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you
I needed the shelter of someone's arms and there you were
I needed someone to understand my ups and downs and there you were …