Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Dressing up in Easter Finery!

Do you remember dressing up on Easter Sunday when you were little? I do. I remember my mom dressing my sister and I in adorable dresses, short white gloves, polished Mary Jane shoes, and, yes, even little Easter hats! The ladies in my family would dress up in pretty dresses or suits, and the gents would wear suits or nice sports coats, dress shirts, and ties. When Easter fell early in the season and lightweight coats were in order, lovely corsages adorned the ladies’ coats.

Even though life is so much more casual today, you still see people dressed up in church or out at brunch on Easter Sunday. So, why do we dress up so much more on Easter—whether for church or a meal out? One reason is obvious—it’s the day the resurrection of Christ is celebrated. But, did you know that Easter was celebrated long before that?

Named for Eastre (or Oestre), an Anglo-Saxon goddess, Easter originated as a celebration of early spring. The symbols of the Easter bunny and the egg represent fertility, or new life (a rebirth of nature). Over time, the symbols and rituals of this ancient tradition were incorporated into the Christian celebration of the resurrection (return to life), as well as into some Jewish Passover traditions. Among those symbols are flowers and the colors of spring. Newer traditions, such as Easter bonnets and the Easter Parade, have added even more celebratory elements to the holiday. Easter bonnets may have been a result of the colorful hats decorated with fresh flowers that were worn by Civil War widows coming out of mourning on “Joyful Sunday,” which was Easter. Or, it’s been speculated that Easter Sunday was once a popular day for weddings, and the wearing of dressier apparel, including fancy bonnets, carried over once that custom came to an end.

But, no matter how you celebrate Easter, one thing’s for sure—there’s no better way to dress up for the day than in your spring-best vintage fashions! The sellers of Reflections of Vintage have a few you might like!


Thursday, March 24, 2011

Today the Reflections of Vintage Group would like to create a small pictorial tribute to the late Elizabeth Taylor.

Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor
February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011

Photobucket

Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket

Below are pictures from Cat On A Hot Tin Roof. She gave new meaning to ladies' foundation garments in this film.
Photobucket
Photobucket

Here she is with her great friend Montgomery Clift
Photobucket
And with the love of her life Richard Burton
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket

Photobucket
Photobucket

Friday, March 18, 2011

Friday Eye Candy - Accessories Week!




The members of the Reflections of Vintage seller's network are pleased to offer stunning vintage handbags, hats, eyeglasses and jewelry for your consideration this week. Please visit our shops for more beautiful vintage accessories and clothes!

Vintage Unused Mint Caro Nan Hand Painted Wood Basket Box Purse Hand Bag from CATSEYE VINTAGE



Photobucket


Vintage 30s 40s Large Brass Spider Brooch Pin Green Lucite Belly from AFTER DARK VINTAGE


Photobucket


Vintage 50s Silk Organza Spring Summer Platter Hat, Easter or Derby from VINTAGE BAUBLES TOO

Photobucket



Vintage 40s Post WW2 Wicker Basket Box Purse Handbag Embellished with Shells -- Made in US Zone West Germany from CATSEYE VINTAGE


Photobucket


Vintage 1950s Silver Beaded Cateye Eyeglasses Eye Glasses from AFTER DARK VINTAGE


Photobucket


Vintage Vintage Mad Men Triple Strand Japan Blue and Gold Glass Bead Necklace from VINTAGE BAUBLES TOO


Photobucket

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Viva Las Vegas 14 - April 21 -24, 2011


With the 14th annual Viva Las Vegas weekend coming up in just over a month - April 21 through the 24th, 2011, it's time to start looking for your perfect vintage handbag, shoes and day dress.

The members of the Reflections of Vintage sellers network are pleased to offer a selection of vintage handbags, the perfect pair of stilettos, a great Rockabilly day dress and an adorable Tote Bag perfect for Viva Las Vegas!

Vintage Vegan Mother Cat and Two Kittens Faux Leather Red and White Shoulder Strap Tote or Carry On Luggage from CATSEYE VINTAGE

Photobucket

Vintage 1950s Butter Color Grasscloth Double Lid Box Purse Handbag from AFTER DARK VINTAGE

Photobucket

Vintage 60s Genuine Ostrich Skin Handbag Purse Kelly Bag from MY VINTAGE COCKTAIL

Photobucket

Vintage 60s Designer Simon Wicker Box Purse with Picture Window - Edwardian Man and Woman with Horse and Carriage from CATSEYE VINTAGE

Photobucket

Vintage 1960s Dark Green Abstract Rockabilly Shirtwaist Dress B38 W25 from AFTER DARK VINTAGE

Photobucket

Vintage Mad Men 50s 60s Leather Stiletto Spike Heels Pumps, Sz 6 VLV, Fantastic Condition from MY VINTAGE COCKTAIL

Photobucket

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

The Very Versatile Jacquard

Back with another installment of the "Fabric Junkie"! Instead of focusing on various fibers and weaves, we're going to look just at jacquards. Remember, weave and fiber are two different properties of fabric, so when we talk about jacquard, we're referring only to weave. Jacquard is a term that everybody has heard, but it doesn't seem to be well understood. Simply put, a jacquard weave is one in which a raised pattern is woven into the fabric on the loom (as opposed to a fabric onto which a design is later stitched). In more technical terms, jacquards are woven on special looms (Jacquard looms, after their inventor, Joseph Marie Jacquard) that allow warp (lengthwise) threads to be individually and independently raised from the surface. The raised designs can be simple or pronounced, subtle or intricate.

While I'm not going into detail on the Jacquard loom and its history, anyone interested in fabrics may want to read up on it a bit. The Jacquard loom was invented in the early 1800s and utilized punched cards to separate and raise the warp threads, i.e., "program" the loom, much like early computers were programmed via punch cards. So, the Jacquard loom was a forerunner of our modern computer!

Some of the more well-known, easily recognizable jacquard weaves are brocade, which has a pronounced raised pattern, often in different colors and sometimes with metallic threads, on a contrasting background; damask, a subtle weave--generally tone-on-tone or a color on a coordinating shade--in which differences in the luster of the threads delineate the pattern; and tapestry, a more complex weave in which weft threads are woven over the warp threads to create the design. Matelasse', popular but not seen as often, has a quilted effect. Dobby weaves are fashioned on specialized looms to produce repeating, small geometric patterns, such as the birds-eye weave.

Jacquards are exceedingly versatile: they're found in almost every fiber--from silk to cotton, rayon to polyester. And they're used for a multitude of everyday items, from damask tablecloths to jacquard dress fabrics to heavy upholstery material. And in accessories, we see handbags, neckties, and scarves in all types of jacquard weaves.

Damask

Photobucket


Brocade

Photobucket