Celebrate New Year's Eve in (Vintage) Style!

We of vintage age remember the days when our parents, and then, later, we ourselves, would go out on the town for New Year's Eve. That meant getting "dressed to the nines" and going out for dinner and a party afterwards. Even the most casual of restaurant dinners or a typical house party called for dressing up. Short dresses, maxi skirts, or evening slacks were standard fare for those events. And then there were the formal galas, held at fancy ballrooms or the most elegant restaurants in town. Ladies in evening gowns and their finest jewelry, men in formal suits or tuxedos, an orchestra to which to dance....

I remember my mom and her friends breaking out their fancy stoles or wraps, beaded and sequined clutch bags, and dressiest heels. My sister and I were in awe of how lovely they looked and how their dresses "swished" as they danced out the door on their way out for the night. And, when we were older, we would get dressed up and go out as well. Although the "age of casual" was approaching even then, we women would wear cocktail dresses or casual long dresses, and the men would wear sports jackets with ties. Dinner and dancing were still standard entertainment, then we would do the rounds of the house parties, at which you almost never would find anyone wearing jeans. Can you imagine that!

Alas, those indeed were the days.... However, there are still parties and dinners to attend on New Year's Eve, and you don't have to go casual as most everyone these days does. Break out a vintage dress or gown, carry a dressy vintage bag, or wear some stunning vintage jewelry--be as bold or as subtle as you wish. No matter whether you dress in vintage or accessorize with it, you'll feel great and look great--and we're sure you'll get lots of compliments and admiring looks!

We at Vintage Reflections wish you a Happy New Year, and may have some goodies in our shops to help you ring it in!

From Alley Cats Vintage:

Vintage 1960s 60s Party Dress Bright Red Chiffon Strapless Cocktail Formal by Lilli Diamond B 38-40



Vintage Formal Gown1960s 60s Black Satin with Jeweled Bodice Party Evening Dress by Pab B33 W24



Vintage 1980s 80s Black Beaded Drop Waist Party Dress by AfterDark Sz 12




At My Vintage Cocktail:

SALE Vintage 50s 1950s Strapless Full Skirt RED Evening Gown, XS / Small



SALE Vintage Crystal Necklace & Dangle Earrings in Original Box, Wedding, Party, Holiday Jewelry



Vintage 80s Designer Ruched & Draped Party, Cocktail, Disco Jersey Dress, Med Lg 10 12




And from Catseye Vintage:

Vintage 80s Strapless One Shoulder Evening Gown Dress Black Chantilly Lace with Bow by Karen Okada Climax Size XS to S



Vintage 60s Woven Metal Handbag 1960s Purse Bridal Evening Gold Tone



Vintage 80s Dress 1980s Cocktail Party Hand Beaded Black Silk Chiffon DEADSTOCK Size XS to S

Gift Ideas for the Vintage Aficionado on Your List!

Buying "used" items for people as holiday gifts? Some would think that uncouth, uncool, weird, or "cheap." But, as we vinties know, it's anything but! For anyone who collects vintage "stuff," of any sort, finding a sought-after or long-admired treasure in a Christmas stocking or under the tree is definitely a treat! Especially if it's something one would never buy for oneself. I'm sure we've all been there, done that--lusted after a vintage dress, a bag, piece of jewelry, a Limoges plate, Hull vase, Fenton basket, etc. But we always say, "Oh, I just couldn't buy that for myself," or, "If I have any money left over after buying everyone else's gift, maybe I'll get that (whatever) I've been eyeing." It's not even usually the expense, for many of these items can be found inexpensively, that stops us, it's that we "don't need" it, so we don't get it. Let's change that this year!

So, this year, buy that special friend that something special. Or, buy that something you've always wanted for yourself! Go ahead, you deserve it! We here at Vintage Reflections can help you find just the right vintage piece--come and take a look....

My Vintage Cocktail has these pretties:

Vintage compacts are so collectible, and this is very hard to find:
Vintage 50s Coty Compact, Perfume, Lipstick in Purse Vanity Case, RARE



This Vintage Sterling Silver Bracelet, Scarab Design, 50s 60s, Periwinkle Glass, 7 1/2" is the perfect stocking stuffer!



The lady who collects vintage novelty handbags will enjoy our Vintage 50s K & G Charlet Novelty Bird Purse Handbag, Parrot, Flamingo, with Rhinestones





Alley Cats Vintage offers this fabulous Vintage Mings Honolulu Ivory Set Tree Fern Brooch & Earrings



Women love cameos, and this one is a great one to give as a gift: Vintage Shell Cameo Pendant En Habille 14K



Someone (maybe you!) will be "pretty in pink" with these Vintage 1980s Richelieu Imitation Baroque Pink Pearl Double Strand Beads NWT Chunky




And from Catseye Vintage:

This lovely Vintage 60s Woven Gold Tone Metal Handbag, 1960s Purse, Bridal Evening
is perfect for the holiday season!



Tobacciana collectors will love this Vintage 30s Match Safe 1930s Nickel Silver with Watch Chain signed EAM Elgin American Manufacturing Company



And give this set before Christmas or New Year's, as what vintage jewelry-loving lady wouldn't want to wear it during the holiday season?

Vintage 50s Necklace and Earrings Demi Parure Signed Monet Modernist Gold Tone Brushed Metal Set

Make It a Vintage Mother's Day!

Mother's Day will soon be upon us, on May 8. In this country, people usually think Mother's Day began in the early 1900s, when Anna M. Jarvis began campaigning for the creation of an official holiday. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill recognizing Mother's Day nationally, and declaring its observance on the second Sunday in May.

But Mother's Day has its roots in ancient celebrations of motherhood, which, rather than being human oriented, focused on symbolism, myth, and religion. The Egyptians' annual celebration of the goddess Isis, the "mother of the pharoahs," is one of the earliest recorded homages to motherhood. The Greeks honored Rhea, their mother of the gods. And the Romans celebrated the goddess Cybele, or "Magna Mater" (Great Mother). The Roman festival occurred in March, around the same time as the Greeks' celebration of Rhea. Among the Roman traditions were the eating of honey cakes and the sharing of flowers. Games and parades also marked the day. The celebration of Cybele was shared by many countries.

Later European celebrations of motherhood were in reference to the Christian Church and fell during Lent, on the fourth Sunday. Parishoners honored the church in which they were baptized (their "mother" church). "Mothering Day" became, in 17th-century England, a celebration of real mothers. Working women were given leave to visit their families, the Lenten fast was suspended for family feasts, and mothers were honored with cakes, flowers, and visits from children who lived at a distance.

When the Pilgrims settled in North America, they stopped celebrating Mothering Day, so there was no tradition in the United States of honoring mothers on a particular day of the year. But, in 1870, Julia Ward Howe, who wrote the lyrics to The Battle Hymn of the Republic, called for an international Mother's Day to celebrate peace and motherhood. Dismayed over the devastation of the Civil War, she called upon mothers to protest the killing of each others' sons. This "Howe's Mother's Day" was celebrated for about a decade, but eventually faded away. However, it planted the seed that would be fertilized by Anna M. Jarvis after the death of her own mother. Ironically, Ms. Jarvis would, in later years, become incensed by what she saw as the deplorable commercialization of the holiday she had devoted her life to seeing to fruition.

Today many countries across the globe celebrate the American version of Mother's Day, or one similar to it, while the English Mothering Day is now called by either name. It is, however, still celebrated on the fourth Sunday in Lent. In all these countries, gift giving has become traditional.

Mother's Day gifts can be lavish or inexpensive, large or small, practical or just for fun! We think vintage items are wonderful gifts, either to give or to receive. Many moms enjoy the nostalgia that comes with a gift reminding them of their childhoods and their own mothers, while many appreciate the finer quality of yesterday's treasures. We have a few ideas for making Mother's Day a vintage one!

From After Dark Vintage, we have this 1950s Black Fabric Box Style Purse Handbag



And a Sweet Vintage Pink Wicker Harvey Sewing Basket with Contents




Vintage Baubles Too has this Vintage Mesh Bead and Lucite Spring / Summer Handbag Purse



And this Vintage Lisa Jewels Large Enamel and Goldtone Floral Brooch / Pin




Featured at Catseye Vintage are an Antique 1910 - 1920s Apollo Studios Faux Guilloche Enamel Signed Hand Mirror and Matching Unused Hair Brush Vanity Set



And this Antique 1900's Victorian Gold Filled 49.5" Slide Chain with an Opal Gem Stone and Seed Pearls

(Mother's Day information excerpted, in part, from www.mothersdaycentral.com, among other resources.)

Sparkle with Rhinestones!

With wedding, prom, and party season almost here, let’s look at “sparklies” that don’t cost a fortune. From chokers and necklaces with dangling bits of adornment to earrings and bracelets, vintage rhinestone jewelry is always in style.

But, have you ever wondered just what rhinestones are, or how long they’ve been used in jewelry? Well, I have, so I set out to learn more. An in-depth history would be too much for a blog, but here are some key points:

What we call rhinestones have been used, in some form, for hundreds of years. The royal and the wealthy would have copies of their genuine gemstone jewelry made up to wear out in public; if they were stolen, the real articles would still be safe. Probably the term most of us have heard to describe these older imitations of precious and semi-precious stones is “paste.” Paste gems were made of molded, faceted glass with a high lead content and backed with a metallic lining. These reflected light and, to a layman’s eye, sparkled like the real thing.

As time went on, the process of making imitation gems was refined. For example, early paste jewels were faceted during the molding process. Later, the glass was hand cut into faceted form for better quality, but this was extremely time consuming. In the late 1800s came the breakthrough that led to the modern rhinestone. Daniel Swarovski of Austria patented a glass-cutting machine that produced faceted crystals with more precision and with lightening speed. In the early 1900s, he began using glass with 32% lead content, resulting in stones that were far superior to prior types.

Rhinestones have evolved to include not only foiled stones, but those with “silvered” or mirrored backings and unbacked stones in open settings. The terms Swarovski crystal, Austrian crystal, diamante, Strass (after George Stras, a jeweler who worked in Paris in the 1700s and who produced very popular paste stones), and paste are used to describe more or less the same product, although the latter two are associated with older stones. There are many more descriptive terms as well. In the U.S., these imitation gems are usually called “rhinestones,” after the Rhine River region of Germany, where natural quartz stones that sparkled with color were taken from the riverbed. Once these were depleted, glass imitations were offered for the souvenir trade.

One of the last key developments in rhinestone manufacturing was the invention of the Aurora Borealis (AB) crystal. In 1956 (some say 1955; the Swarovski web site says 1956), Swarovski, working in concert with Christian Dior, perfected a metallic chemical coating process that gives the crystals a shimmering, rainbow-colored appearance. Most vintage AB pieces were made from that time to about the mid 60s, then fell out of favor. They since have regained popularity.

We here at Reflections of Vintage would like to share some of our rhinestone pieces with you!

Vintage Art Deco Blue Rhinestone Dress Clip, Earrings from Vintage Baubles Too:





Vintage Art Deco Sterling Box Set Emerald Green and Clear Rhinestone Tennis Bracelet from After Dark Vintage




Vintage Signed WEISS 3-D Pierced Tiered 3-D Double Leaf Brushed Gold Tone Earrings Accented with Blue and Green Pave Set Rhinestones from Catseye Vintage




Vintage 1930s Art Deco Pot Metal Rhinestone Brooch / Pin from Vintage Baubles Too:




Elegant Vintage Black Enamel and Clear Rhinestone Brooch Made in Austria from After Dark Vintage



Vintage 40s 50s Kramer Signed 3-D Dangling Blue Aurora Borealis AB Rhinestone and Crystal Earrings from Catseye Vintage:

Mother's Day History and Vintage Gift Ideas

Everyone knows that Mother's Day is this Sunday, May 9th, but do you know the history of Mother's Day?

Celebrating motherhood is a historical tradition that goes back to the ancient Greeks, who honored Rhea, the mother of all gods, and the ancient Romans who honored their mother goddess, Cybele.

In the United States, a campaign for a national day to honor mothers was launched in 1907 by Anna Jarvis who handed out white carnations to members of her mother's church in Grafton, West Virginia. In 1908, the church began holding a special Sunday service in honor of mothers -- by the following year, the tradition had spread to churches in 46 states.

In 1909, Anna left her job and dedicated herself to a full-time letter-writing campaign, imploring politicians, clergymen and civic leaders to institute a national day for mothers.

In 1912, Jarvis' efforts met with success: Her home state of West Virginia adopted an official Mother's Day; two years later, the U.S. Congress passed a Joint Resolution, signed by President Wilson, establishing a national Mother's Day emphasizing the role of women in their families. Ever since, Mother's Day has been celebrated by Americans on the second Sunday in May.

Today, we celebrate and honor our mothers with cards, dinner or lunch at a nice restaurant and gifts such as vintage robes, jewelry or vanity items such as shown below.

Vintage Mink Checkbook Cover - For The Woman Who Has Everything from ALLEY CATS VINTAGE

Vintage AB Rhinestone & Plastic Large Butterfly Brooch w/Faux Pearl from A & J ESOTERICA

Vintage 50s 60s Signed Designer ROBERT MANDLE Figural 3-D Pewter Elf and Mushroom Brooch from CATSEYE VINTAGE

Vintage 1950s Gold Metal Basketweave Purse with Lucite Top and Handles by Dorset Rex 5th Avenue from ALLEY CATS VINTAGE

Vintage 1940's Art Deco Loran-Sim Gold Filled Earrings from A & J ESOTERICA

Vintage 50s 60s Hand Painted and Gilded Fragonard Courting Couple Porcelain Footed and Hinged Trinket Jewelry Dresser Box from CATSEYE AT HOME

Some information courtesy of The Holiday Spot.com.