Collection: Top 5 jewelry

Oooh I don't like picking favorites! But since some of you darlings asked I decided to get over myself and so I rallied up a top five of my favorite vintage jewelry pieces at this point. Some because if the emotional value, some because I think they're gorgy-gorgeous and in most cases both....

This adorable gold plated watch is a bit too big... which I love, because it makes the watch fit like a charm bracelet. There are four little rhinestones set in the clockwork, which I guess is just that extra shiny treat for the one wearing this watch. I thrifted this darling for 12.50 and I have already worn it many many times. Such a steal!

My wedding ring! Of course this beauty had to be on my list. The ring and matching earrings are made from 'mystic topaz' and diamonds in a gold setting. We found this set in a tiny antique shop in Utrecht called 'Oud Holland.' I instantly loves the green/purple deepness in the topaz. As I tried the ring on the sales lady said to me 'I already know you will never find a ring more suitable to your personality than this one.' And as I tried on several rings after this one, I soon discovered she was right!

My favorite necklace is this Jugendstil gold plated locket with gold chain. I got the chain at a bankruptcy sale a few years ago and it's just so delicate and pretty. This combination is my favorite, but I do occasionally wear the chain with a different pendant. I fell in love with this locket because of it's shine and shape. I like the fact that the three little stones are different, two rhinestones and one darling little ruby. Give the pendant just that little bit of extra specialness.

My most recent purchase... this silver ring I stumbled upon at a little novelty store (Oude Pijpenlade) in Utrecht. The sales lady wasn't sure weather it was a cut glass stone or citrine, but I'm happy with it either way. The stone is cut so brilliantly it shines and sparkles all day long. The picture really doesn't do this beauty justice. The stone is so  flawless and sparkly, which is hard to capture in a picture. Do you kittens happen to know more about rings like this?

Last but not least, my cameo loves! I found the brooch at a flea market for a tenner and I think the portrait is just divine.... so detailed! I can wear this brooch as a pendant, but I never do. The ring is actually some tourist novelty I took home from a styling strip to Napoli. I had been wanting a cameo ring for a while, so stumbling upon this beauty while searching for limoncello was a welcome surprise  It was cheap as well (39 euros), but it is gold plated and the cameo is authentic. So to me it is priceless!

My walk-in closet montage!

I have showed you many pictures of my beloved fashion room before... so please feel free to ignore yet another blog post dedicated to my favorite place in the world. I made this movie collage as a try-out. I have seen other bloggers posting movies, which I always find very entertaining.

So I wanted to see if making one myself would be fun. To try this all out I just shot some quick footage in my fashion room. I wonder if these type of movies are something you dollies like, or do you prefer good old pictures?

*Closet exists from STOLMEN elements by IKEA

The perfect stranger

Finding vintage treasures is always on my mind. I have been doing this for years and I have gone through thousands and thousands of pretty things. From dresses to kitchenary; finding that one special item what it's all about. One of the routines I find very soothing, is running my fingers through a huge bin of antique pictures. How I love staring at vintage faces and scenes from the past... It's just one of the best past times if you'd ask me. Of course I have a weakness for every picture with fashion on it. But I am also very much intrigued by early 20th century portraits because the people in the portraits are always so dead serious. And very groomed I might add. Which I understand... taking pictures in the beginning of the 20th century had to be a true undertaking. You had to sit still for a long time, and since the possibility of digital selection and photoshop was non existent, I can imagine one always trying to look their absolute best. With that in mind, I was suprised by this portrait.

The dashing young man in the picture seems to be 'kind of' groomed, but his hair is just all over the place. Not much like all the coamed faces I usually find going through vintage portaits. The 'unusuall-ness' of this made the picture so interesting to me, I had to take it home. Gazing a bit more at the handsome man, I discovered another thing. He seems to be very tall, most men weren't at the first decades of the 20th century haha. Might he have been a boared farmer, pressured into having his portrait taken... when he didn't feel like it? Maybe a big shy lumberjack who was feeling uncomfortable in a suit? Or was he just a dandy young fellow wearing his hair in a rebelious way....? I'm not sure what to think about him... but I do know I find him to be very handsome and maybe even modern looking (really... just look at that face... like he could be standing in line ordering a tall Americano in front of you at Starbucks hihi.) So what do you think about this tall drink of water? 

Pretty lace to look at

Inspired by the worlds first bra; I made some detail pictures of slipdresses and other vintage undergarment I own (and wear of course.) The silk, the lace, the charmeuse, the dreamy colours... It's just all so beautiful to gaze at (L)

All 30s-60s silk/rayon/charmeuse undergarments

I hope they were lovers...

You have already seen me wearing this pendant, but I realized I never showed you the inside. I bought this pretty gold plated heart on Marktplaats for a few euros. It's decorated with three tiny tiny pearls, which I think is adorable (but then again, I always think tiny things are adorable... you should have seen me when I found miniature hamburgers in the local supermarket.) 

I don't know who the man and woman on the pictures are, neither did the person who sold the pendant. I guess we'll never know whether they were a couple or not. But in my mind they were passionate lovers...

1925

Authentic clothing from the twenties is very hard to come by. And in the rare occasion I do stumble upon a piece that is over 80 years old, it is either black or a bad shape (most of the times; both.) Since I needed some old pieces for my fashion history workshop, I went looking on Marktplaats. That is where I found this gorgeous authentic 20s dress...

It's most likely from the mid twenties and still in good condition. An authentic silk twenties day dress with matching belt and the original slipdress still included... what a find! Of course I like the colour the most, and since the dress isn't wearable for someone with my figure... (I never did the twenties look well) I use it to decorate one of my fashionroom walls with. Such prettiness deserves to be looked at daily (L)

  

Now... of course I can not help you find a dress just like this. But recently I did spot a véry cute Maison Scotch dress that made me think of my twenties beauty immediately. The fabric even feels kind of the same. Yes... pretty!

Preparing for Paris part I

Whenever I go on a trip, I put together a color scheme as sort of a guideline for the 'packing ritual.' For our trip to Paris next week, I wanted to bring bright colours and pastels. I do hope the weather will accompany my bright selection of clothes haha. Here are some pictures of the first selection of clothes I made today. It might change a bit during the week.... probably..... almost certainly. Whieehhhh (L)

(8) Let the sunshine (8)

Vintage belts... always good for the finishing touch

Love the colours!

A lovely light Primark scarf with birdies!

Something is off here....

Primark sunglasses and vintage scarfs (love them for holding up my hair)

Love the combination between this lace Zara shirt and vintage cirkleskirt!

My new Asos brogues.... I just love the bright colours for spring!

Pretty sure I'll bring more shoes eventually haha....

Oh darling.... you can't come with :(

Lovely new Primark shoes

Who will be so kind to tell my cat that he can't come haha!

Fashion room part deux

Ever since the first post about my fashion room, a lot has changed. I had to make more room for the huge vintage lot I purchased... so the table had to go. Here is an update on how the room looks now. Say 'hi' to my lovely model (and with that I mean the dummy) Holly.... she's my pal.

Look at the kitties haha...

Fabulous collection

Last weekend I purchased a vintage clothing lot ('lot' being a collection of items sold as a package deal)... containig approximately 120 pieces of 1930s'-1960s' clothes!! I was looking for some good vintage mens wear (for styling) and stumbled upon this great lot (containing mens and womens wear.) I went to see the bunch last week, and after short consideration picked it up last saturday. I already gave away some items as gifts, kept a few pretty things myself and brought some pieces to the fleamarket last week.

There are dresses, cardigans, jackets, tuxedos, blouses, suits, trousers and coats in the lot. I was really thrilled to find some really good thirties and forties pieces. Unfortunately not all in my size, but I spoiled myself enough with other pretty things from the lot. Here is a little preview of what is now hanging in my clothing room., and to think that is only a small part of the entire lot.... (L)

I'm planning to use the items in this lot in a few different ways. Like I said, I needed mens wear for some upcomming styling jobs... and I also wanted to collect a few good jackets to dress friends and family for our wedding. Since I feel there is a lack of good 1930s-1940s vintage sellers in the Netherlands, I wanted to gather some good pieces myself to pass on to other fashionistas in the vintage scene and for potential sales (yes... I busy planning a vintage webshop!) And of course... finding some nice items for myself and my love was a nice extra haha.

A special thanks goes out to the lovely people

selling this gorgeous lot to me!