Vintage capes

Capes will be big this autumn and the fashion world ( and my) obsession with vintage is set to continue into this autumn season also, so why not combine the two?! I came across these on Etsy and Ebay today, some of these should be museum pieces they are so illustrative of their era.

1960s cape €142.66 from Jessamity on Etsy

60s orange cape €56 from MysteryMister on Etsy

Pink capelet €37.81 from SugarHiccupVintage on Etsy

 I definitely would think twice before wearing colours this in-your-face, it's a pity fashion is less daring now than 50 yrs ago. These 1970s capes and ponchos are more wearable.....

1970s cape/poncho €24.97 from YoungandUkraine on Etsy-love the colour!

1970s welsh wool cape on Ebay for €57

Tartan belted cape €36 from Mom24kids on Etsy.

I'm small and would easily be swamped so am definitely looking for a belted cape for some waist definition. Otherwise I'll just look like a big mushroom! I finally threw out my beloved tartan coat which apparently made me look like a 12 yr old according to my other half ( and I finally agreed with him), so may well get a lovely tartan cape to replace it!

Monochrome dream....

I wish wish wish I had the legs for this dress...........

ASOS Peter Pan collar dress €64.10

It would be amazing with black tights and these Feud boots which I love but which Ebay does not currently have my size in and are too pricey otherwise....

or these even more amazing Feud Breeze boots, currently down to €83.33 on ASOS....

 Sigh. Alas it is not to be!

Colour blocking tweed

I really want a fitted tweed jacket but I'm not into the English heritage look, all horsiness and functional. Tweed is such a lovely  tactile and natural fabric, I think it's a shame to consign it to being a stuffy historical material. I want something more vibrant and quirky from my tweed, which is hard to find out there. Proenza-Schouler had amazing neon tweeds for Spring/Summer but I'd like something to bring me into Autumn.

Bright tweed summer dresses from Proenza-Schouler

Paul Costelloe and Libertine are two of the few designer houses giving us beautiful bright tweeds for Autumn/Winter 2011. And Paul Costelloe's tweed was sourced in Tipperary!

Libertine A/W 2011. Such juicy colours!

Libertine A/W 2011

Paul Costelloe A/W 2011

Paul Costelloe A/W 2011

Paul Costelloe A/W 2011 -I think this is his daughter!

ASOS have some beautifully colourful House of Holland tweed pieces. I want this dress! Colour blocking and tweed in one gorgeous frock.

House of Holland £295 on ASOS

I can't find anything affordable on my usual Ebay, ASOS or highstreet shops so off to do some vintage trawls for quirky 50s and 60s tweed...............

Vintage wedding frocks!

Almost a whole year married and I'm still slowly weaning myself off drooling at wedding dresses, particularly vintage wedding dresses. Admittedly a lot of the beautiful dresses I've come across would do absolutely nothing for me but I love the idea of finding dresses out there that other girls would love. I wonder would anyone hire me as a wedding dress tracker-downer!? I don't think you should have to pay a lot for vintage, with a little bit of internet trawling you will find something perfect for less than €500, and maybe a tiny fraction of that.
Bear in mind that you may have to get the dress drycleaned and this will be pricey. I used Craft Cleaners on Baggott St to clean my lace 1960s wedding dress, it cost €120 which was less than it costs to clean a new dress but I then had a very nervous 2 weeks wondering if it would come back to me in shreds! ( No reflection on Craft Cleaners, they are expert cleaners and do specialise in vintage wear but they had warned me aged fabrics can just spontaneously fall apart upon washing with even the best care.)

1950s Vintage polka dot dress €236 from TimelessVixenVintage on http://www.etsy.com/

1950s lace tunic currently on Ebay for less than €10 but shipping from the USA...

1950s lace wedding dress, bids starting at £50 on Ebay

Obviously the major issue with buying online is that you can't try the dress on before you buy, which is a bit of a gamble, but a good dressmaker could alter it to fit as long as it is on the big side.
To avoid such problems there are some great vintage boutiques in Ireland where you can try on beautiful pre-cleaned wedding dresses with helpful advice and pampering to boot, the first one that springs to mind is Dirty Fabulous, where I got my own dress! As well as beautiful vintage pieces they have recently sourced a vintage inspired range which runs to larger sizes than the often eensy genuine vintage dresses.

1950s inspired wedding dress €740

When you consider that the cost of most new modern wedding dresses is an average of €1,600 these dresses are infinitely more affordable, quirky and unique, and a nod to vintage without the teeny sizing and risk of imperfections.

Some of the Irish vintage stores that stock bridalwear:

Dirty Fabulous, Dublin ~ http://www.dirtyfabulous.com/
Enchanted Vintage, Sligo ~ http://www.vintageclothing.ie/
The Goddess Room, Wicklow ~www.thegoddessroom.net
Hayworth Vintage, Dublin ~www.hayworthvintage.com
After Sybil, Cork ~www.aftersybil.com
De Paor Designs, Wicklow ~www.depaordesigns.com/
Oxfam Bridal, Dublin ~http://www.oxfamireland.org/oxfambridal

Yup. Still obsessed.

Had to add this beautiful vintage art-deco inspired Phase Eight dress I came across today, available on www.johnlewis.com and at £450 not at all unreasonable for a wedding dress.

Phase Eight Elizabeth wedding dress with beaded bodice £450

Beautiful metallic bags

I cam across these beauties from Zatchel yesterday, they are so beautiful, a little pricey at £109 but such a bold statement, and they're only going to improve with age. And a classic satchel is never going to go out of fashion! You can find them at http://www.zatchel.com/.

My initial internet search was inspired by this offering from the Cambridge Satchel Company on http://www.asos.com/, it's amazing but maybe a little too shiny? Can't help but feel it would be somewhat of a hazard, attracting medieval knights on the hunt for the Holy Grail and suchlike.......

Cambridge Satchel Company £110

Can you hear choirs of angels?

Love of the day

I love the muted colours here, these M Missoni dresses remind me of the faded yellowed photos from the 1970s where the colours are all slightly off , there's something lovely and nostalgic about them.

M Missoni Colour block dress €262 ASOS

M Missoni Double halterneck dress €192 ASOS

Vintage handbag offerings

I love bags as much as the next girl but the huge satchel bags that we're supposed to all love right now are just too big for me, I'm small and a big bag just swamps me.
All the bags that have resonated with me, the bags that friends have had and I've envied to the point of almost stealing them, are invariably vintage bags. Beautiful, classic and manageably sized.
 Personally I love the doctor bag style but there's so many different sizes and shapes out there, there's something for everyone. I think it's a great way of buying leather for a good price and expressing your own style rather than going down the mass-produced route.

1960s blue handbag €40 Vintage Trig

Vintage "skin" bag €45 Vintage Trig -how cool would this be as a laptop bag?

Vintage french Zara satchel €78.40 Dandelion Daydreamer

I love this. I may just buy it when I'm finished posting! Doctor's bag €56 Dandelion Daydreamer

French vintage tan messenger bag €63.88 Dandelion Daydreamer

This beautiful caramelly chestnutty colour only comes with age!

1950s snakeskin bag €71 Dandelion Daydreamer

Doctor's bag by Allencompanyinc on Etsy €71

Bronze beaded bag 1930s €150 The Goddess Room. It's pricey but it's more an antique than just vintage. You're buying history!

1950s tortoise-shell lucite box bag €141.25 Devoted 2 Vintage

19602 wood&burlap box bag €96.05 Devoted 2 Vintage

Amazing black leather bag from the 1940s €108 by blackflamingovintage on Etsy

 I have always loved wicker things, it's lovely and creaky and makes me think of picnics and summer and nature!

1960s picnic box from HavePitty on Etsy. Faux leather but it is only €11. And very cute.

Perfect for a Mad Men moment !

Update: I bought this on Etsy to go with a black pencil dress I've added feather trim to, mixing up my 50s and 60s a little but hey I think it works! It was only €9 from Sailorettes on Etsy.