I haven’t been posting much as I’ve moved house and am waiting for my internet connection to be relocated…waiting, waiting…sigh. In the meantime, here is a lovely ad from Sears featuring some gorgeous Lounging Pjamas and cute lingerie. I love that the bra was called a ‘bandeau’ here. I would like the ‘Serona ensemble’ please in blue!
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I have my very own early 30s gramophone and a tonne of swing 78s but it’s not very portable and I have always coveted one of these little rippers for picnics and vintage outings. Number 2 would be for me, with its faux alligator ‘Fabrikoid’Â box. And a steal at $11.95 ($200US today). Something so well made would have been treasured in the day and it would have taken years to save up for … ahh if I only had a time machine and a shipping crate …
After spotting an original Whiting & Davis purse from the 1920s recently in an antique shop here in Perth, I decided I’d write a little blog about them as I see them pop up all the time on ebay and Etsy in some stunning designs. W & D were not the only company to make this type of mesh purse at the time, but I have found their designs to rather beautiful.
The Whiting and Davis Company, located in Plainville, Massachusetts is the oldest purse company in the US and is responsible for a great variety of exceptional mesh purses as well as other accessories. They made the first mesh bag in 1892.
By the 1920’s mesh bags were offered in a large spectrum of colors and fashionable designs, including enameled, fine meshed calledDresden mesh and pearlized enamel finishes. Fabulous enameled flat mesh purses, known as armored mesh, were offered in varied colors and a constant parade of unusual patterns. Most of the bags made from 1929 to 1932 were patterned by silk screening where the baby ring mesh took on a soft, hazy, romantic appearance much like a blurred water color. This technique was done by hand over several days by applying one color at a time and allowing 24 hours of drying between colors.
Here are some pics of lovely examples from the 20s and 30s that I have found online either for sale or in private collections. My fav is the one with the compact attatched.
    
  
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Hi all, just wanted to let all my vintage loving friends know about a new series coming to Aussie TV. Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries is a drama series of thirteen one-hour episodes, scheduled for airing on ABC1 on 24 February 2012. It is based on Australian author Kerry Greenwood’s series of Phryne Fisher detective novels. Kerry began writing essay  the Phryne Fisher books in 1989 and there are now 18 in the series. I have included some info from the website below:
Immerse yourself in the opulent, exciting world of Australia’s leading lady detective Phryne Fisher in Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries. Phryne (pronounced Fry-nee) is a glamorous and thoroughly modern woman of the 1920s. Our lady sleuth sashays through the back lanes and jazz clubs of Melbourne, fighting injustice with her pearl handled pistol and her dagger sharp wit. Leaving a trail of admirers in her wake, our heroine makes sure she enjoys every moment of her lucky life. But behind the façade of elegance and charm are the scars of the past which drive Phryne to find justice for those who can’t help themselves and to pursue the truth of her own dark history.
Australian TV (like British) generally does historical drama very authentically wardrobe-wise, so I am keen to see how this turns out. Just have to wait and see I guess. I am pretty picky though, which is a curse…haha. Looks fun regardless and I dare say that a lot of Melbourne’s great Art Deco buildings and sites will have been used when filming. I shall report back!
Yes…I’m on a bit of a swimsuit theme at moment because it is very hot here today, and just because I adore these summery pics from the 1930s. The first one is from Tamarama Beach in Sydney.
