Holy Handbags Batman! Novelty Bags From The High Street

The high street is brimming with quirky and fun handbags this autumn/winter. From milk cartons to doughnuts, to perfume bottles and penguins - it seems every item from the mundane to the bizarre has been transformed into a bag! Whether you’re looking for something pretty or playful, there’s a novelty bag for every budget.  

Thrifty

From top left corner: New Look pop art clutch €11.99, Next pink clutch €17, New Look doughnut clutch €14.99, H&M cat shoulder bag €14.99


                                                              Treat

From left to right: Asos lips cross body bag €25.71, Accessorize 80s Hits cross body bag €34.90

 Treasure

From left to right: Accessorize camera cross body bag €39.90, Falconwright clutch from Asos €78.57, Next penguin duffle bag €40

I’m coveting the Ouija board clutch by Falconwright. What's bewitched you?!  

Recent Buys Feat. River Island, H&M, Boots & Aldi

River Island (available in store now)

I plan to emulate 60s sirens Brigitte Bardot and Pattie Boyd this autumn with this wonderful suede-leather-fur amalgamation. I’ve been dreaming up ways to wear this beauty - over the knee boots, a fur cossack hat and a George Harrison look-alike on my arm!

                                      Autumn/Winter inspiration: Bardot & Boyd

                                                              H&M (available in store now)

I’ve a feeling these heeled Chelsea boots will rarely leave my feet over the next few months. They’re surprisingly comfortable and seem to go with everything. The handbag is also going to be worn to death; it’s large enough for all my essential bits and pieces but not too big that I spend half an hour looking for my keys!
 

Lacura Aqua-Complete Multi Intensive Serum (€4.79): This serum is a regular purchase from Aldi. It contains the wonder ingredient hyaluronic acid and I apply it under my moisturiser morning and night. Click here for a full review.

Vaseline Spray & Go Body Moisturiser (€6.49): This is also a repurchase. I adore this stuff! I initially thought it would be too light in consistency for my dry skin but it’s really hydrating. What I love most about it is how it’s cut my moisturising time in half; before I was waiting around for heavy lotions and oils to sink in - Spray & Go absorbs almost instantly. It’s also quite a novelty to spray on your moisturiser, dare I say moisturising is now fun?! A bottle lasts about 3 weeks (I use it every day) and it’s often on offer in Boots.

Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Pads (€17.99): When I ran out of my beloved Clarins Gentle Exfoliating Brightening Toner I headed into my local Boots to search for a toning stopgap. These pads exceeded my not so high expectations. They’re packed full of glycolic acid, the same ingredient in the Clarins toner, which speeds up cell turnover and helps prep the skin for serum and moisturiser. They also contain hyaluronic acid and glycerine to prevent your skin from drying out. I haven’t been using them long enough to notice much of a difference, but I really like them so far and they haven’t irritated my sensitive skin. One tub contains 60 pads so they work out a little pricey if you tone twice a day.

Seventeen Doll’d Up Mascara (€7.99): I picked this up while on the hunt for a good daytime mascara and it turns out Doll’d Up fits that description perfectly. Doll’d Up promises curl and volume but I found it worked better as a lengthening and separating mascara. The slightly curved plastic wand is a doddle to use and coats every lash. It also lasts all day with no flaking or smudging. If you’re looking for a fuss free mascara for work, I highly recommend Doll’d Up.

Duo Lash Adhesive (€5.99): I’ve always wanted to try the world’s bestselling false lash glue but I thought it was only available online or at MAC counters. Lo and behold, it appeared in my local Boots last week and for only 6 quid too. I haven’t tried it yet but I’m sure to be sporting many a faux lash this season in my quest to be a Swinging Sixties seductress!

Where have you been?!

I want to apologise for my absence. Those of you who follow the blog on social media will know I started a new job in July. Long hours and commuting compounded with a lack of Wi-Fi at home meant very little blogging unfortunately. While I was a no-show, I was shortlisted for Best Lifestyle Blog in the IMAGE.ie Blog Awards. I still can’t believe such a distinguished publication nominated me for an award. Of course, voting was also down to the public and I want to thank everyone who voted for me. It really means the world to me that people read (and seemingly enjoy!) my posts. Pink Elephant Blog deservedly walked away with the award on the night and I urge you to check out their gorgeous blog now.

Here’s to more blogging!

  

Old-Fashioned Lemonade

Another spell of sticky weather calls for another refreshing summer drink recipe. This one from Rachel Allen’s book Rachel’s Food for Living is a delicious and effective thirst-quencher that takes mere minutes to make. Easy peasy lemon squeezy? Oh, yes.

Ingredients: 150g honey, 600ml water, juice of 4 lemons

1.       Place the honey and 60ml of the water in a saucepan. Heat up just enough to liquefy the honey, stirring all the time. Pour into a jug and allow to cool slightly.

2.       Add the lemon juice to the jug along with the rest of the water and serve with ice...lots of ice! 

                                                                        Enjoy!

A Retro Day Out: Smithfield Market Fair

A day spent leisurely browsing market stalls brimming with treasures and trinkets is a day well spent in my eyes. As a lover of all things vintage I’ve been to several vintage fairs and flea markets. There’s something enchanting about sifting through rails of brightly coloured garments hoping to find a gem in your size, discovering your favourite band amongst the stacks of pre-loved vinyl, trying on glittering rings and necklaces and chatting to the stall owners about their carefully selected stock - every item with its own story. Now there’s a new fair in town and this one is like no other. The first Smithfield Market Fair was held on Sunday June 15^th in Generator in Smithfield Square. Generator is a hostel with a difference; it boasts a bar, a café, a cinema room, and can be used as a music venue…or a market!

                                                       Vintage clothing at Vertigo Vintage

The fair kicked off at 1 p.m. and by the time my two friends and I made it in at 1.30 p.m., the place was a hive of activity. Over thirty stalls were dotted around the split-level venue. Not only was there genuine vintage clothing but also upcycled vintage pieces, vintage reproduction, handmade and second-hand clothes. There was also a lot of handcrafted gifts including cards, jewellery, art, contemporary art, hair bows, headscarves, hats and painted tiles. The cinema room was showing cult classics and a band were starting to set up in the bar. I couldn’t stay for long as it was Father’s Day but I believe there was live jazz, skiffle and hip hop until the wee hours. That’s why Smithfield Market Fair stands out from the crowd; it’s the bad boy of fairs. While other fairs are packing up at 6 p.m. and trotting off home, Smithfield Market Fair is pulling an all-nighter. Food was available in the café but we couldn’t find a table. We did however find an Italian restaurant across the square; Bel Cibo serves reasonably priced, tasty food. Perfect for ravenous bargain hunters!
 

                            Handmade jewellery, headscarves & bowties at A Little Idea

                                                 Vintage reproduction clothing at FiftyFive65

                                                          Handmade jewellery at WhimsyJig

Lovely Maeve of Vertigo Vintage with her beautiful clothes & bags

 

 

What I wore:

 

 

Dress – Vintage 1960s from The 3rd Policeman

Shoes – Mel

Sunglasses – Tiger Stores

 

 

What I bought:

 

Upcycled 1970s top from Dottie & Pearl & 1960s skirt from Vertigo Vintage

 

 

 The next Smithfield Market Fair is August 10^th. Check out their Facebook page for updates.

 

 

 

Cancel That Order…Get Your NYX Fix In Ireland!

NYX, an American makeup brand known for its excellent and affordable products, has landed in Ireland. Gone are the days when you had to wait weeks for your order to arrive from the US, now you can pick up your favourite lippy and blush in your local pharmacy! NYX is currently in 25 pharmacies nationwide and I’ve heard more pharmacies will be stocking it in the coming weeks. You can find a full list of Irish stockists here.

 

Upon discovering Mangans Pharmacy in Sallins, Co. Kildare is one of the stockists, I rushed over there to browse (swatch the hell out of!) the stand. I somehow managed to control myself and purchased only three products. I’ve wanted to try these for ages, especially the green concealer and setting spray as so few budget brands carry those particular items. Here’s my thoughts after a week of putting them through their paces.

 
NYX HD Photogenic Concealer in Green (€6.99):

There are three colour correcting concealers in the range; yellow for under-eye darkness, lavender to counteract dullness and green to reduce the appearance of redness. I picked up the latter as I’ve some redness in my cheeks and around my nose that has become increasingly difficult to cover. I really like this concealer although it took me a few days to master the application. You only need a tiny amount; it’s a creamy formula but quite thick. I found it was best to dot on the product rather than brush it on and blend, blend, blend. You'll be left with a green cast on your skin but my foundation goes on smoothly and effectively covers it. This is an impressive concealer; it’s non-drying, long-wearing and best of all, my redness was undetectable. However, I’ll probably reserve this for nights out and special occasions as the application takes too much time for my everyday makeup routine.

                    NYX HD Photogenic Concealer in Green & NYX Jumbo Lip Pencil in Deep Red

 

NYX Jumbo Lip Pencil in Deep Red (€4.99):

A lip liner and lip colour in one - it seems every brand have their own take on this from Clinque’s Chubby Sticks to Revlon’s ColorBurst Balms. However, I feel NYX’s Jumbo Lip Pencils are in a league of their own. I was taken aback by how long-wearing but moisturising this pencil is. It’s extremely pigmented, lasts for hours, wears evenly and doesn’t dry out my lips. I also adore the colour; Deep Red is a vampy burgundy shade. Unfortunately there are some drawbacks; it smells rather like permanent marker and appears to melt quite easily. I also expected this to twist up like the aforementioned Chubby Stick and ColorBurst Balm and had to turn to Google to find out how to sharpen a plastic pencil! Apparently they can be sharpened with a regular pencil sharpener as the plastic is just a thin coating. I haven’t tried this yet but I’ll report back here when I do. Despite these flaws, I plan to pick up another NYX Jumbo Lip Pencil in a different shade. It really is a lovely product for such a small price.

 

NYX Dewy Finish Setting Spray (€9.99):

There are two setting sprays available; one with a matte finish and one with a dewy finish. Both claim to make your makeup last longer. I opted for the dewy finish setting spray as I’ve dry skin and prefer a luminous look. I was initially nervous using this as I was convinced it would make my makeup run, but I needn’t have worried. While it’s definitely not a mist, this spray is light and dries in 30 to 60 seconds. I immediately noticed my makeup looked softer and more natural. I can go overboard with foundation and powder at times and this spray helped to smooth any cakey-looking areas. However, I found my makeup lasted only slightly longer than usual. Fading occurred in the usual place, my nose, and I had to re-powder. NYX Dewy Finish Setting Spray is brilliant for giving your makeup a more natural, somewhat airbrushed finish but if you want your makeup to stay put all day, this isn’t the setting spray for you.

 

Are you a fan of NYX? Have you tried these products?

Secret Garden Tea Party

 

 

 

 

Floral print and polka dots sound like a fussy combination and one I’d normally steer clear of. However, I was enchanted by this tea dress the moment I saw it. It’s the perfect summer dress; ladylike but lightweight. Asos’s Secret Garden heels (which naturally inspired the title of this post) were a birthday present to myself last month. I had been searching for a pair of metallic block heels and these magically seem to go with everything. Forget Dorothy’s ruby slippers; my silver shoes cast a spell with their bright mirrored finish!

 

 

“Of course there must be lots of Magic in the world," he said wisely one day, “but people don’t know what it is like or how to make it. Perhaps the beginning is just to say nice things are going to happen until you make them happen. I am going to try and experiment.” - From The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

 

                                                       Dress – New Look (available on Asos now)

Shoes – Asos (available online now)

Bag – Vintage 1980s from Bernie's Bags



Photos kindly taken by Maggie & a big thank you to Katie for the location

 

 

 

An Ode To A Bow

 

I like big bows and I cannot lie

You other sisters can’t deny

That when a girl walks in with a bow in her hair

And works it with an effortless flair

You want one

  Bows - €2 each - Tiger Stores

(I also like vintage tea cups)

I never thought I’d draw inspiration from Sir Mix-a-Lot to demonstrate my love for hair bows! Tiger currently has a range of charming bows in various sizes, colours and patterns. I’ve previously featured Tiger in Thrifty Treat Of The Week but their bargainous hair accessories are a new discovery. Apart from bows, they’ve also a selection of pretty wire headbands perfect for festival season.

                                                                 Life magazine March 1944

As part of a piece entitled “High School Fads”

Sadly, the only thing I have in common with Becky Brown is where I place my bow! How do you wear yours?!

 

 

Supermarket Chic

 

I took her to a supermarket

I don't know why

But I had to start it somewhere

So it started there

 

 

In 2012, I wrote about how supermarkets had significantly improved their fashion lines in my post Bread, Milk And Beautiful Shoes: Supermarket Fashion Is Now At Its Best. Two years on and Dunnes Stores and Tesco continue to give high street shops a run for their money in terms of style, quality and affordability. Dunnes and Tesco are my go-to shops for budget-friendly shoes, bags, loungewear and hosiery, and at times outperform my beloved Penneys. I picked up this cardigan in Dunnes two weeks ago for €15. As the photos were taken on my phone, the sweet scalloped neckline isn’t clearly visible. I got the skirt on sale in Tesco for €11. High waisted, fully lined and with a classic check print; this beauty has become a staple in my wardrobe.

 

Cardigan – Dunnes Stores (available in store now)

Skirt – F&F at Tesco (available in store now)

Shoes – Penneys/Primark

                Are you a fan of supermarket fashion?

Raspberry Frozen Yoghurt Floats

There’s a permanent smell of barbeque in the air, you’ve a strong urge to head to the nearest beer garden and most of the male population are parading around shirtless – yes, it’s a sunny day in Ireland (i.e. approximately 16 degrees)! We Irish certainly make the most of the few days of sunshine we’re granted each year. While you’re basking in the warm weather this weekend (don’t forget the SPF!) treat yourself to a refreshing drink. This delightful recipe is a guilt-free take on the classic ice cream float and takes less than 5 minutes to make.

I found this recipe in Catherine Fulvio’s book The Weekend Chef and altered it slightly.

You will need: A food processor/blender, tall glasses, drinking straws

Ingredients: 100g raspberries (plus extra to decorate), a tub of natural frozen yoghurt, a bottle of white lemonade (Serves 4)

1.       Place the raspberries in a food processor and blend until smooth.

2.       Spoon 3-4 tablespoons of the raspberry puree into each glass, pour in the lemonade and float two scoops of frozen yoghurt on top.

3.       Add in a straw and a few raspberries on top to decorate. Serve immediately.

Enjoy!

My Current Skincare Routine

The past few months have been an education - an education in skincare. Thanks to advanced facialist Caroline Hiron’s blog and Laura Kennedy’s wonderful posts on Beaut.ie, I’ve overhauled my skincare routine. Mineral oil, exfoliating toner and hyaluronic acid are now part of my vocabulary - the latter two also an essential part of my skincare arsenal. Any products containing mineral oil have been dumped. Mineral oil, also known as petrolatum and liquid paraffin, is a controversial ingredient loved and loathed in equal measure. I personally believe it’s comedogenic and has no benefit to the skin. However, I know many people will disagree with me.

As well as banishing mineral oil, I’ve also given manual exfoliators the old heave-ho. Manual exfoliators can cause broken capillaries and unfortunately I already have a few of those. In the words of the great Caroline Hirons, “Nothing good ever came from scrubbing your face with a peach kernel. There's a reason they are 99p. Step away.” I now rely on exfoliating toners to remove dead skin cells (more on that below) and with the aid of hyaluronic acid my skin has improved dramatically. I was plagued with dry patches and milia; now I’m dry patch-free (I honestly can’t remember the last time I had one!) and the milia are steadily retreating.

Below is my current skincare routine.

Eye Makeup Remover: I always remove my eye makeup with a separate cleanser. Sporting an almost permanent cat eye flick demands this. I’m not loyal to any particular brand but I only use bi-phase (oil and water) formulas. These type of formulas instantly dissolve eye makeup when activated (just shake, shake, shake) whilst being gentle and nourishing. They’re also excellent at removing lipstick. I’m currently using Garnier Express 2 in 1 Eye Makeup Remover (€4.29).

Cleanser: My cleanser of choice is an oil-based cleanser - Super Facialist By Úna Brennan Vitamin C+ Brighten Skin Renew Cleansing Oil (€13.99). This contains a beautiful blend of lightweight oils including olive, grape seed and rosehip oil. As with all cleansing oils, you massage Super Facialist into dry skin (a little goes a long way) and then add warm water to emulsify and rinse off. I always use a face cloth to ensure my skin is thoroughly cleansed and to gently exfoliate. I adore this product, never before has a cleanser removed my makeup so effectively without stripping my skin. I use this morning and evening but if I get bored and want to mix it up a bit I turn to No7 Beautiful Skin Melting Gel Cleanser, which is another oil-based cleanser. Here are Caroline’s cleansing tips.

Toner: Before Clarins Gentle Exfoliating Brightening Toner (€31) I’ve never really bothered with toning. Past experience with toners had led me to believe that they’re astringent liquids that dry out my already parched skin. And the truth is the majority of classic toners are just that - perfumed water with a high alcohol content. However, there’s a new generation of toners about town. Exfoliating toners, also known as acid toners, contain very small amounts of alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) to encourage cell turnover in the skin and increase the effectiveness of skin care applied afterwards. I was hesitant about buying this Clarins toner not only because of the price (I almost cried handing over that amount of money for one product) but because I’ve very sensitive skin. However, this toner is ultra-gentle and doesn’t dry out my skin. It’s also worth every cent and a bottle will last approximately 2-3 months. A word of warning: AHAs increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun so you must wear sun protection while using this. Read Laura’s post on why we should all be using toner here.

Serum: Hyaluronic acid is the beauty buzzword of the moment. It seems any serum or moisturiser worth its salt now contains this magical ingredient. But what is it? Hyaluronic acid is a molecule that’s found in virtually every part of the body. It’s a powerful hydrating agent capable of holding up to one thousand times its weight in water. When applied topically under a water-based moisturiser, it greatly increases the potency of that product. Aldi’s Lacura Aqua-Complete Multi Intensive Serum (€4.79) is the most affordable serum containing hyaluronic acid that I’ve come across. It’s a reported dupe for Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum and while I can’t confirm this as I’ve never tried Aqualia Thermal, they do have similar ingredients. Lacura Aqua-Complete, aimed at people aged between 20 and 35, is a thin serum that sinks into my skin instantly. I apply this morning and evening and one pump is enough to cover my face and neck. As this is quite a perfumed product I was convinced I’d react to it but my skin adores it, it literally drinks it up.

Day Cream: Wearing a high SPF has been a crucial part of my daily skincare routine for years. I’m still using and loving Simple Kind To Skin Protecting Moisture Cream SPF 30 (€5.29) which I wrote about here in February.

Night Cream: I picked up Simple Kind To Skin Vital Vitamin Night Cream (€6.99) a few weeks ago and while I like it, I don’t think I’ll repurchase it. It’s a lovely lightweight cream packed full of vitamins including pro-vitamin B5, vitamin E and vitamin F. However, it’s a little too light for me and I think it would be best suited to combination skin.

Eye Cream: Super Facialist By Úna Brennan Neroli Firming Illuminate Eye Cream (€14.49) contains the wonder ingredient hyaluronic acid as well as shea butter, grape seed oil, aloe vera and caffeine. This cream has a very fluid consistency but hydrates the eye contour very well. Online reviews praise this product for its de-puffing abilities but I can’t vouch for that as thankfully I don’t suffer from puffy eyes. I’ve been using this for the past 8 weeks and while I haven’t noticed any difference to my fine lines, I'm really liking it.

 Multi-Tasker: Everyone should have a multi-tasker in their skincare arsenal; mine is Trilogy Everything Balm. There is only one tiny tiny advantage to my twin sister living in New Zealand and that’s the beautiful Trilogy products she sends me (I recently got The Rosehip Collection travel set - gorgeous!). This balm smells heavenly and is full of natural ingredients including sweet almond oil, beeswax, evening primrose oil, rosehip oil and honey. It’s quite solid; you need to warm it between your fingers before using but once melted it sinks in quickly. I use this on my cuticles, as a lip balm and on any rough areas - elbows, knees and feet. I’ve also used it as a face mask/treatment, leaving it on my face for approximately 15 minutes and removing it with a warm face cloth.

What’s your current skincare routine?

Purple Candyfloss Nails

 

Rimmel’s Sweetie Crush collection is adorable. Themed around retro sweets, the limited edition textured polishes come in five pretty pastel shades. I put two coats of Violet Swizzle on the tips of my nails over NYC’s Lincoln Square Lavender. The end result? Sugar sweet nails perfect for summer!

Friday's Femme Fatale

A deep emerald hue, sequins and a low back – a bold and vampish combination but one I’ve been looking for in a dress for a very long time. I wore this out for my friend Katie’s birthday two weeks ago. I should probably mention that the flash on my camera phone has contributed somewhat to my ghostly pallor, I’m pale but not that pale! 

Are sequins just for Christmas?

Dress – Asos (available online now)

Shoes – Shoe Rack

Earrings – Forever 21 (available in store now)

Thrifty Treat Of The Week: Jewellery At Forever 21

Gold & Peach €4.90, Gold & Mint €3.90, Gold Bows €2.90

Forever 21’s jewellery never fails to impress me. While Penneys’ accessories are coming on in leaps and bounds (their statement necklaces are out of this world!), you’re almost guaranteed to see a friend/relative/work colleague wearing the same piece as you. However, Forever 21’s jewellery is a little more exclusive as the US chain has just one store in Ireland. And with such thrifty prices, you could certainly afford to treat yourself to something every week! Above are some gorgeous earrings I picked up two weeks ago.

Spring Style: Wedding Bells Are A-Ringing

This is what I wore to my sister Gráinne’s wedding last week. I had quite a hard time finding a dress mainly because I left it until the last minute (when will I ever learn?!) and the fact that the high street was so disappointing. Initially, I had my heart set on a Hell Bunny 1950s reproduction dress but by the time I discovered the brand’s sizes are large fitting, I had no time for alterations. Hitting the high street, I expected to be greeted with row upon row of frothy, feminine dresses in sweet spring shades. Yes, the shops are overflowing with pastels but everything is strangely casual. Unable to find something even remotely suitable for a wedding, I turned to my old reliable - Asos.

 

Once I saw this dress I knew I could create a 1940s look around it. It may appear very simple but it comes to life when you start to move in it; the waterfall skirt, scoop back and kick split do all the talking! I was also glad to give pastels the old heave-ho in favour of my most loved colour combination – navy, red and white. I picked up the pretty vintage pieces at A Vintage Affair Mullingar last month.

 

Dress – Asos (available online now)

Belt – New Look

Shoes – Penneys/Primark (available in store now)

Bag – Vintage

Headpiece – Asos (available online now)

Gloves - Vintage

 

 

 

Found In The Attic: Forgotten Treasures

 

Vintage clothing is in high demand. Several factors have contributed to vintage clothing’s soaring popularity including an appreciation of classic design, television period dramas such as Mad Men and Downton Abbey and an increased interest in environmental sustainability. Due to the demand, vintage garments in good condition, in particular pre-1950s garments, are becoming more difficult to find and more expensive to buy. You can find vintage clothing in a number of places from vintage clothes shops, vintage fairs, eBay and Etsy to the more obscure charity shops, flea markets and auctions. And then there’s your own home – yes! A rummage through your attic (or your parents’ or grandparents’) could yield some unexpected gems.

 

While helping my mother clean out her attic over a year ago, I stumbled across more of my Great-Aunt Liz’s belongings. I had already inherited a few beautiful pieces from Liz which I talked about in this post.  Apart from her wedding dress, I had no idea the items described below were tucked away in the dusty depths of the attic. As much as I love vintage fashion, I’m no expert at dating vintage clothing. I’ve researched each item but I’d love my vintage savvy readers to give their thoughts and opinions.

 

 Beaded Bag:

It was difficult to determine the date of this small bag as it’s unbranded and has no label. It seems beaded purses were the ultimate fashion accessory of the 20^th century, enjoying huge popularity from the 1920s to the 1960s and beyond. This bag has a gold frame with a clasp closure. Cream and beige seed beads form an intricate design. Unfortunately some of the beads are missing and the lining is quite soiled. I’m guessing this dainty purse is 1940s/1950s.
 

 

Embellished Belt:

A jewel-encrusted silver clasp adorns this embroidered fabric belt. In my mind, I can see this cinching in a tailored jacket á la Christian Dior’s 1947 “New Look”. The silhouette of nipped-in waist and full skirt was a refreshing change from the frugal styles of World War II, greatly influencing 1950s fashion.

 

Formal Gloves:

 

I wore these cream gloves to Ladies Day at the Dublin Horse Show last August (see post here). Their flared shape, which is called gauntlet style, was very popular in the 1950s. They’re in excellent condition and I adore the elegant detailing around the cuff.

Juliet Cap:

 

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (née Bouvier) is credited with resurrecting the Juliet cap. Juliet caps, small crocheted or mesh caps, were worn by brides throughout the 1920s and 30s but they became fashionable again when Jackie wore one for her 1953 wedding to John F. Kennedy. My Great-Aunt Liz got married in 1954; I’ve no idea if she was inspired by Jackie but I’d like to think she was. This Juliet cap is the only item of Liz’s wedding attire that’s survived. Unfortunately, her dress wasn’t stored correctly and was badly damaged. The dress, high-necked and long-sleeved, reminded me of another iconic mid-20^th century bride. Grace Kelly’s gown worn during her wedding to Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1956 is one of the best-remembered bridal gowns of all time. The bride also wore an elaborate headpiece.

 

 

Gold Evening Gown:

What a find! I was convinced this dress was from the 1960s due to the high neck and sleeveless style. However, on closer inspection I found a distinctive ILGWU (International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union) label. The union changed the design of its label numerous times since its formation in 1900, making it easier for vintage lovers to identify the general era an item was made. According to the Vintage Fashion Guild, this dress is post 1974. In 1974, ILGWU decided to change the colours of its label to red, white and blue with the addition of the line 'Made in U.S.A.’. This was part of a campaign to encourage American consumers not to buy imported goods. The label was changed again in 1995 when the ILGWU merged with another union, the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union, to form UNITE.

 

Now who’s going treasure hunting?!