Retro Looks In The Modern World: City Flapper

As much as the modern fashion world looks forward it also continually looks back in time. Here we explore Retro Looks in the Modern World.

Soft looks, veils, and fringe grace this 1920's inspired editorial from the March 2012 issue of Elle Denmark. 

Model: Ilva Heitman

Photographer: Oliver Stalmans

via fashiongonerogue.com

Mid-Week Inspiration: Like a Virgin

Some inspiration for Bridal Accessories for my Etsy shop, The Sparkling Cocktail, with an 80's twist.

I want those boots!

Model-Tiiu Kuik

Photographer- Michelle Ferrara

Featured in Vogue Novias F/W 2010

Source- fashiongonerogue.com

My Projects: Veils and Garters

This past week I was busy working on a custom wedding veil for a co-worker. She wanted a large and poufy birdcage veil to wear with her gorgeous and simple Vera Wang ivory dress. I got the widest netting in 18" ivory and attached it to a comb. This is the veil here, not completely finished. We are going to add more decoration when she decides what she wants. So for now we have the basic shape. At the moment she is deciding if she wants to wear it centered on her head as shown above or on the side for an asymmetrical look (shown below).
Which do you prefer?
I'll post more pics soon when it's all complete. Hopefully with the bride in her gorgeous dress!

I also made up some new garter styles for my Etsy shop, The Sparkling Cocktail! The one above and below is the Ma Cherie series. It features wide lace on the bottom, a narrow lace on top with a solid satin ribbon elastic casing. The decoration is a vintage ivory lace bow with a pink pearl and ivory satin ribbon strands.

This beauty is the Ma Fleur. Organza ribbon with narrow lace trim and satin ribbon elastic casing. The flower is handmade in the prettiest ballet pink satin ribbon with a pearl center! More colorways to come!!


Be sure to visit my Etsy shop, The Sparkling Cocktail, to see more of my handmade items!

Mid-Week Inspiration: Black Veils

So glamorous! I would love to wear one everyday!

Vintage Finds of the Week: Hats with Veils

Yesterday we explored the history of the fashionable veiled hat. Today I have a found a few gorgeous ones for this week's vintage finds on Etsy.

Pink Sequin Vintage Cocktail Hat with Veil-$48-calloohcallay

Vintage Hat Cobalt Pancake Grapes-$28-tialeyvintage

Mourning Fascinator-Vintage 50's Hat andVeil-$35-WearingHistory


Red Hot Burlesque Vintage Half Hat with Sequins and Veil-$30-FemmeFataleVintage

(my shop; a shameless plug but a great hat!)

Fashionable History: Veils

I've always been fascinated with vintage hats with veils and the glamorous mysterious effect they have. After making many veiled headband fascinators last week and posting a tutorial on how to make them, I began to wonder about how wearing veils came about. Certainly there are many religious origins to the veil, think Catholic Nuns and Muslim Burqas. There is also the wedding ritual where brides wear veils ( like the gorgeous one above) to represent their virginity, a tradition that still carries on with meaning or not. There is also the somewhat old fashioned use of black veils at funerals worn by widows and those in high mourning. But where does that leave us in the fashion world where wearing a veil is a choice not a societal standard?

Let's have a look:

In Victorian and Edwardian times, large veiled hats were popular to keep sun off of the face and dust out of your eyes while riding in an automobile. Practical and pragmatic.

Bette Davis in the 1940's. Veils are worn by glamorous women. They define a lady's space and separate them from the common woman.

In the 1950's a lady never went out without a hat and her gloves.

Veils attached to fancy cocktail hats were an option for formal occasions.

Another image from the 1950's when wearing fashion veils peaked.

Sophisticated, mysterious, refined, and very lady like.

Modern times.

Veils make a come back for a glamorous night out.

Drew Barrymore is stunning in her birdcage veil at the Grey Gardens premiere.