Schiaparelli is one of the most sought after jewellery designers of the 20th century. Still a thriving haute couture house “Shocking” Schiaparelli turned the world of jewellery on its head during the 1930s – 1950s. While I will delve into the person of Elsa Schiaparelli herself in another blog (she’s worth it), Abdul Basit delivers an introduction into the world of the jewellery of this amazing fashion house. *** In today’s contemporary world Schiaparelli Jewellery is well known for their diamond and platinum creations just like the Edwardians with the most intricate and lacey designs with exq ..read more

Personally the 1950s man has always been my ideal - Sinatra in a trilby anyone? But rather than listen to me getting swept away with the smouldering Jimmy Dean, here is our contributor Abdul Basit who has been learning about the world of 1950s vintage style for men - often an overlooked and underappreciated genre...its not just about the girls after all! *** The 1950s was the time where fashion diverged with lots of new colours and new clothing styles – even now this timeless vintage fashion is still considered as an iconic fashion era. While the women had a lot of options regarding clothing s ..read more

Now, more than ever, money is tight. But that doesn’t have to mean a shopping embargo and spending all day in your sweats and old jeans. It’s well known that true vintage, especially designer, pieces can be wildly, eye-wateringly expensive. Scrolling through some of the great vintage dealers on Instagram has become as appealing as “interiors-porn” or “food-porn”. And you can dream for hours about the perfect 1940s Lily-Ann suit or a delightful 1950s tulle confection, while still making vintage style, YOUR vintage style, work for you. Vintage Stores London is packed with vintage shops and small ..read more

Our contributor Abdul Basit has been busy again exploring the world of Napier jewellery, one of the best and most prolific jewellery companies of the first half of the 20th century and is still going strong! *** A Way to Tell WHO YOU ARE without uttering a word... There was a time when the fashion industry was all about Napier jewellery. It was considered one of the most famous costume jewellery brands as their designs were simple, sleek, and fashion-forward. The famous movie stars like Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelley, Arlene Francie, Lana Turner and even the Duchess of Windsor wore bracelets, ea ..read more

If there’s one thing I’m sure most people are doing right now it is watching more films and TV. Period dramas offer a wonderful escape to simpler Covid-free times and can actually be a great way to learn about vintage fashion and period costume. Costume designers put enormous effort into making costumes historically accurate as well as part of the character and story development. Details and accents can easily be copied on a budget to allow your own vintage style to stand out. Abdul Basit has provided a quick run-down of his favourites! *** There is something about period dramas that gather al ..read more

Even now, if I was forced to choose, I still would struggle. Mr Darcy or Mr Knightly? I mean really… that’s a tough one.* One thing I’ve always known though is that Jane Austen is one of my favourite authors (I’ve read everything several times) and that the world she lived in and recreated for us is a fascinating one. If you can ignore the poverty of the lower classes, the difficult political times, open warfare with France and the lack of antibiotics, electricity and adequate bathing facilities, it is a joyous one to inhabit. And what better way to inhabit it than to attend the Jane Austen F ..read more

Attending vintage themed events is enormously fun. Embracing the atmosphere with everyone is a joy and a trip back in time without the pesky butterfly effect. Goodwood Revival is one of the highlights of the vintage calendar. With so many events cancelled this year due to COVID-19, we are really hoping this one will still go ahead in September! For those of you who have never heard of it or curious about going, Abdul Basit has given you a quick rundown.... *** Goodwood Revival is one of the most popular motor race meetings in the world. It is a 3 Day Festival which is held every year in Septem ..read more

The Late Victorian - Edwardian era marked the very start of the 20th century and the last of the old world before World War I dawned and a modern world started to emerge. Our new contributor Abdul Basit explores this last Beautiful Era: *** There is something extraordinary about the Edwardian fashion era that still attracts many on-lookers. The Edwardian era, also known as Belle Époque or the beautiful era, was all about corsets, lace tea dresses, vintage gloves, and large tea party hats. And thanks to movies and TV shows like Titanic, Downtown Abbey, Mr. Selfridge, Suffragette and Gibson Girl ..read more

If you’re shopping for costume jewellery these are terms you will see a lot. So, what is the difference? To be completely honest, not a lot. Rhinestones, paste and diamanté are, in the broadest terms, the same thing. Sure, there are very slight differences and the terms don’t perfectly overlap so there may be a reason why an item is described as one thing or the other. Paste, diamantés and rhinestones are all terms used to describe manmade faceted glass and crystal stones cut and polished to look like diamonds or other gemstones. Rhinestones, however, are also the natural rock crystals which ..read more

World War II was epoch making for many reasons. Women’s fashions, along with the attitudes of a whole generation, changed during the First World War and that momentum continued into Second, when both fashion and women’s place in the world again went through a revolution. The 1930s had been a beautifully feminine age for women’s clothes, although the long sinuous lines and bias cuts tended to favour the more slender among us. The 1940s, particularly for the women left holding the fort while the men fought overseas, was all about practicality. Women again had to step into men’s shoes, almost li ..read more