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Posts Tagged ‘vintage finds’

Life is a blank canvas. You need to throw all the paint on it you can – Danny Kaye –

Blank canvas

Recently, I’ve stayed true to Danny’s teachings, splashing and throwing color around me so enthusiastically that the French expression “Quelle bazar!” (loosely translating into What a mess… ) has characterized my life and existence.

Let’s see how this philosophy fits in with the full house renovation I’m about to attack this summer… Right now I feel I wanna turn absolutely everything upside down. Give away so much from the past, let in some fresh air instead. Poor Heikki, my wingman and trustee with the renovation… He’s in for some turbulence. Luckily, he has the patience of an elephant and the soul of an artist. Both qualities will become handy this summer… Family, however,  is wise. Every last man escaping to France for the full summer.

Despite all the bazar, I must confess that right now I prefer, even need to, get out of my comfort zone, no matter how messy it gets. And… Things are moving! There’s a lot of progress on my little plots and plans… I find myself waking up at night with ideas I just have to write  down there and then… Or having night time dreams about my daydreams, the ones I can’t talk about yet… But let me just tell you this friends. This moving and shaking feels soooooooooooo good.

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Ivory silk top with rose shaped deco in the front, from Paris. Fine, fine long leather 1920’s gloves, Garbo Vintage. Earrings from French antique market. Each piece as comfortable as my own skin :).

A little taste of things to come… I’ve been particularly active in treasure hunting. The determined pursuit of beauties such as these antique silver and marcasite earrings continues. But this time, not for myself..
Will keep you posted!

Many kisses,

from
LadyBohemia

 ~*♥*~

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An absolute must, Liberty is the oldest department store in London, one that I shamefully discovered only 25 years after my first visit to London. Packed with old-school charm and character, an antique jewellery collection, wooden floorboards, rare fragrances, flowers, royally gorgeous stationary, divine vintage boutiques (yes, several!), original staircases dating some 100 years back… If a department store can have soul, Liberty’s is the one.

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I instantly fell in love with this beautifully beaded 1920’s Charleston dress… An original piece, yet in such pristine condition that you could just hop dancing on tables wearing it…

Immediately after, I found myself unfaithfully drawn to this spring green emerald vintage Valentino gown… Luckily, it wasn’t my color as it wasn’t quite my budget either.

IMG_4324Swooooooon.

IMG_4322A summer garden party, anyone?

IMG_4323My little stroll in the vintage boutiques got worse and worse – well better and better actually. I could just see myself strutting towards the beach somewhere in the South of France next summer in these soft, comfortable, pretty little kitten heels below… Stopping for a glass of rosé on the way perhaps… Grrrrrrr. Again, it was budgetary matters that separated me and these rosa sandals from our summer romance.

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IMG_4329I’ve always wanted a bedside table made of old suitcases piled on top of each other. This one would have been perfect on my bedside… Packed with all those books on my to-be-read list, waiting for bedtime…

IMG_4331And… For the Modern Vintage Bride. What a wow factor just shoes and gloves can create. This one’s not for me, but perfect for somebody.

IMG_4332So, my dear readers, next time when in London, don’t make the mistake of missing Liberty’s. If you’re even a little bit of a fool for rare beauties with character, it’s guaranteed to make you swoon too.

Kisses from your very own

LadyBohemia

~*♥*~

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IMG_4425This divine little vintage shop along Portobello road was actually so small and so full of treasures that they were able to only let a handful of customers in at a time! I’ve never seen that before… People would ring the doorbell and wait outside in a queue 🙂 .

IMG_4426Most of the treasures came from France, as did Emmanuelle the owner, who kindly took these photos. Thank you Emmanuelle!

IMG_4423Look at that lamp shade! Art deco?

IMG_4429One pair of vintage silver and marcasite earrings left home with me – an even more beautiful pair than the one above – as well as the antique 1920’s shawl in shimmery old rosa velvet below… The shawl carries so much charm with it that photos just won’t do it justice ♥.

IMG_4430Huh, outside you had to hold on to your hair, with all the wind… The funny silly thing about Londoners though, is that they warm up the cafés and restaurants outside to such a temperature that you can (sometimes have to!) take your coat off! Midwinter! We even had to ask them to put the heat down, several times, as it was simply too hot to handle.

And inside, those Brits keep the heating so low that all the time I spent in my hotel room was spent in bed, strictly under a feather blanket. Two feather blankets, actually.

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Bags, bags, authentic vintage bags in pristine condition… Rare. I’ve hunted beaded vintage bags from France for years but never found so many, such flawless ones (and actually vintage/antique instead of Far Eastern reproductions!).  The rosa leather one is mine and the knitted one with  silver decoration from the 20’s became mine, with a very reasonable price. The beaded one was soooooo lovely and cute, every pearl attached… But not my color.

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For the treasure hunt I wore Jasmin Santanen Paris velvet trousers, Zara lace shirt, long burgundy gloves by Designer’s Remix, bag by Carroll France and a fur by Ajatar.

Hope you enjoyed this little walk down Portobello road with me!

Thank you for reading.

You make me happy, just by being there ♥.

~*♥*~

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Deserves a new addition, as I stumbled upon this beauty at an Ooh la la etsy newsletter… Oh la la indeed. A divine vintage nightgown by Diane von Furstenberg.

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MmmmmmMmm… long flowing nightgown in creamy ivory, top adorned with delicate lace. It looks so smooth and cool, I can almost feel it…  Etsy’s Lingerie Addict proposes it for sleepovers or for a bridal shower gift.

As I know that there are some gentlemen out there who follow my site… Just a little tip for you 🙂 . This would be a rather purrrrfect surprise gift for that special someone in your lives… Downright  unforgettable.

If inspired, you can find this little wonder at http://www.etsy.com/listing/101550831/vintage-light-blue-and-white-lace-sheer

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Sweet Dreams Are Made of These.

~*♥*~

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…at the delicious vintage boutique Garbo Vintage.

Antique Old World Ethereal Beauty Wedding Gown

The lovely owner of Garbo Vintage, Yvonne Correa Plaza, offered to take photos of me in her most treasured pieces. Above and below, a 1920’s wedding gown in ivory silk and antique lace.

A dress that truly makes a woman feel like a Goddess …♥.

Yvonne had another wedding dress in a unique beautiful turquoise aqua color; probably colored from the original ivory into a party dress after the wedding. Ah the practicality of the 1940’s…

It fitted beautifully with an antique piano shawl in turquoise, with coral roses…

 A real darling was also this pearl-encrusted satin vintage evening bag ♥.

… and other vintage tresors…♥.

Richly decorated details… In satin, silk, tulle, leather, fur…

Garbo Vintage is a real treasure trove. The more you dig, the more treasures come up.

The jacket is ocelot.

Like something straight out of Aladdin’s cave…

I loved (and bought) these long ivory colored 1920’s shammy gloves with tiny buttons… Too luxurious, and in perfect shape. Ah.

Yvonne’s most precious piece (at least one of them) is this 19th century wedding gown in silk and handmade lace, with a long divine train…

It is so gorgeous form all angles; below, from the back:

To top it all, the simple silk dress on the inside can be worn separately, after:

Soooooo yummy…

Every vintage boutique must have at least a little bit of Audrey in it…

…a little something from the legendary Savile Row…

… and a little something for the Charleston…♥.

And our investigative reporter signs over and out, sounding a little bit like a cat who just had a very full bowl of cream..

~*♥*~

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Kun viimeksi käytin näitä korujani, sain ihania, ikimuistoisia, yllättäviä kohteliaisuuksia matkani/päiväni varrella – ihan vierailta ihmisiltä.

Siwan kassalta, hienolta vanhemmalta rouvalta ratikassa, puolitutulta Krunikan kadulla: “mun on ihan pakko sanoa että sulla on tosi ihana tyyli”. Huh ja wow miten olin otettu… Erityisesti kun kehut tulivat ihan vierailta, ja naisilta. Se on ainakin minulle tosi harvinaista herkkua:-).

Kaulakoru koristekivillä Accessorize, helmikoru hiuksille Oona Elena Kassila, puku/hiuskoru Accessorize

Alla vielä toinen setti joka herättää usein ihailua ihan vieraissakin… Joten näistä hankinnoistani olen oikein erityisen ylpeä.

Hopea/kristallikaulakoru vintagea, ranskalaiset korvikset 1920-luvulta. Molemmat löytöjä ranskalaisilta brocantemarkkinoilta eli paikallisilta antiikkikirppiksiltä.  Mustavalkeiden korvisten mustat helmet vintagea, valkeat puolestaan uusia makeanvedenhelmiä; ihanan Lea Kähkösen uudelleensovittamana.

Raskasta kristallia oleva pullo hopeisine korkkeineen on ranskansuvun perintöä 1800 -luvun lopulta. Suvun naiset säilyttivät aikanaan parfyymejaan näissä pulloissa ja kävivät säännöllisesti Pariisissa tai parfyymikaupunki Grassessa täyttämässä pullonsa. Olen niin kiitollinen että yksi näistä parfyymipulloista on löytänyt tiensä minulle.

Kuvassa näkyvä ihana vanha lipasto marmoripäällysteineen on puolestaan lahja rakkaalta ystävältäni. Hän kyllästyi vanhoihin äidiltään perimiinsä huonekaluihin muttei tunnesyistä voinut luopua niistä muuten kuin takuuvaarmasti hyvään kotiin. Minä lupasin vaalia hänen kolmea kaappiaan / lipastoaan asiaankuuluvalla hellyydellä (rakastan niiden kaikkia kuluneita kulmia repsahtaneita laatikoita niin etten ole edes raaskinut entisöidä niitä) ja ostin ystävälleni vaihtokaupaksi hänen toivomansa uudenuudet kalusteet.

Nämä aidot antiikkilipastot ovat suurimpia aarteitani; ne todellakin ovat huonekaluja joissa on luonnetta, historiaa, ainutkertaista kauneutta. Vaikka ne ovat asuneet luonani jo vuosia saa niiden näkeminen vieläkin kylmät väreet juoksemaan selkäpiirtäni myöten.

Laitan teille kuvia kunhan ennätän… Myöhemmin. Nyt on korkea aika sanoa: Buona notte tutti!

Kauniita unia teille kaikille ihanille LadyBohemian ystäville♥.

~*♥*~

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Kristalli/hopeakorvikset ovat löytö antiikkimarkkinoilta Ranskasta

Tähän sadepäivään tarvitaan pieni ripaus säihkettä. Minulle sitä tuovat nämä rakkaat vintagekoruni, ja auringonpaisteiset muistot niiden löytämisestä.

Hopeasormus Kiseleffin Basaarista

Ihana ranskalainen ducantelpitsi on Oona Elena Kassilalta.

Sormuksen tarina on hassu. Kun sovitin sitä teki Hesari lähistöllä juttua Kiseleffin Basaarin kortteliin tulevasta remontista. He pyysivät minulta kommentin ja ottivat kuvan kun ostin sormukseni. Pieni ja epäselvä kuva ilmestyi HS:ssä, nimeni myös, ja aloin saada puhelimeeni treffipyyntöjä tuntemattomilta miehiltä.

Andy Warhol sanoa aikanaan, että jokaiseen elämään kuuluu 15 minuuttia kuuluisuutta. Luulenpa että käytin oman osuuteni silloin.

No, jupakasta jäi jäljelle kaunis jugendsormus kuitenkin:-).

~*~

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