July 2, 2007

Vintage Wardrobe Items ~


evening bag beaded with with bronze glass bugle beads

This is a small clutch bag that belonged to my husband's grandmother. She was a glamorous lady to be sure; although I saw very few old photographs, there was material evidence throughout the house of her former high style. She lived to be 89 & I knew her primarily in her grandmotherly golfer incarnation.


I inherited several garments that were left in her closet; furs (don't know what to do with), what I'd call a beaded Liz Taylor dress (plunging neckline), an allover beaded & sequined sleeveless top, and a pink beaded raw silk dress with mandarin collar that could only have been worn with go-go boots...yes! The theme today is beaded.
'Liz Taylor' gown- yesterday's
size 12, today's size 8

The bag shown above is in need of repair, the priority number assigned to that task is somewhere in the high hundreds. Sadly I do not have many occasions to use a bag like this, but I've kept it nevertheless. I did not keep most of the other bags. The simple, elegant style as well as the workmanship on this one made it a standout & caused me to hold onto it despite the low likelihood I'd use it. It doesn't even match the Liz Taylor dress, which is light blue sateen beaded with silver sequins, faux pearls, & crystal. It would work well with the ermine stole; snow white & very lovely if
entirely useless to me.

my favorite beaded change purse by Delill

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

What does one do with inherited furs? How about pillows for the couch? There must be some way to honor the memory of the grandmother and the animal(s). You are so steeped in creativity, if anyone can firgure it out it would be you.

Beth Leintz said...

I'm always so intrigued by the lifestyle of someone with multiple furs, beaded purses and lots of evening wear- it's certainly different than mine!

Fun is always in style. said...

jenny: you have confidence in me :) - but I haven't come up with a thing thus far. They were carefully preserved, beautifully lined, monogrammed...not a hint of moth... it may be that they just don't inspire me - time will tell.

Beth: I am intrigued also; I admire old photos of people on the farm in white shirt & wool trousers, old hats, etc. very much. My husband's grandmother belonged to an old ivy-covered country club - don't know where else she went. Perhaps all of those things were a way to demonstrate grandpa's affluence. It certainly was a different era.

Sadie Lou said...

I was born in the wrong era! No, I know God has chosen me for the time that I live in but sometimes I *wish* I had been born in the time of old hollywood--I would love to be an actress. I would love to wear beaded gowns and do my hair in big curls and wear glittery shoes and carry that little purse.
*sigh*

Fun is always in style. said...

I can visualize you that way. I would've been Edith Head. With a little modification on the hairstyle.

Anonymous said...

Is this the grandmother that made her own marshmallows? I'm quite intrigued with that talent.
I think I also have some of her beaded Christmas ornaments you donated to the church yard sale.
The "beading" DNA will be intense in your posterity.
Any chance you might post a couple of photos of her?
~Michele

Fun is always in style. said...

Yes, the marshmallow recipe was a closely guarded secret.
I have to see what I've got photo-wise. Don't think I have one of her looking glamorous. Her wedding dress was one of those bias-cut silk gowns; kinda clingy.

Fun is always in style. said...

Yes, the marshmallow recipe was a closely guarded secret.
I have to see what I've got photo-wise. Don't think I have one of her looking glamorous. Her wedding dress was one of those bias-cut silk gowns; kinda clingy.