Every April, Clinique has a gift with purchase so I popped into the San Francisco Union Square Macy’s to pick up Clinique tinted moisturizer and my gift.
The samples came in the usual cotton pouch but there was an attached tag – Vera. I’m thinking, Vera as in Vera Bradley, that’s pretty cool. But the print wasn’t quite right. Well then, Vera who?
Vera Neumann the enclosed poop sheet said. So, I looked her up.
Turns out Vera Neumann is THE VERA, as in the artist and fabric designer from decades ago best known for her scarves. Apparently Clinique occasionally contracts the brand, now called The Vera Company, to use prints from their archives.
Vera Salaff was born in 1907 to parents who encouraged her and her siblings to follow their passion. Vera’s was drawing and painting and she became a fashion illustrator and later a textile designer in NYC. After marrying George Neumann, the two set up shop creating screen printed table linens. During WWII Vera discovered parachute silk material selling cheap at the Army/Navy surplus store. She began transferring her brightly colored, often floral patterns to the unconventional material and created her first scarves with the Vera signature. They were an instant success and the beginning of a long career and successful business in fashion. The Vera Scarf was a popular choice for many women including Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly. Later, the company started a line of clothing for women.
Vera died in 1993 and the business was bought and sold a number of times thereafter. Vintage Vera scarves can be found in thrift stores and vintage shows and are very collectable. So too are these pouches; I found a few selling for $10 on EBay.
Tempting but I’ll keep mine.
Glamour has to come from you and it has to come from confidence. The pope is glamorous. There are people who are automatically glamorous. Marilyn Monroe was glamorous in a towel. She couldn’t help herself. Shirley Temple was glamorous. The first person that looked glamorous to me was Carmen Miranda. It was 1943 and I was four years old.
Downton Abbey is done and I imagine many fans are feeling the void. Well, there is a little something to ease life post DA.
Whenever planning an outfit for a period costume event I start by shopping my closet. For me creating something out of what I already have is the most fun.
I have bought a few LOGO pieces and what I like is the vintage factor. Accessorized in just the right way, this LOGO cardigan adds a nice touch to my 1920s style.
If you have total freedom to design, you won’t get anything interesting. So I give myself restraints in order to kind of push myself through, to create something new. It’s the torture that I give myself, the pain and the struggle that I go through. So it’s self-given, but that’s the only way, I think, to make a strong, good new creation. 
OverDressed for Life 