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Posts Tagged ‘the twelve days of Christmas’

We’re on Day Ten of The Twelve Days of Brooches and today we have a vintage rhinestone flower brooch.

This brooch was given to me by my mother and I think perhaps it had belonged to her mother and all that makes it special to me, but there’s another reason it’s close to my heart.

This brooch was the inspiration behind a key thread in the middle grade novel that I wrote and have recently been revising. In fact, the brooch in the novel is an important clue to the mystery. Writers often use objects as inspiration or guides for their writing and when I was working on the scenes that included the flower brooch, I would place this one in front of me and sometimes stop and imagine it inside the story where it has a very full life on the Tube in London. It’s nothing special otherwise, it has no markings, but it’s well made and it has a lot of presence. I don’t wear it often, but sometimes I pin it to an evening bag for extra sparkle.

Only two more days to go. Come back tomorrow and see what’s next.

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We’re coming close to the end of The Twelve Days of Brooches and Day Nine is a nod to the writer or pen enthusiast.

This charming brooch popped up while I was searching through a box of buttons at the Alameda Antique Faire. Since I’m a writer, of course it had to be added to my collection. It is black enamel on gold tone and it has a little rhinestone on the nib (tip). As I said, charming.

I wear this on the lapel of a blazer whenever I’m going somewhere for professional writers, like a conference.

Come back tomorrow for Day Ten and another brooch story.

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Victorian glass brooch.

Today’s brooch feels festive and I often wear it for a New Year’s Eve party or some other special celebration. My mother gave it to me and I think it’s Victorian, perhaps crystal or glass. It reminds me of a icicles or a waterfall and since it’s quite large and slightly heavy, I pin it to a coat. An even better place to wear it is on a handbag.

This Corde handbag (circa 1930s), embellished with a Victorian brooch, is just the thing for a New Year’s Eve celebration.

Start the new year off tomorrow with Day Eight of The Twelve Days of Brooches.

Wishing all ODFL readers a happy and safe New Year’s Eve.

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Another fabric handbag, this time a clutch in brown with swipes of black. I spotted this bag at the now defunct Vintage Fashion Expo – a vintage sale held twice a year in San Francisco (oh how I miss the Fashion Expo). I instantly fell in love with the unusual curve at the bottom of this bag, which is just perfect for holding. The shape and fabric remind me of mid-century furniture.

A classic 1950s handbag, I often wear it with a brown full skirt dress that I bought at the same time from the same dealer. This is my go-to autumn party outfit. Parties? Remember those?

Remember to stop back tomorrow for another vintage handbag.

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This beaded beauty was a gift from a friend of mine. It dates from the 1940s and comes with a mirror and a glasses case. I have worn it many times for an evening of dancing or an elegant dinner out. The beads give off just a bit of sparkle in dim light.

There are a few of my handbags that I use as decoration and this is one of them. It’s a piece of sartorial sculpture and way too pretty to keep in a closet.

Tomorrow is another day with another vintage handbag. Come back!

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This fabric handbag hails from the UK. I purchased the satchel at an antique market in London for 20 pounds, which at that time was about $40. It’s another one of my faves for the style and the fact that the emblem on the front looks a bit like the initial M. In excellent condition, it’s all leather inside and has a label that reads: Made in Italy exclusively for D. Henry. I did a little research on D. Henry and unfortunately came up with nothing. I’m not sure of the era but I suspect 1960s going for a retro look. It’s an unusual handbag regardless.

I sport it with some of my vintage outfits but I also wear it with a casual dress or skirt if the colors are compatible. I’m a big fan of mixing vintage with modern.

Here I am sporting this handbag with my mother at at 1920s ADSC event, circa 1996.

Come back tomorrow for a vintage handbag that’s just the thing for New Year’s Eve.

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Many Christmas moons ago, I opened a gift from my mother and inside the pretty box was an unexpected treasure – a tooled leather handbag, circa 1915.

During WWI, after years of delicate handbags made of beads, mesh, or fabric, leather purses were in vogue. Since women stepped up to work (and picket for the right to vote) while men went to fight, a sturdier slightly larger handbag was needed.

But I love the fact that beauty was still in play. My leather bag has an Art Nouveau design in the tooled leather and on the metal frame. The frame, by the way, was made by frame manufacturer JEMCO.

A very special gift that remains the prize of my collection. Sometime later my mother gave me a vintage style Shafer pen, which she thought went well with the purse.

OverDressedforLife wishes readers a Merry (and safe) Christmas. Check back tomorrow for Day Two of The Twelve Days of Vintage Handbags.

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On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me … Epiphany!

My epiphany is that you cannot force an epiphany.

Today is the last post of The Twelve Days of Fashionable Holiday Cards. Thank you to all readers who followed along. I hope you enjoyed the images and keeping the holiday alive a bit longer.

Now on to more fashionable stories in 2019. Stay tuned.

 

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