A Tiara or Two...

So my husband says, "Where are you wearing THAT?!"  I says, to clean my closet, go to the loo or even for a grand night out.

A tiara or two...

The Cartier tiaras all belonged to Mary, Duchess of Roxburghe who sounded like a dame of the best sort.  Her husband, the Duke of Roxburghe had their butler bring them breakfast and divorce papers upon a silver tray.  The Duke tried to get the Duchess kicked out of the castle and she holed up in a room for six weeks despite the Duke turning off the water, electricity, food... The townspeople, who were very fond of the Duchess, brought her food which she lifted up to her room via a bucket and rope out the window.

This tiara can also be worn as a necklace.  The diamonds are tremblant - as am I : )

The tiaras had been packed away in newspaper in 1953 after their divorce and sealed with a wax seal... how amazing is that?!  Must have been so much fun opening those yellowed packets of newspaper to find a glittering Cartier tiara! 

The Duchess of Roxburghe's tiaras on Sothebys employees...

xo, Juliana

Put a Bib On

I was recently in Solange Azagury-Patridge's red jewel box of a store on Madison when I saw her gold lacquered Supernature bib necklace with its abundance of birds, snakes, snails, bunnies, ladybugs, ponies, flamingos, pandas...

It is soooo fabulous and fun.

It also reminded me of a very whimsical and modern take on Daisy Fellowes' Cartier Hindu necklace:

I would be happy with either or happiest with both : )

xo, Juliana

Revenge is a Dish Best Tasted Cold

Well, I am not sure if it is revenge exactly but it is ironic that the most influential collection by Frida Giannini for Gucci was also her last.  It certainly has defined Spring's 70s vibe with suede jackets, denim skirts, Sgt Pepper jackets, sailor pants and retro 70s bags...

xo, Juliana

Modern Flare

Gabriele Hackworthy, fashion director of Porter magazine, gives a lesson in how to wear flared jeans, retro but modern.  She is wearing a Talitha fringed suede poncho, a Wendy Nichol bag and vintage Balmain flares.  Looks super cool don't you think?!

Photo by Sandra Semburg

xo, Juliana

Sundays at home with Pauline de Rothschild at the Chateau Mouton in the Library

Literature was not an affectation at Mouton

Decantation: Reflections on Wine by the New York Times Wine Critic, Frank Prial

De Rothschild was a bookworm, too, dressed by Balenciaga, Courreges and Saint Laurent, once bailing out of an important dinner becasue she was too engrossed in the collected letters of Henry James to even think about eating.
Mitchell Owens

RARE vintage Sunday's at Home... in Pauline de Rothchild's library at the Chateau Mouton...

You will find me this afternoon on the blue chaise with a glass of Chateau Mouton Rothschild finishing Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire by Amanda Foreman...

xo, Juliana

Feeling Flare-y

I discovered whilst closet cleaning/reorganizing that I own quite a few flared jeans and corduroys which I barely remember wearing or buying.  But there they were patiently waiting, knowing their moment was about to come again.  I do not think I will give up skinny jeans entirely for flares - flares are more work, they need a specific shoe and a cropped skinny jean is just too easy - and flattering.

My retro flared jean inspiration: Jane Birkin...

xo, Juliana

How to Wear a Hat

When I was at Fenwicks in London (which is such a great store!) recently, trying on whimsical hat after whimsical hat, I wished we wore hats more often.  They are like candy for the head and whose head could not use a little candy : )

One of my favorite lines in one of the The Thin Man movies is when someone shouts out to Mrs. Nora Charles, "look at the screwy hat on that dame!"

To all dames with screwy hats... Happy Easter!

Madonna at the premiere of Evita in John Galliano:

Marlene Dietrich in a hat looking fabulous:

Audrey Hepburn in a hat - could not choose just one:

Not technically a hat but a head scarf on Jackie Kennedy Onassis:

Hats at the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton:

Sarah Jessica Parker has worn some fun hats:

and who can forget the late, great Isabella Blow...

xo, Juliana

A Fine Vintage #2: Nicolas Ghesquiere for Balenciaga Spring 2002

Do you remember the most coveted fashion item for Spring 2002?  Let me jog your memory...

That is the former model, muse, now shoe designer, Tabitha Simmons wearing the hottest pants of 2002.  Everyone wanted those slouchy army green cargo pants and they still look good.  I loved this collection because it was such a cool and relaxed silhouette.  Of course, there was a little fashion drama and scandale when Ghesquiere was called out for a very direct inspiration of an obscure San Francisco designer, Kaisik Wong's 1973 patchwork vest.  But all is fair in love and fashion and I loved the vest and perhaps it brought some attention to the work of Wong (who died of Aids related leukemia in 1990.

I wish Ghesquiere would revisit this silhouette for Louis Vuitton where everything has been very trim and fitted.

Anyhoo, here is a fine vintage by Nicolas Ghesquiere for Balenciaga from Spring 2002.  Enjoy!

p.s. I am always looking for Ghesquiere for Balenciaga runway pieces, so if you have any Balenciaga hanging in your closet and you are ready to part with, please get in touch with us at info@rarevintage.com!

xo, Juliana

SEE: Karl Lagerfeld: ModeMethode

The Bundeskunsthalle museum - golly, try saying that three times fast! in Bonn, Germany is exhibiting the first comprehensive exhibit of Karl Lagerfeld's work - from his yellow wool coat which won the 1954 Woolmark prize and started his (and Yves Saint Laurent's) career to the pregnant bridal dress from the Chanel Autumn/Winter 2014 haute couture collection.

A trip down memory lane...

A vivid and lively version of Karl Lagerfeld's desk:

The coat that started it all: the winner of the 1954 Woolmark prize (recreated for the exhibit):

Karl for Chloe:

The brilliance of Karl: bringing some street creed to the house of Chanel:

The dream of Chanel haute couture realized by Karl:

Karl Lagerfeld: ModeMethode

28 March to 13 September 2015

Bundeskunsthalle Mueum

 

 xo, Juliana