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1920s - fashion with fun, whimsy and chic

Lily Powers

Practically Family
Foofoogal said:
I have a ? and do not know where else to ask. I found the most amazing metal mesh antique collar today. I have never seen anything like it. Like the metal the antique purses are made of.
Would this be of the 1920s period or earlier and has anyone seen one before? I will have to add photos.

OOh, lucky you. If it's how I'm imagining it, the mesh is like liquid. Maybe Whiting & Davis? W&D is well known for their mesh bags (they still make them), and they also made necklaces, too. Not all of their work was signed.

Whiting & Davis purse, circa 1920's:

ABQ9985652.jpg


Whiting & Davis mesh bib necklace, circa unk.:
Whiting-and-Davis-Gold-Mesh_DE9C830E.jpg
 

Mojito

One Too Many
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No worries, Cookie - I've cleared it out (I still have a booklet I meant to copy for you sitting on my desk, where it's been since about May!).

Aw...thanks Foofoogal! I think Lily Powers, is on the mark with your piece - would love to see images.

In other news, I might finally have found a pair of 20s vintage shoes to fit my massive hooves...
 

Foofoogal

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Vintage Land
http://www.artinruins.com/arch/?id=redevelop&pr=raufastner
Rau Fasteners, established in 1912, was the leading distributor of metal snap fasteners in the nation and played a large role in the Rhode Island economy. According to the Providence Journal, the company was founded by Lues Reiter. The 1929 directory identifies Rau Fastener at the 102 Westfield Street location, with a capitalization of $100,000 under the leadership of Lues Reiter, president, and James H. Arthur, secretary-treasurer. By 1949, the company was run by Harold J. Reiter, president, and Herman Reiter, treasurer.
It has a RAU fastener so I know it was made after 1912. I love history. lol
 

Louise Anne

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Yorkshire ,UK
Foofoogal said:
http://www.artinruins.com/arch/?id=redevelop&pr=raufastner

It has a RAU fastener so I know it was made after 1912. I love history. lol


Foofoogal I might be wrong or totally wrong but I thinking it's not too 20's looking to me . More like the Titanic era or later which is I do not think is far wrong from what your thinking. It is really nice and it would look great worn.
What it made out of it looks really heavy and stiff to me to wear in my view enforce the dating
 

Foofoogal

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the fastener company started in 1912. It is a bit heavy but very fluid.
I am trying my best to get it identified. I am not even sure if you would call it clothing or jewelry.
Makes me mad I cannot figure out how to put larger photo here from photobucket. I used to be able to. Maybe they charge now for that?
It is very chainlink type material.
Mandalian Manufacturing Company? I know now this is going to drive me batty. On a mission.
 

Celia Crowson

Familiar Face
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93
Location
Sydney - Australia
Originally Posted by Celia Crowson
Mojito you remind me allot of the glamorous sleuth Phryne Fisher!

Mojito - I don't know if this has been asked - but where would a person who adores the 20s start to build their own collection of clothes, accessories, etc..?

~Amanda~
Australia


Pink Dahlia said:
If I can interject as a fairly new 1920s collector, my collection started with patterns. They are much cheaper and they can give that authentic 20s look without the massive cost and wear and tear. I own exactly 3 authentic 20s dresses all from eBay (one I disassembled and made a pattern out of since it was just too ruined to wear). They are very fragile and were somewhat costly. Maybe Mo can advise that 20s garb is cheaper over there! (Maybe not.) I have a bunch of stuffs in my blog but I'm no expert! :)


Mojito said:
Very pleased blushes here, Celia and Tomasso - thank you. Celia, you are so very lovely to compare me in any way to Phryne - she's my secret guilty fictional indulgance, and I adore the character (clothes, food, flirting (and a bit more than flirting), living well...oh yes, and the odd mystery.

Celia, Pink's idea about patterns is a good one particularly if (as I am not) you are talented in that way. I'm hoping to break down one of the dresses I wore in Napier into pattern elements, as it felt so fabulous on - unfortunately the light silk was already on the point of failure and had undergone many repairs before I bought it, knowing it was deeply flawed but loving the colour. I was hoping it wouldn't collapse completely while I was wearing it, but fortunately it held up for just that one wear.

When you're collecting pieces, I think it's all too easy to fall into the same mistake that many new collectors in many areas do - they go for more of the cheaper pieces. In my case, I bought virtually anything that would fit me, regardless of style, quality or condition. Rather than do that, I'd recommend that you save your money on several of the cheaper pieces and invest in something that is in better condition and of better quality.

Don't turn your nose up at a bargain, though - I've bought many dresses for less than $40 - 50 USD, including this brown lace dress that is a favourite:

NapierDay2WinstonsBarfly.jpg


Same with hats - you'd be surprised what you can find on eBay that has been poorly photographed, poorly displayed, and perhaps needs a touch of steaming. I bought a pretty little I Magnin straw cloche (unfortunately I don't have a photo) for less than $20.

Go for versatility and durability if you intend to wear them - a beaded tabard on a netting base can be worn over a variety of coloured slips to achieve different effects.

Be aware that you would be wise to resew at least the underarm sleeves on long sleeved garments - I heard this tip from a vintage clothing dealer, and she was spot on. And be careful of beads - the base fabric may be strong, but the beads may shed with a horrible tinkling sound with every step you take. My mother is wearing a tabard in this photo that she had to virtually entirely resew - as soon as she'd touch a thread, it would disintegrate. She was able to stabilise the beading, and I think hardly lost a bead all night when she wore it (need to find a better photo - she's hiding herself with that awful big tote in this photo, and you can't really see the dress):

NapierDay3CafeCrawlJillSandra-1.jpg


You may want to specialise in the first or second half of the decade, as they were quite distinct (personally, I just love them all).


Pink Dahlia & Mojito thank you so much for the information.

I am terribly sorry for the lateness in this reply. I did read and take on board the information - but am rather tardy at replies. Sorry.

I have purchased a number of patterns for clothes and actual hats.
Question - do you know of any patterns for hats? - especially the fabric cloches.
The hats I have purchased do not fit me - purchased for admiring mostly :)
My head is a wee bit big for the average hat, so maybe a pattern would be better so I can adjust the size.
 

Foofoogal

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well so far have learned my piece is a collar turned around backwards and egyptian revival of the 1920s. Like a puzzle putting this together. Now out to find a photo of someone wearing similar. What fun....
 

Mojito

One Too Many
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Sydney
I'm keeping an eye out for you, Foofoogal -it's a lovely piece, and if I find anything that might be useful to you I'll send it along.

With Napier Art Deco just around the corner, I've been having lots of fun splurging. I do love a hat...and this cloche fits like a dream:

PinkCloche.jpg


Need to get some photos of the first vintage 20s shoes that have ever fitted me actually on my feet...
 

Mojito

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Thank you! I adore the millinery of the era...just trying to work out how I'm going to pack all the hats for Napier. I'm sure it will be another case of wearing some of them on the plane!
 

Foofoogal

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Vintage Land
I appreciate it Mojito. Someone suggested all Whiting Davis is signed. As it goes back to 1886 I cannot imagine all would of been but ?
http://www.antiquetrader.com/article/largest_mesh_collection_to_come_to_auction

Awesome auction link. I would of loved to of been there.

I picked up a pretty tattered childs 1920s dress today. Have no idea what I will possibly do with it but it was so charming.

Your cloche hat is fabulous.
 

Mojito

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Loving the pretty...here are a couple of new cloches, the first showing some Russian influences (reminds me of Bakst's designs), and the second has a certain Chinoise thing going on:

flowerscloche01.jpg


goldlame02.jpg


These illustrate pretty well the theatrical flair of the 20s that I find so enjoyable!
 

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