Pink Fire Pointer June 2009

Find

I discovered a lovely blog today that I thought I would share with you

Musings - Brocante

Its a visual feast and if you love vintage and things from past eras you will fall in love


The girl that writes it says it best on her about me blurb which I have copied below.
What I want to know is how did she get into me head to write this?
Go peek

au sujet de moi

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it's a vintage thing. It's my endless fascination with mementos of yesteryear. it's a love affair with vintage photos, and petit tresors. it's about the ugly duckling - finding a diamond in the rough at a flea market and envisioning it's transformation. it's a softly aged look. it's creative passion. it's imagining the possibilities. it's about pale tan, cream, sepia, gray, slate blue and moss green. it's about creating livable elegance. it's chandeliers and peeling, faded paint. it's pools of creamy velvet curtains and layers of sheer muted silks. it's feminine. it's romantic. it's timeless.

it's a french thing. it's street markets and boulangeries & patisseries. it's about random moments of incredible beauty and the bridges at night. it's the eiffel tower and the seine. it's joie de vivre.

it's a glamour thing. it's about dressing for dinner. it's about tucking a flower in your hair. it's about dance cards and calling cards. it's all in the details. it's bias-cut silk velvets aged to antique perfection. it's about dressing tables and bead work from the roaring 20's. it's la vie boheme. it's about delicate lingerie and silk stockings. it's risqué. it's about a fairytale world where nothing is discrete, tidy or expected. It's about burnished edwardian lace and twinkling fairy lights. it's running about in capes and gothic skirts with lace blouses that have huge ruffled cuffs. it's about feeling gorgeous and feminine.

it's who i am.

Shrimpton Welcomes Lousie Black!


I was going to do a post on welcoming Louise Black but my e-friend Denise, writer extraordinaire of The Swelle Life blog, did such a lovely job covering the new collection that I am going to take the liberty of copying her post here for you all to see!

I am REALLY excited to welcome Louise to the Shrimpton family - her items are unbelieveable - if oyu think they look good in the photos wait till your piece arrives in the mail! There are some HUGE thiings coming up for Louise that I am sworn to secrecy on but trust me - this girl is ging to be BIG. Buy her now while you can get it!
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June 29, 2009

Louise Black's Victorian Beauties for Shrimpton Couture

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My favourite vintage shop, Shrimpton Couture, has embarked on an exciting venture and enlisted the talents of a handful of carefully chosen independent accessories designers to create one-of-a-kind capsule collections for the boutique. Each is known for using special vintage materials that befit their own unique style and their creations are the perfect complement to the outstanding collection of vintage and reworked clothing that Shrimpton Couture offers.

The latest set of adornments comes courtesy of Louise Black whose richly detailed Victorian pieces favour delicate vintage laces and fringe and exquisite beadwork. The story goes that Courtney Love - a client of both Louise and Shrimpton Couture - suggested the two collaborate!

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How I missed posting on the recent collection from The Glamourai I have no idea because I was completely smitten at first glance with her latest. It was influenced by the Sofia Coppola film Marie Antoinette and certainly captured the decadent, feminine styling at its best. My favourite piece went before it was even in the shop due to a frenzied reaction to a preview, so it's now with a lucky owner but I'm going to show it anyway:

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However, somehow this piece is still available and is equally as luscious:

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And a little something for the wrist, perhaps?

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Shrimpton

Modelled by The Glamourai herself along with another stunning
neckpiece that got snapped up immediately

Watch the Shrimpton Couture boutique for two more mouthwatering jewelry collections arriving soon. And fashion fans won't want to miss the Shrimpton Couture interview for Herald de Paris in which Norma Kamali answers questions from twitterers (tweeters? I'm not sure) including one from Yours Truly about the future of vintage.
You can read the article here

The Norma Kamali Interview is Live!

I am very pleased to tell you that my interview of the great Norma Kamali is now up at the Herald de Paris.
Click here to jump to it

Norma Kamali ......Photo Todd HeislerThe New York Times

As I mention in the article the interview came about after receiving a note from her PR team thanking me for writing this blog post on Norma's early years

Norma in her studio 1997 .....Photo © APWide World Photos.

I am very pleased with how it came out and was even happier that I had the brilliant (if I do say so myself) idea to have some of my Twitter friends particpate by asking question of Norma as well!

A big thank you and shout out to them all - add them to your follows if you aren't following them already peeps!
@juicyincouture @Zuburbia @WendyBrandes @coutureallure @joulesstar @thefatandskinny @LuvSunflower @FaBuFun @M641 @TheSwelleLife

A parachute cloth jumpsuit and evening dress, 1977.

And in honor of the interview I listed a couple of new Norma Kamali pieces onto Shrimpton Couture including this 1980s jumpsuit that I could not resist adding since it is a close sister to the one Rachel Zoe recently wore for a Decades event!

1980s Norma Kamali jumpsuit availbale now - click to jump

Wonder what lucky girl will rock that one!

Thank you again to Norma Kamali for allowing me to speak with her.
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Explore the world of Norma Kamali

The Norma Kamali Collection
YouTube Channel
Twitter: @NKCollection
And Norma is on Facebook: NORMA KAMALI COLLECTION

Spotted - Zoe Saldana


Zoe Saldana is becoming a regular around this column.
She attended the BET awards looking refreshingly lovely against the sea of glitter and tiny outfits in her minimalist white Calvin Klein. It just goes to show you that sometimes the way to stand out is to pare it back

Louise Black is COMING SOON


I am so excited to be just a day or so away from officially welcoming Louise Black to the Shrimpton Couture line-up of fabulous goodies!

About a month or so ago I received an email from Louise saying that our fabulous shared client, Courtney Love, had urged Louise to get in touch with me. Courtney thought that we might be a good fit for each other and she was spot on!!


I love the work that Louise Black does, its rocker chic mixed with Victorian girlie decadence and I already personally own a few pieces that I wear regularly to rave reviews!
Her workmanship is incredible- I am incredibly picky about the quality and I am a fan - she does tight stitching, uses incredible antique and vintage textile remnants, and all are mixed and constructed into beautiful piece done with an astonishing aesthetic!

I will be posting more pictures soon and launching the entire line - I have 6 pieces in my hands right now and there are 6 more coming shortly.

I anticipate that like The Glamourai she will soon be selling out before I can even get items posted so watch this space carefully for updates!

Here is a sneak peek of one of her incredible cuff bracelets



LOVE!
Trust me when I say that Louise Black is on the cusp of being the next big thing so grab her pieces while you can!!

The Word is OUT


Check out this post from my e-friend over at The Clutch 22 blog!!

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PostHeaderIcon Sneak Peak: IHNW for Shrimpton Couture!

If you’ve seen past posts on my I Heart Norwegian Wood harness and panelled leggings, you probabaly already know of my obsession. It’s about to get better. Angie Johnson of I Heart Norwegian Wood is doing an exclusive line for Shrimpton Couture, a fabulous vintage shop!

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Angie filled me in on some exclusive details about the line including the below:

  • Super special harnesses and fringe/feather combo necklaces
  • A mixture of both feminine and hard, edgy pieces
  • Each piece will be totally one of a kind, often incorporating vintage elements that Angie only has one of (e.g. vintage lace, metal trims, special buckles, etc.)

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Some of the materials she is using include the following:

  • Vintage hat-making trims
  • Feathers
  • Deconstructed jewelry
  • Vintage lace
  • Fringe
  • Leatherette elastic
  • Art deco inspired buckles
  • Chain
  • Mini pleated chiffon
  • Garters

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Stay tuned for more details on prices and availability! In the meantime, make sure to check out the I Heart Norwegian Wood Etsy store and Shrimpton Couture’s online shop!It’s cool to see indie collaborations. What other cool collaborations have you seen or heard about? What do you think about this one so far?

Inspiration - Move Those Legs!










Look what's Coming!!


The Glamourai wrote a lovely blog this morning - a send off to her next 4 pieces that should be on my doorstep today - I have pasted it here for you to see. These are truly spectacular pieces and you should take a peek. All are availbale for pre-order.

Also I am really please to tell you that Shrimpton Couture will be carrying a couture capsule collection from Louis Black that will debut in the next day or so as well.
Watch this space for previews of that collection too!!
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i bid adieu to four very special necklaces today, to brighten other wardrobes via shrimpton couture.

every piece i make is meticulously sculpted, and truly one-of-a-kind. my working style is very free-form; i literally will start with one crystal, then weave it with another, then another...



sometimes i have a general look in mind, but i never know exactly how a piece will turn out. i just trust the materials to show me when to add more, when to reduce, and when i am finished. at some mysterious moment (after many hours, sometimes days), they come together. my hands ache, they are always a mess; jewelry making is physical as well as cerebral work!



i've adjusted very slowly to accepting the idea of selling my jewelry. every piece i make is so personal to me. they are like little diary entries, more expressive than words to convey how i'm feeling, what i want to celebrate.



though i had been perfectly happy keeping this catalogue to myself, i'm glad i 'went public.' it's been really touching to get to know my new clients, several of whom have already started collecting ~ plucking from etsy, shrimpton, or placing custom orders through this blog. it is inspiring for me to always make something new, and there is an intimacy in having something beautiful which is yours alone.



(above + below featured in style sample magazine)


still, i am a little sad every time i part with a piece of jewelry. every one is a memory for me, but it is nice to dream of the mark they will make outside my little life, all across the world.

(all works pictured are available for presale via shrimpton couture)

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Update:
Sorry girls
Black Orchid Petal Necklace (the piece with the black ribbons and fish)
is now SOLD

The Amber Chrysalis Collar is now SOLD as well

Update!
Sorry but ALL four of these are now SOLD
More to come soon!

Don't forget their are more Glamourai piece available at the shop too!
Jump to see them here


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PS If thats not enough for you - watch for a SLEW of
NEW RSVP pieces and more fabulous vintage all coming this week!

Celebrity Vintage Spot - Cameron Diaz


Cameron looked gorgeous in bright 1980s Chanel
while appearing on the Tonight Show a couple of weeks ago!

Shout Out - Style Bubble!


Was so excited to find out that the RSVP line was featured in Style Bubble!
I have copied it for you to see but please pop over to Style Bubble if its not already a daily read!
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23 June 2009

RSVP To This

Reworked vintage conjures up some fairly mediocre beige (not the colour but the FEELING of beige) things for me. It's all too easy to chop up a fairly decent vintage dress, whack on some ribbone/lace and take up the hem and call it 'reworked' and then price it up accordingly. It's a sub category of vintage that people take great pride in, but there's only so much excitement you can exude for a maxi dress taken up with a bit of elastic sewn into the waist. That said, 'reworked vintage' hasn't completely been struck off yet. Especially when you look at the work of RSVP who caught my eye when I was browsing the haute vintage site Shrimpton Couture. No quickie elastic fix here. With some pieces, I can't even discern what the original garments looked like before RSVP's reworkings and that's because they've taken them far away from their original form. With others, there's been a restoration process where it's much like those scientific paint dabbers, working away at a painting in a painting. I'm particularly drawn to the sheer pieces that look like they can be thrown over anything...

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Look who wore vintage

Australian newcomer Isabel Lucas looks absolutely stunning in this vintage Chanel Haute Couture chiffon embroidered dress, at the premiere of The Transformers in L.A. last night.
She might even be giving Megan Fox a run for your money in this dress!
Ahh the power of fabulous vintage!

Girl crushes & strapless dresses

This morning on the jak & Jill blog I spotted these two photos of Anna Dello Russo in two versions of a strapless dress


I instantly developed a girl crush.

First of all we have the same studded Balmain shoes so I know we would be instant BFFs.

Second, the girl is not afraid to wear color which I love - we all wear too much black

Third, I have a soft spot for strapless dresses and along with my fave one shoulder look, wear them constantly throughout the summer, so Anna & I could swap. i could teach her how to wear vintage ones with her Balmains for when she wants to be vintage cool rather then couture cool.

These are my picks for Anna when she finds my blog and emails me and we instantly bond and she wants to borrow

xoxoxox


1970s Sequin Strapless Dress



2001 YSL Rive Gauche Dress



1980s Unlabeled Ungaro Dress



Click here if you want to see the other strapless dresses you can scoop out from under Anna

Here's another nothing new

Michelle Yeoh in a black sequin gown Roberto Cavalli gown

1950s sequin gown available at Shrimpton Couture

The Glamourai Preview

Look whats coming my way!
This fabulous necklace will be available in the shop soon and YES that is ALL one insanely gorgeous over the top piece
Email me to pre-order

Nothing New Under The Sun

I saw this picture this morning and had a giggle. This is the cast from Sophie's Revenge at a Press conference. My eyes immediately zoomed in on Fan Bing who is wearing an asymmetrical Salvatore Ferragamo Spring 2009 maxi dress with a leopard print

I noticed it becasue it looks oddly familiar - somewhat like my 1970s Alfred Shaheen one shoulder maxi that was recently sent off as a feature in the Dujour Magazine Vintage issue. Its one of my favorite pieces and was a loan from my personal archives

And so the wheels of fashion go round and round no?

The 1970s Shaheen or 2009 Ferragamo?
Who did it better?