Recent Vintage Scores

After a long summer of no real vintage finds, I struck gold last month.  A peacock blue silk 1960s wiggle dress (with matching bolero jacket) for $10, and a $40 so soft 1950s squirrel fur bolero jacket made by "The Harris Company."

I also grabbed a $10 WWII wool nurse's cape at the thrifty a couple of weeks ago.

And I also finally finished repairing this lovely 1950s feathered Caspar-Davis hat (gift from friends, found at the thrift store in Portland).

I purchased this $35 1957 purple lace prom dress from the daughter of the original owner.  She wore it to her Talent high school prom!

I bought 21 vintage sewing patterns (1930s-1950s) for $1/pattern at a yard sale.  One of my favorites is a 1940s beret and matching purse pattern!

Caspar-Davis Strikes Again!

I know what you're thinking, "Come on!  ANOTHER Caspar-Davis bird hat?!"  Well, what can I say?  They just keep flying into my greedy little hands (this time, thanks to the amazing duo over at Fab Gabs Vintage!)...

It was too warm out to wear the hat with its "made for each other" vintage outfit (a 1940s navy suit and red blouse), so instead I paired it with that lovely red & white linen dress I rescued a while ago.  The red of the dress perfectly matched the red ribbon of the hat.

Recent Millinery Creations 2013

I have been absolutely terrible about updating my blog lately...honestly, I have been over-worked and under-slept, and that it turn makes me pretty much incoherent for typing anything worthwhile.  I did manage to go out on a dinner date with my husband recently, and got to wear my fabulous FabGabs green 1940s suit - which I paired with my "Mitzie Original" 1940s bird hat and my kitty cape.  Sorry for the crummy lighting in the picture...

Okay, back to my latest millinery creations...

I finished my first custom hat order, and mailed it off to a very wonderful (and satisfied!) customer.

I made another double faux birdie hat in the "Caspar-Davis" style.

I also finished my long-awaited Painter's Palette tilt hat!  This one is available for purchase in my Etsy store.

Caspar-Davis Lives Again

My recreation of a 1940s Caspar-Davis double faux bird tilt hat. The hat body is constructed out of a 1940s black wool felt capeline, and has a wired circular felt band in back to hold the hat onto the head. The hat body is circular, with a decorative side tuck. Two faux birds (1930s/1940s) grace the top of the hat, and a gorgeous chin-length section of 1940s vintage veiling completes the piece!

Latest Vintage Hat Scores!: French Faux Birds, Famous Faux Birds

Ok, I actually purchased these right before we left for our vacation.  The past week has been SO ridiculously busy, I haven't had time to post about them until now...

French Faux Birds

This exquisitely unique 1940s open-crown hat was miscategorized (and I find a great deal of irony in this) as a doll hat!  The style is a first for me - I have never seen anything like it!  I almost want to call it an "up-do hat," as I feel I should wear my hair up somehow to accommodate the structure of the hat...?  It was created by the legendary French milliner, Solange de Fabry, and I am told that it is rare to find her creations outside of France.  

 

The hat is a circular band, composed of white feathers/birds glued over a buckram frame.  The band is thicker in front, and decorated with rhinestones.  

In back, the band thins out and forms little faux bird heads (with rhinestones for eyes and chic rhinestone collars!).  

The detailing on everything is amazing!

Famous Faux Birds

This fabulous little 1940s tilt hat is my 2nd Caspar-Davis faux birdie hat!  Caspar-Davis was a milliner for the Hollywood movie stars, and it definitely shows in the quality of the worksmanship.  The hat is a bit moth-eaten, but still structurally sound.  

The tail feathers of the fake bird come down to caress the cheek of the wearer!

Caspar Davis Creates A Bird (Hat)

My Caspar-Davis hat arrived today!  I'm so excited!!  

I love the green color of the felt and the wild colors of the faux parrot feathers!  

They even painted an eye on the parrot - too cute!  

 

Caspar Davis was apparently a high-end milliner who designed hats for the movie stars!