A New Blog Arises!

Jonathan Walford, aka Kickshaw Produtions, also my friend and cohort at the Vintage Fashion Guild, has started a new blog. And it's a winner - superb photos, fascinating topics and a wealth of costume and fashion history information. It's new, but already a must read. See it here: http://kickshawproductions.com/blog/And this gives me the perfect opportunity to say he has a new book out: Forties

Pirates of Penzance

Forgive me for the non vintage fashion topic. I may have mentioned that in my other life, I am a theatrical costume designer. My latest project has been the costume designs for The Pirates of Penzance for the Kentucky Opera Association in Louisville, KY. The show opened last week and my time has been pretty totally absorbed for the last 3-4 weeks. Hence this post about costumes rather than

Designer du Jour: Helena Barbieri

Now Helena Barbieri is not a one of the big name designers. You won’t find much on her online or even in design texts. She didn’t pioneer a new silhouette or change the direction of fashion. Like many talented designers, she seems to have been successful in a lower key way, but not ever really celebrated by the media. Indeed, all that is readily available out there online is her obit in the NY

Oh So Stylish 1940s Millinery

1940s Hats were inspired. Maybe it was the war time restrictions on the amount of fabric in the clothing itself and the effect that had on garment design that put the emphasis on hats. Maybe it was the shift toward very tailored suits. Maybe it was the need to express femininity. Or even the need for a bit of gaiety and escape in time of war. Or maybe it was just a golden era of exuberant