Vintage Jewellry is Out and About!

I just got received a copy of Vintage Jewellry by Caroline Cox, and I am delighted!

In all fairness, I must reveal that I received a courtesy copy. Why? because I contributed photos. I am thrilled how many they used and how good they look. In the small world of vintage clothing, this is Very Exciting. It's a lovely book in hard cover with a different take on jewelry, covering fine jewelry, costume pieces and art jewelry in the context of fashion and society with a multitude of color photos. And lots of sources and museums are listed as well.

If you want to to see the photos from Past Perfect Vintage, be sure to check out the chapters on the 1910s and 1920s for combs and 20s costume pieces.

I particularly enjoyed the later chapters covering the 1980s and 1990s - although it's hard to see jewelry I wore in the day and saw in Very Modern Exhibits now classed as Vintage.

Ah well, another day older is just another day becoming More Vintage.

Vintage Jewellry is published by Carlton Books and can be ordered at Amazon.com

Signs of the Times: Frankfort, KY Edition

We spent the day in Frankfort, Ky this past weekend. Yes, the main claim to fame is that it is the capitol of Kentucky. It's also a bourbon distillery area. There are two state capitol buildings- both very impressive in their own way. The old Capitol was built in 1830, the new Capitol in 1910. Yes - we call the 1910 building the 'New' capitol. But what caught my eye was the old downtown area. It neat. It's clean. There are houses, shops, museums, historic homes, restaurants, a bookstore and even a movie theater. All very enticing. And all in a walkable area.
Well Done, Frankfort. Very Well Done. We will be back for further exploration. And we are taking people with us.
Just a few of the old signs, both painted and neon, from the historic downtown area:

M.A. Selbert Jewelers

I. Davis since 1877 Mens Wear

The Grand Theatre

M.J. Meagher Family Shoe Store

Good Neon Furniture Sign

John R. Sower Paints and Hardware

A Pretty New Website Redo @ the Vintage Fashion Guild

There's a pretty new website design at the Vintage Fashion Guild. It's so clean and fresh, just like a repainted house. The many articles and resources are so much easier to access now! In full disclosure, I am a founding and current member of the VFG and did write the bios on Adrian, Howard Greer, Helen Rose, and Irene as well as much of the text for the Fashion Timeline and quite a few resource entries.

The VFG editors were so kind to include a big link to Past Perfect Vintage's Louisville Department Stores: a Short History . One good deed deserves another, so check it out here:

Vintage Fashion Guild

Tres Parisien, Part 3: Just for the Pretty

I admit today's post is a quick one with minimal effort. It's been a bit busy here at the ranch what with building a new porch, vintage clothing shopping and hand washing Irish woolen dresses and a 1930s Burberry's sweater. So without further ado, and just because these are pretty, and you won't be likely to see them elsewhere: Tres Parsien, 1920:

Signs of The Times: Neon Parking

Here's one for you neon sign lovers. A great big, old sign for a working parking garage in grand working condition. You can see it's on in the close ups. The Starks Building itself, commissioned by John Starks Rodes, has been around at 4th and Muhammed Ali Blvd. since , oh,1913. Juts a youngster of a building. This parking garage dates from 1953 and was an early one in Louisville. It is a huge sign. Must weigh a ton.

And yes, I have parked there. Often. My dentist is in this building.

sidewalk view on Third St.

From the top floor

detail view