Monthly Archives: August 2012

The best of my Horrockses collection

Posted in Horrockses by

Today I’m bringing back one of my favourite Horrockses for yet ANOTHER blog post, this is because I’ve had some rather exciting extra information on it… and an extra part added to it.

This is the Horrockses in question, which i was wearing in the latest issue of Vintage Explorer magazine.

Now, shortly after I posted about this dress in May a lovely lady got in contact with me and offered to sell me the MATCHING SHAWL, of course, I couldn’t turn down an opportunity like that, as it made it a complete outfit. Like the dress this was also in perfect condition.

This dress was not only special to me because of the stunning fit, but also because it was one of the dresses used for the Horrockses bed linen collection.

You can read the full details of the dress in this blog post:

http://queen-tree.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/my-new-horrockses-dress.html

At the time i assumed that the dress dated between 1955 and 1958, and was very happy to find out that my dating was infact BANG ON correct. The lovely Tessa Richards of Rainbow Valley Vintage tweeted me a picture of MY dress as featured in Vanity fair in May 1958.

I love it when a tale about a vintage dress all comes together!

Exciting new Horrockses purchase…and other vintage fun.

Posted in Horrockses by

Yesterday my Ma and I took a trip to Salisbury and came away with some vintage TREATS. In posts such as these I normally like to save the best purchase till last, but I am SO excited about this one that I have to share the best one first!!!

Here is my stunning new Horrockses that I picked up. This little number dates to the mid fifties roughly and the complicated cut suggests to me that it is a John Tullis design. What is interesting is that the dress has two labels. Its normal Horrockses label and also a store label “Maison Tesink” Fred H. Laan Den Haag”. I looked up the store and found this was in existence from 1956 in the Hague- Holland. (I don’t speak Dutch so this is what my hopeful vague translation is suggesting!). The reason why I was so intrigued is that normally Horrockses dresses purchased abroad would have had a different export label, but this has the label found in the UK.

The dress, even better, was picked up for a mere £50. Which for any dress this beautiful is reasonable- but for a Horrockses I thought was a great price.

The shoes I am wearing with it are a pair of 1950s Rayne stillettos that i found in a Lymmington charity shop around a month ago for £4.

These are my other purchases too.

And these are my mum’s purchases. I think you could say we are a mother and daughter pair who love our vintage!

Birthday presents GALORE!!!

Posted in Uncategorized by

On Wednesday it was my birthday (22!) and I just had to share some of my looovvveeely presents I received (mostly vintage/ history related!).

First off I got a stack of excellent books that I desperately wanted (reviews coming on all four shortly). After having a quick flick through them I am particularly excited about getting stuck into the book about Alistair Morton and the Edinburgh Weavers. There are some fantastic images of original artwork for Horrockses prints in the book.
I also received some lovely gifts from my Ma (always an ace present buyer).

One of my absolute highlights was this gorgeous skirt (look at the pockets!!!) The skirt is French made from Boussac cotton. I found this interesting as Boussac were the firm that originally bankrolled Christian Dior in 1947.

I also got this delightful swimsuit (sun??? please!) This is so typical of 50s swimsuits In its design! I particularly love the huge bloomers that come with it.

Another highlight was this 1930s suit (very interesting in its fabric and design).  I’m only wearing two parts of it in this picture as the top has approximately 15 hooks and eyes, and I didn’t have the energy to do them all up to take a quick photo! i actually think without the top it looks more 50s! This and the swimsuit seen previously both came from May’s Antiques in Lewes, which is one of my favourite shops for vintage finds.

I also got this selection of amazing prints, Mum stated “for your house”… Might be a while off yet ; ). Three of the prints feature Ossie Clark designs and date from 1969, the other is a Horrockses print (shockingly one I had never seen before from 1954).

On top of those lovely prints I got this amazing German sheet music from my dear friend Naomi. This is getting framed and going on my wall ASAP. Unfortunately my German isn’t top notch, i think it means something along the lines of “Marie, you are the loveliest lady, what do you cost for me?” (Ok, my German is really poor…because that doesn’t make sense, but it is something along those lines ; ) )

My aunt also took me to see Abigails Party at the Wyndham on Tuesday as a pre-birthday treat. I highly recommend going to see it. Jill Halfpenny in particular is hilarious in it.

I just had to share the dress I was wearing yesterday too. This original 50s stunner came from a box of clothes purchased last year for £30. Most of the items in this box needed a lot of care and attention to get them back to their best, this dress included which was dirty and crumpled. Looks pretty good now? Wouldn’t you say?
So all in all a lovely birthday (topped off with a night out with some of my best pals in Wimbledon). Roll on 22, lets see what you have to offer!