It’s time for another Advantage In Vintage BIG sale, and this one is something super super special. Myself and my dear friend Naomi have been collecting hard for the past year to bring you our wonderful wedding sale, after our sale went down such a treat this time last year we thought we should bring you another one. And even if you aren’t getting married not to worry, as this sale is filled with not only some of the most wonderful wedding dresses I have ever laid my eyes upon, but some perfect party dresses and amazing accessories too.

I’m just going to share a few of my favourites with you but click on the advantage-in-vintage link to take you through to the sale.

So first off the wedding dresses themselves.

How about a boxed wedding dress from 1969? This came to me from the bride who wore it in ’69!

If your taste is more for delectable 40s how about this stunner in heavy brocade by Lee Delman.

Consider yourself a bride who needs a bit of sparkle? This lovely 50s number has a pretty pailette embroidered halterneck strap.

Or if you want a dress with a HUGE train I have some insane 60s and 70s examples

If you fancy a suit rather than a wedding dress I have a couple of lovely pieces

My top tip, this incredible Bill Gibb suit with his signature enamel bumblebee buttons

This 50s suit has the most luxuriously fluffy faux fur collar, perfect for a winter wedding

Or, if you are just after a fabulous party dress (although some of these are so good they could make equally amazing wedding dresses) I have treats!

This 50s gold number is pure mid 50s glamour, it really pulls you in in all the right places.

This ice blue 50s dress by Percy Martin also creates a similar silhouette

And this Susan Small dress is just glamour personified (I see Susan Small prices on the rise, *cough cough * I’ve written extensively about the brand….so look out for more details on this coming soon)

The selection of accessories this week is perfect for any magpie out there

Amazing 1930s brocade wedding shoes with paste buckles

1950s faux pearl collar necklace

1930s tiny crystal beaded necklace

If you have any questions don’t forget you can drop me an email liztregenza@hotmail.com

I am also happy to combine shipping between my ebay and my etsy shop (also advantage in vintage) AND don’t forget there is 10% off across my etsy store with the code TAKE10 until the 1^st March!

Happy bidding

Lx

On Thursday whilst I was doing some research for my masters thesis I stumbled across an article that rather excited me as it related to one of my favourite brands; Sambo. I tend to collect 1950s pieces by the brand, but the brand under the leadership of Samuel Sherman was still going strong in the 1960s and there were many sub brands too as this article clearly illustrates. Enjoy the images!

Firsts From the House of Sherman

The family background of fashion dates back to 1898 when David Sherman senior established himself at 24 Shaftesbury avenue as one of London’s leading tailors making for the society trade. Some years later Rebecca Sherman, his wife, who incidentally was French, opened her first boutique at 399 Oxford street and named it ‘Le Petit Magasin.’ The Sherman tradition is carried on by Samuel, Renee and their two sons David and Simon. The unique part which the Sherman’s now play in the mass production dress industry is the advanced creative sense that sets fashion throughout the trade. The following pages illustrate some of their trend setting ideas that are now fashion classics.

In 1962 Sambo and ‘Minicare’ took liberty’s Art Nouveau and introduced it into the mass market. With the re-birth f cotton, Sambo has created an entirely fresh look with ‘Minicare’.

The ‘Dollyrocker’ was born in September 1963 and has now become a generic term. Many of these young avant-garde dresses are made in a vast variety of fabrics from John Heathcoat.

In 1963 Sambo devised the first ‘packaged’ dress to sell through specially designed shop fittings. This ‘Packaway’ dress is photographed at Selfridge’s, whose buyer, Miss Parkwood has sold over 12,000 of these dresses in knitted ‘Dicel’.

In 1960 Sambo launched ‘Terylene’ lawn in close co-operation with Hollins Thompson, who have worked with them on al the developments ever since; this sheer’Terylene’ Souffle is the result of this co-operation between Sambo and Hollins Thomson.

For 1965, Sambo have taken a revolutionary step with ‘Tricel’ taking the cloth to Como for printing to give the fashion aura of Italian silks to ‘Tricel’.

First with Alpaca for 1965- and with the lacy, crochet look. Because of the fashion importance of finer and lighter yarns, Mr Sherman adds a dash of linen to ‘Acrilan’

In May 1963, Mr Sherman introduced the co-ordinated stocking with ‘Orlon’ to match their Argyll knits. Since then- these have become a fashion must.

This article was featured in the Ambassador. November 1964.

It’s time for another Horrockses adventure today. This post relates to one of the most fun skirts I have ever had the pleasure of owning. Horrockses are well know for their wonderful dresses, but they did produce separates too, although I find it is rare to see horrockses advertised not as part of an ‘outfit’. The skirt is simple in its shape and was designed by Betty Newmarch. It can be found in the sketchbook of her sketch artist. The book is dated Summer 1956-7.

The skirt as a fabric panel at the Horrockses exhibition.

I have not been able to trace the designer of this print, but it is very exuberant and imaginative, I would not be surprised if it is by the same person who also designed the print for a number of other Horrockses novelty skirts (see pictures).

What makes me love the skirt more than anything though is the letters which intertwine with the print. Goodness knows if the print designer realised what they were doing but the letters scattered across it are “a” “r” “s” and “e”. Amusing doesn’t cut it…I now call it my arse skirt.

Here is a breakdown of some of the delightful sections of the skirt design.

And here I am wearing it! I teamed it with an original 1950s yellow jumper and matching demi parure, these pictures are from a few weeks ago mind you- when my foot was still broken! The picture comes from my instagram; do feel free to come and follow me there!

http://instagram.com/liztregenza