Vintage obsessions: Blanes

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Brand two in my list of vintage obsessions!

Blanes- Blanes produced mostly high quality evening wear throughout the 50s and 60’s (possibly onto the 70s- but I am yet to find an example). They did also produce some daywear, although I find you are less likely to come across this!

The two examples above prove why i LOVE Blanes and i am desperate to come across some good examples of their day wear. When i was at vintage @ Goodwood last year i saw an amazing novelty print dress by Blanes, but it was £150 and at the time i just didn’t have the money. I have regretted not buying it ever since!

I personally don’t own any good examples of the brand. Normally for me this is a seller rather than a keeper as I find the dresses tend to be quite heavy.

This is one I am selling at the moment. I believe it is an early 1960’s example.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270753332788&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT#ht_856wt_1141

And this is one currently out on display at Portsmouth city museum. We believe it was never even worn!


HMCMS:C1990.48.3

Vintage obsessions: Rhona Roy

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Surprisingly (some may say) beyond Horrockses there are a few other labels I am really interested in, and that I get very excited over when I come across.

I am going to try and do an individual blog post about each of my “big labels” T o show off some of the fantastic examples I have found here there and everywhere!

Rhona Roy

A label I have managed to find very little information on, but the brand did produce a lot of beautiful cotton dresses in a similar vein to Horrockses, right through the 50’s. I have seen the Rhona Roy label appear as late as the 1970s. There was a main line labelled simply “Rhona Roy” and a line for the younger teenage girl called young ideas by Rhona Roy.

This example comes from the Hampshire museum service collection and is truly a head turner (one of those rarities that has its original bolero too!) The minty colour is so perfectly summery too. Mmmmm making me think about pistachio ice cream. It dates from c1955-59
HMCMS:C2003.75

The company was also one of the numerous labels that Pattie Boyd modelled for.

The little Minaudiere

Posted in Hampshire Museums Service, Handbag, Vintage by

Whilst I have been with the museum service I have had the opportunity to see some wonderful things. I just wanted to share with everyone this fantastic little item. It has been on display three times recently (Hampshire treasures, Dazzle and Little Black dress) and just harks back to a different time. It is made from shiny black and ivory Bakelite or an early form of plastic which is inset with tiny diamates in an Art deco design. It probably dates between 1923-25

CRH1955.123

This little bag is what is known as a minaudiere which is a small cosmetic/vanity case carried in replacement of a handbag. Minaudieres like this one tended to be decorated with diamantes, I have seen a few other examples lavishly decorated all over with sparking gemstones.

One thing I like about this is how tiny it is. There would have been no room for money in this bag! Because, of course, as a bright young lady in the twenties you would expect everything to be bough for you! You can just imagine it as the perfect accessory to a beaded twenties dress.

Please visit http://www3.hants.gov.uk/museum/dress-and-textiles/bags-collection.htm to see more pictures and also view many other bags from the Hampshire Museums Service collection.