Why We Love All Things Vintage

Posted on February 23, 2012 by Annie

The other day I was thinking about why all of us love V I N T A G E so much. We go to thrift stores rummaging through racks of clothing and shelves looking for that old new item from the 30s, 40s, 50s. We welcome the little scuff marks, the burnt/antique look of jewelry and the slight wears and tears here and there—which makes it the one-of-a-kind, special item that it is. Anything we can’t have now, we want more of and that includes all the fashion highlights of old eras—the flapper dress, the pompadour hair, the sharp-edged Art Deco earrings, etc. I think we can all admit that there’s nothing better than the look of “then, now and forever” that goes past fleeting trends coming and leaving so quickly. That’s why our fans love 1928!

Preserving centuries of beautiful designs in never-ending collections, 1928 captures all the beauty, intrigue and fine craftsmanship of priceless one-of-a-kind original antiques. Years of research in museums, libraries and private antique collections throughout the world by the design staff have resulted in perfecting the true art of European craftsmanship. The Abolone Locket Necklace below has a delightful little secret inside—a horseshoe charm that you could only see when you open it up! We love little details like that and that’s what separates 1928 from the rest…it’s ALL in the details.

Have a fab day!

vintage collageWhy We Love All Things Vintage

Celebrating February’s Birthstone: Amethyst Jewels

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Annie

If you’ve already gotten your dose of reds and pinks for the month, it’s time to make room for February’s birthstone: amethyst! Call it lavender, lilac, or violet, but the purple-y hues fit just right in with the Valentine’s theme of romance. This month, do yourself a favor and get bundled up in amethyst accessories and show a side of that royal charm and beauty you never thought you had.

The amethyst gemstone goes way back in time when people used it to protect them from harm. The ancient Greeks and Romans used it to make wine goblets because they thought it protected them from drunkenness, and medieval European soldiers used to wear amethyst charms to protect them in battle. Find one for yourself like this Vintage Plum Rose Pendant Necklace and let it be your pretty little amulet, to be kept on at all times . Have a fab Thursday!

Vanity Fair Showcases New Hollywood Talent with Old Hollywood Glamour

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Kit

It’s that time of year again! The Vanity Fair Hollywood Issue is hitting newsstands celebrating its 18^th anniversary with a very Va-Va-Voom fold out cover. The editorial comes out with a Hollywood issue every year that features some of the hottest actors and actresses of the moment. And this year, the magazine decided to show off some serious girl power as they featured only 11 of Hollywood’s finest “It” girls of 2011 that are sure to keep their “it” factor through 2012 and beyond. The Hollywood edition is actually VF’s March issue, so here’s a little sneak peek to keep you tied over!

Before we get to the glamour girls, let’s talk about yet another retro reference we see here! Last week we blogged on two separate occasions about the comeback of all things vintage from Miu Miu’s cameo accessories, to H&M’s summer lookbook, and even our newest Belle de Jour collection! We’ve seen the modern adaptations of all eras from the 1940’s to the 60’s, but this newest Vanity Fair cover shoot gives us the true vintage Hollywood glamour of the 20’s and 30’s. Draped in pastel satin gowns and spread across an Art Deco set, Hollywood’s leading ladies are transformed into visions of Tinseltown past.

So who were the 11 actresses worthy of such a high honor in the fashion and entertainment industry? On the front of the three page fold-out cover are Jennifer Lawrence, soon to star in the highly anticipated Hunger Games movies, Jessica Chastain, recently nominated for an Oscar for her role in The Help, Mia Wasikowska, who played the title role in Jane Eyre this past year on top of landing the Miu Miu campaign, and newcomer Rooney Mara, who has been a red carpet wonder at every premiere of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Rooney Mara was also nominated for Best Actress, bringing the Oscar nom count to two just on the cover alone! Vanity Fair sure snagged some star power!

VF Hollywood 1Vanity Fair Showcases New Hollywood Talent with Old Hollywood Glamour

clockwise from top center: Jennifer Lawrence, Jessica Chastain, Mia Wasikowska, and Rooney Mara.

But the A-list status doesn’t stop there! The next page features some of the newer ladies to hit the silver screen and make a name for themselves. Younger sister to Mary-Kate and Ashley and one of my personal fashion icons, Elizabeth Olsen joins Adepero Oduye and Shailene Woodley, both of whom have recently made the switch from TV to serious motion pictures that are getting plenty of buzz. By the looks of this cover, you wouldn’t be able to tell they haven’t been Hollywood divas for years!

VF Hollywood 2Vanity Fair Showcases New Hollywood Talent with Old Hollywood Glamour

from left to right: Olsen, Oduye and Wodley

The spread continues on with Paula Patton, the beauty from the most recent installment of Mission Impossible, Felicity Jones, who stole our hearts in this year’s film Like Crazy, Lily Collins, who has been cast as Snow White in the much anticipated version of the Disney classic Mirror, Mirror, and Brit Marling, who is one of the older cover girls even though the actress is only 29 years young.

VF Hollywood 3Vanity Fair Showcases New Hollywood Talent with Old Hollywood Glamour

from left to right: Patton, Jones, Collins and Marling.

With all of this feminine allure and talent packed onto one magazine cover, we’re sure Vanity Fair‘s March issue will be a hot seller! We like that they chose to only feature young women and showcased them in the most elegant and glamorous way possible. The soft curls, the pastel gowns, the strong red pouts- all of it comes together to be subtly sexy, yet not too demure. These powerhouse actresses are here to make their mark on Hollywood and this cover surely proves that point!

Tuesday Must-Haves: A Vintage Throwback to Cameo

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Annie

I don’t know about you but I’ve always had a liking for cameo ever since I was a little girl without knowing what it was. I remember loving these Hattie Brooks-labeled tin cookies etched with a Victorian lady silhouette on the side, and then I saw someone wearing a ring that looked similar and thought “oh, a Hattie Brooks ring! I want one of those!”

Cameos have been around forever since the 19th century, worn by the royales of the time like Queen Victoria and her nobles, which makes it even more exciting when you come across one in your grandmother’s jewelry box. The best thing about it is it’s timeless appeal, and this year the cameo is getting a new emphasis from top designers around the globe. Below, Lanvin draws inspiration from the Victorian era as models strut down the runway wearing a large cameo necklace and gloves for a vintage throwback.

Choose your favorite cameo piece and juxtapose it with futuristic looks for that edgy appeal. We recently brought back Pandora’s Onyx Black Cameo Locket Necklace (the copper/rose gold locket on right), which is one of my favorite styles at the moment! Have a fab Tuesday!

Fashion’s Nod to the Past: Retro Glamour

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Kit

Normally, a new fashion season brings about fresh new colors, updated silhouettes and cutting edge designs. However, S/S 2012 collections showcased a whole lot of retro flair! Designers like Miuccia Prada, Marc Jacobs, and Karl Lagerfeld channeled decades past for their newest collections now in stores. From the 1950’s to the 60’s, this season is filled with the same feminine frills and girly glamour that style icons like Marilyn Monroe, Jackie O, and Brigitte Bardot made so special.

Since 1928 is a vintage inspired jewelry company, we love nothing more than a good throwback in style! We have already seen a rise in popularity of cameo jewelry and thanks to the hit TV series Mad Men, our 1960’s Vintage Inspired Gold Tone Pen Necklace is our #1 best selling product by a mile! If you haven’t quite decided if the retro look is for you, check out some of the newest S/S 2012 editorials, lookbooks, and ad campaigns that are featuring vintage glam in a whole new light!

If one label really launched the vintage trend this season, the winner would have to be high end fashion house Prada. For the Spring 2012 campaign, some of fashion’s finest were photographed by legendary Steven Meisel in a “Gasoline Girls” themed shoot. The ornate designs are about as feminine as they come, playing up a woman’s shape and demure style. In the clothing, footwear and handbag ads, we can see a major nod to the 60’s and we like what we see!

As the new face of Miu Miu, actress Mia Wasikowska looks like a painted portrait in the newest advertisements for Prada’s younger label. The retro prints and cat eye makeup against the vivid yellow background are sure to get the label some attention and we just love the unique neon cameos. Quirky and kitschy but very true to the Italian Miu Miu aesthetic, this is about as radical as retro will get.

It’s not only the high end designer names bringing retro back. You can get in on a piece of the vintage action at one of our favorite stores, H&M! For their summer lookbook, the fast fashion retailer snagged Frida Gustavsson to model the pastel looks that are a mix of sportswear and elegant silhouettes. The unique use of color blocking is what gives this collection the ultimate modern update. Frida looks chic as can be with that perfectly undone twist up in her hair and dark red pout.

While not for a specific brand, some of our favorite retro styling we’ve seen comes from the pages of Harper’s Bazaar UK in their January issue. The fashion story, “Valley of the Dolls”, stars top model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley styled in ensembles that look like they came straight out of the 60’s! The English bombshell looks like a doll from a vintage dollhouse, all dressed up for the simple reason of being dressed up! The luscious hair, the soft makeup, the setting- it’s all so wonderfully retro!

Which nod to vintage styling do you like best? If you think you’ll take a swing at this trend, be sure to check out our new Belle de Jour collection of vintage shapes and plenty of pearls! Fashion really has proved that what was once old is new again!