The Patchwork Leather Handbag

At Couture Panache lately, we've been particularly taken with the glorious leather patchwork handbags made in the 1950's - 70's. Here are some very panache examples that would seamlessly transition you from summer into fall.

Vintage Beach Wear

Vintage Beach Wear

The sun is baking down and the air is humid! What a great time to invest in a panache vintage swim suit. We know we are truly inspired by these!!

Inspiration: Swing Shoes

Today we are inspired by vintage Swing Era Shoes! Aren't they panache!! We especially like the floral brocade ones!

Inspiration: Mad Men

Oh Betty Draper, so effortlessly Panache!

Here are some other Mad-Men-inspired images:
These are on our Summer sewing list as well!

Summer Silk

Hello Readers! It has been too long!
We are happy to announce that Couture Panache is back on the blog wagon and not a moment too soon because we have just discovered the timeless panache of silk pants for summer. Is there anything quite as luxurious as pajama-like silk on the beach with a fabulous pair of retro sunglasses, chunky jewelry and bare feet? We think not.

Palm Print Silk Pants - Cavalli

Vintage Hats

The sun is shining and what better time for a panache hat? Hopefully these glorious pics inspire some headwear this weekend.

Scarab

We've always heard that 'what goes around comes around' and we are so happy it works that way! As long time fans of vintage scarab bracelets we were so excited to see that designer Kara Ross has decided to revisit these interesting specimens.

Vintage Scarab Bracelets

Kara Ross Resin Scarab Ring

Kara Ross Resin Scarab Bracelet

Inspiration: Hollywood Regency

It’s official - Couture Panache loves the Hollywood Regency Style! When done correctly Hollywood Regency embodies all that is Mod and classical, minimal and ornate; in short, a perfect harmony of opposing forces. When overdone or forced it runs the risk of looking pretentious, trite, and cold. Our advice to anyone interested in this look is: Accumulate your items naturally. Find items that speak to you and make you feel glamorous and timeless. Second is quality. Hollywood Regency only really works if the pieces are in good condition and are well made. A little restoration can do wonders for certain items so don’t avoid something because of a little chipped paint or discoloration. Finally, Experiment. Pair a few crazy things together and see what happens!

To get the ideas flowing, we have included some very panache examples of Hollywood Regency done right!

The Green Room. A personal Favorite.

Faberge

It’s hard to imagine anything more spectacular and luxurious than Faberge. Commissioned by Czar Alexander the III in the late 1880's as an Easter gift for his wife, the tradition caught on and continued for two generations. Today they are still considered the most important feat of the Russian Orthodox Church.

These beautiful eggs were [and still are] extremely rare and are of the finest quality and craftsmanship.  Undisputedly works of unparalleled art; they were the vision and creation of Peter Carl Faberge, a man whose innovation and attention to detail made him personal jeweler to Russian Royalty. Of the 56 eggs he created, only 46 are accounted for which only seems to add to their intrigue. 

We could rave all day about these truly astounding tokens of love, but they really do speak for themselves. 

Faberge

Victorian Floral

Ahh the charm and elegance of victorian floral. Femininity is in for Spring 2012 and we have just the thing. Lovely pieces to compliment your spring wardrobe will be arriving in the store next week so stay tuned and in the meantime check out this pretty vintage victorian inspiration.

Know Your Jewels: Judy Lee

To celebrate the rare Judy Lee Demi Parure that has made its debut in the store, here is a little vintage info about how Judy Lee got started.

Click Here to shop Judy Lee @ Couture Panache

Inspiration: Street Art

Today we're focused on street art, and more specifically the graffiti based work of 'Banksy'. The enigmatic British street artist has been steadily gaining recognition for his dynamic and thought provoking pieces created on back alley brick walls and billboards and across the world. What we like about these works is their Warholian idealism and the process of using iconic images to turn the public's preconceived notions upside down.
Lesser known copy-cat 'Mr. Brainwash' is another street artist, even more Warholian in his approach - going as far as to hire an entire team to stage his debut into the art world in Los Angeles. What we admire about these two is their adaptation in a world where everything has been done - creating work that is new and relevant.

Banksy

Mr Brainwash

Saturday Post: Lucite Continued

We have a surprise for our devoted readers - a Saturday post! Since we were unable to post on Wednesday, we thought we'd give you a Saturday treat, and right now we just can't talk about anything other than our current obsession with vintage Lucite! Although we favor the beautiful work of Charles S. Kahn and Wilardy, there are many wonderful examples of Lucite from the 1950's. Two other brands we find to be of top quality and craftmanship are Myles and Wiesner. Here are some panache examples of their wearable art and we hope to have some Lucite for sale in the store soon!

Myles

Wiesner 'Birdcage' Handbags

Vintage Lucite

If you are handbag obsessed like we are, then you know there is just something so stunning about a vintage Lucite purse. These delicate little items became popular in the 1950’s and are still a panache symbol of that decade. Lucite handbags and ‘compact’ purses were the ultimate luxe item, and they came styled to suit the glamorous women who attended cocktail parties and elegant dinners out. Some of our favorite Lucite designers are Charles Kahn and Wilardy. Their high-end examples remain true works of wearable art.

Vintage Charles Kahn Ad

Vintage Wilardy Ad

Micro Mosaic

Several Examples of Micro Mosaic

At Couture Panache we are always expanding our knowledge of vintage jewelry, and one look that we really fancy is the stunning micro mosaic brooches of the late 19^th century. The term ‘micro mosaic’ was coined by Sir Arthur Gilbert in reference to the Roman practice of creating beautiful pictures with small glass bricks called ‘tesserae’. Micro mosaics hit the market in response to the booming Italian tourist trade in the early 1900's  and these treasures are still valued as items of high quality and craftsmanship. Victorian women loved their wearable art brooches and micro mosaic work fit the bill. Today these items are highly sought after and are still considered very panache. When evaluating a piece of micro mosaic there are three things to keep in mind. First is the number of pieces per inch - the higher the quality (and earlier the date) the smaller the pieces. Secondly is the quality of the material. Earlier and higher quality micro mosaics were made of marble, glass and stone while later and lower quality pieces utilized ceramic and plastics. And thirdly, the setting – the set of the mosaic varies from piece to piece but usually a finer setting yields a finer mosaic. We hope to have some for sale in our store soon!

Wearing Vintage

Although we are huge fans of going out dressed head to toe like something out of 1950’s Vogue, we know that for the average girl wanting to wear vintage that look is a pretty bold move. To help, we’ve decided to offer some useful tips on how to incorporate vintage pieces into your everyday style.

Often times, less is more. If you are the proud owner of a spectacular vintage piece it is usually advisable to pair it with simple and modern garments to avoid looking dated or frumpy. One look that we are particularly fond of at Couture Panache is the embellished cardigan (circa 1950).  We like to wear our embellished vintage cardigans buttoned all the way up with a simple pair of dark wash skinny jeans and a tank top underneath. This look really showcases the beauty and quality of a vintage sweater or jacket. Another way to wear a little embellished sweater or jacket is to put it over a simple, elegant dress.

This idea also translates well for vintage blouses. An interesting and beautiful vintage blouse also looks great over a pair of dark skinnies, modern shorts, or for a bolder look belted with a skirt. Another beautiful way to wear a vintage blouse is under a solid colored blazer. We LOVE that look!

Vintage Dresses are a little easier to wear; they tend to look brilliant on any body type and worn almost any way. One thing to take note of, however, is the hemline. Styles become ‘vintage’ for a reason and usually the hemline or shape is just a little off from today’s current trends. The key to pulling off a vintage dress is all in the shoes. A pair of modern shoes really compliments a vintage look. We prefer the oh-so-now vintage inspired platforms created by Seychelles.

The most important thing about wearing vintage is the fit. When you find a wonderful vintage item it’s often difficult to pass it up, even if it isn’t your size.  The key is to know what looks good on your body type and to look for items that will flatter.  When in doubt, we suggest finding a good alteration shop. Nothing looks more panache than a perfectly fitted garment vintage or otherwise!

With a little experimentation you will undoubtedly find the right look for your vintage treasures. Take time to go through your closet and pull some items that will compliment your piece without going overboard and remember practice makes panache!!

Inspiration: Vintage Swimwear

With sunny skies ahead, we are inspired by vintage swimwear. Check out these stylish examples!

Vintage Brooches, not just for grandma!

With several vintage brooches making their debut in the online store we thought we'd help by offering some panache examples of how to wear them!

1. Cluster o' Brooches. We love this look! Great for spicing up a simple jacket or sweater and making a statement

2. Hair o' the Brooch. SO Audrey Hepburn! Simply pin or clip (we find that the metal ‘snap clips’ work best) your brooch or brooches in place and Voila! Instant Panache!

3. String o’ Brooches. Simply pin your brooches to a length of ribbon or existing chain (make sure it can support the weight) and you have a one-of-a-kind vintage necklace!

4. Single Brooch. If your brooch is a showstopper by itself, don’t be afraid to pin it front and center. It’s a great way to draw the eye toward the face and an elegant addition to a simple garment.

Barbara Tfank Fall 2012

Another designer that we couldn't help but notice during Fashion Week was Barbara Tfank's 1950's-glamor-inspired Fall 2012 collection. We loved it immediately and upon further research we discovered that Barbara is a costume designer!! When asked about her glamorous collection she replied that her goal has always been to create 'timeless clothes that evoke another era'. We couldn't have said it better ourselves!

Designer Alice + Olivia

It's Fashion Week! One look that really caught our eye is RTW label Alice + Olivia's 2012 Spring collection. The retro inspiration is so evident that it's almost theatrical, but we love it!
The brand is the premier vision of Stacey Bendet who started the company in 2002 with the aid of her college friend Rebecca Machett with the intent to create sellable clothing for the modern, whimsical, girl. Very panache!

We can't help but think that some of the beautiful vintage jewelry in our shop would compliment these playful, feminine, looks perfectly!

Vintage Inspired Runway

Prada Spring 2012

Prada's Spring 2012 collection is so vintage-retro! We love it! Lady-like silhouettes perfectly compliment beautiful jewel-tone colors, retro shapes and gorgeous textures; just look at those great bathing suits!

We are now on Blogspot!

Couture Panache is now on blogspot! We're so excited to be a part of this excellent blog community, and we hope it will bring some business to our wonderful online store. Here are some of the beautiful vintage pieces we are offering right now!

Vintage Vanity Set $145

Vintage Bracelet Watch $25
'Trifari' Signed Leaf Brooch $30
'Lisner' Signed Clip Earrings $35

70's Signed 'Avon' Jewelry Box $55
Pewter 'Japan' Stamped Ring Box $25
Vintage 14k Gold Filled Sunglasses $200