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