When I first set forth within the fashion industry, I was young, inexperienced, and in so many words, a dreamer of grand possibilities. I found such pleasure in garnishing myself with my grandmother’s prized costume jewelry, fur stoles, and red Revlon lipstick. Having been enriched by my beloved grandparents’ rich historic roots of fine arts and literature, I’ve embarked on a timeless journey of classic panache.
One of the greatest lessons taught to me was by my childhood mentor (as seen on last week’s blog post here) which today still remains true; always follow your inner passions, don’t fear the unfortunate sacrifices that may arise, and moreover, be prepared to work harder than anyone else to achieve these dreams. When I first started my quest for a fulfilling career, I found myself within the fashion industry’s retail spectrum. For a decades time I collected experiences of all kinds that today have assisted in propelling me through the last three years as a writer, model, and founding editor of Rich in Love Fashion, a style blog providing the history and classic garment choices of 1940s fashion. From this vintage journey I’ve recently taken on the role of a co-designer, where I’ve found myself partnering with world-wide corset maker, Corsettery.
A line emerging with the design concept of honoring the golden age of Hollywood couture, each corset takes the persona of it namesakes, as each style honors a woman from a past era of glamour. From the Maria, Andrade, Ramona, Teddy, Elizabeth, Theresa, Claudia, and Mildred, each name embraces a sense of history, which includes a story of inspiration and strength. With a concise eye for style, this collection wouldn’t be complete without the heart of Corsettery, Founder, Robert Montano and Co-Founder, Irina Pyilyowa; they have found a rarity that captures both masculinity and femininity within each piece produced.
I invite you to take a glimpse inside a Hollywood era of timeless elegance with today’s preview of designs, and there are more to come in the weeks ahead. In the meantime, shop our debut piece from our old Hollywood couture collection, the Maria, and find her story of strength, as co-founder Irina shares her grandmother’s story of courage and womanly strength:
“The Maria corset is named in honor of my grandmother, Maria. Surprisingly strong and at the same time a modest woman, baring such beauty. The strength and kindness she carried throughout my life, I can only wish her the very best that life has to offer in health and good fortune. I am proud to present through the language of fashion a corset in her honor – it is the embodiment of beauty, elegance and luxury. This design in many ways is the most beautiful and dear of my heart from our debut vintage-inspired corset collection.”
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View our collection of Hollywood glamour & couture at Corsettery.com
As anyone who knows me is clearly aware, I adore the vintage style and history of a grand San Francisco landmark. So it comes as no surprise that such a monument of 1915 will stand as this week’s subject and backdrop. A grand memory I cherish comes from afternoon strolls through “the city that knows how,” a phrase that has over the years represented San Francisco’s spirit. As a young girl I was introduced to the Palace of Fine Arts by a dated souvenir booklet from the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition, given to me by a man who had experienced it himself as a child, my belated grandfather and mentor, Robert Alexander. With each visit I am reminded of his depiction of the fabulous exposition that housed a masterful collection of photographs, etchings, and sculptures. It was something never seen before at that time, such a display of grandeur and an opportunity for San Francisco to showcase its resurrection after the 1906 earthquake. One of my grandfather’s favorite exhibits was a 432-foot tall tower of colored glass pieces; a kaleidoscope of color, it was nicknamed the “Jewel City.” My fondest of my grandfather’s vignettes tells the story of the weeping maidens that stand high atop the colonnade. It’s been said that they were weeping, because all the art would soon be leaving the palace; as it turned out, visitors of the exposition wept at the conclusion of the 9-month fair, though it always lived on in their hearts.
To conduct a photo-shoot among the six hundred and thirty-five acres of land that my grandfather and I once strolled when I was a young child is, in many ways, priceless beyond expectation. My greatest love (besides vintage fashion, of course) is historical landmarks – but what I truly love above all is how the two can seamlessly merge together to create harmonious synergy. I forged a connection with history with the touch of a mahogany mink coat that once belonged to my grandmother, overlaying an elegant yet sleek V-neck sheath with slit. The ensemble, accompanied by the shimmer of a vintage-inspired jewel-encrusted pump, revives a vintage concept of a past era.
Today the Palace of Fine Arts is a lasting reminder of an event which welcomed the world to a city with such history, San Francisco, where it still continues to steal the hearts of those who visit and admire it. For me it’s a lasting memory of a time when exploration was seen as adventurous, the warm hand I held of my grandfather while I stared above to the weeping maidens as they cried upon me in the sky, and the picturesque landscape I photographed as a college student; the Palace is truly a landmark of lasting memories.
City of Paris, San Francisco Millinery (view history here) Mink Fur Coat, Doris Alexander (similar here) Banana Republic Vented Sheath & Gold Box Clutch (similar here & here) Antique Pink Rose Earrings (similar here) Vintage Leather Gloves (similar here) Ivanka Trump ‘Camara‘ Pumps
Owning a sophisticated assortment of vintage costume jewelry I’ve come to realize with each piece I acquire within my private collection, I bring home a moment in history greater than a story once spoken. Each time I stare at the sea of sparkle that I possess, I am reminded of an array of beautiful women that have gifted me with such a profound experience through their string of elegance. All beautifully elegant, with hearts of gold that seemed to never change with the weather, a brilliant shine of refined style impresses ones eye of desire.
These ornamental pieces made from non-precious materials coined “costume jewelry” made popular during the 1920s have often been labeled as fake, junk or an unpractical trend. It wasn’t until Coco Chanel launched a line of luxury accoutrements, a new fashion would be created. In fact this break in history produced a chain reaction of inspiration, as Elsa Schiaparelli had created a line inspired by the Dada’ art movement. The intimate glamour, quality, and inexpensiveness, which vintage costume jewelry can present, only attaches a sentimental value to each piece. I find this beauty to be told through the stories in which each piece possesses, by owning this history, you are channeling a nostalgic moment in time. 
Costume jewelry provides an assured form of panache to ones ensemble, gifting a woman in return with a piece that is in many ways seen as one-of-a-kind, allowing them to express themselves through these showy pieces. Today, in a world of vintage jewelry there are obviously a number of outlets for purchasing these rare pieces; the question may be where to start. Over countless years of traveling, I’ve amassed a collection that in many ways has been found in-person attending antique fairs, estate sales, and bucolic vintage stores. When time is limited and travel isn’t an option, I find purchasing from online boutiques such as ‘Sweet & Spark’ to be practical while in the search of a curated selection of vintage jewelry. Despite your avenue of acquiring such an array of history, a timeless quote by Coco Chanel showcases such truth, “Costume jewelry is not made to give women an aura of wealth, but to make them beautiful.”
Wiggle Dress, Bitter Root Vintage Vintage Pearl Tarfari Earrings c/o Sweet And Spark Vintage Velvet Trim Pillbox, Olde Town Antiques Mall Mahogany Mink Fur Wrap, J Colleen Boutique (similar here) Leather Gloves, Antique Co-op (similar here) Victorian Revival Slide Bracelet (similar here) Vintage Brown Leather Handbag Nude Patent Heels Brian Atwood
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