House of Harps

Christmas, Cloisonné and Cinnabar

2012-01-22T22:47:00.001Z

Christmas may have been a long time ago, but I wanted to finally share some pictures of my festive ensemble from the holidays. I wore a rather shapely velvet wrap-around blouse from the 1930's with jet bead embellishments, which my boyfriend bought for me this Christmas. I wouldn't normally wear such a bright colour on my bottom half (I'm pear shaped after-all)...but I wanted a contrast to the black and thought the shoulders of the blouse balance out my hips anyway.

I wore a selection of cloisonné bracelets (which came in a cute little box), a carved cinnabar bangle, and a carved cinnabar ring, which had been at the jewellers for absolutely ages being cleaned but is finally back on my finger in its rightful place.

Vintage blouse, skirt (River Island), shoes (New Look)

I have many more winter outfits I want to share, but I've been so incredibly busy with work. My boss only went and left me to look after her business for six weeks whilst she's in Bangkok! It's ok though, she's working hard too on her next collection ;-)

Bundled Up Beauties

2011-12-03T15:20:00.001Z

Renee Perle

Oh my, it certainly has been a while; I guess I have some explaining to do. House of Harps is not extinct, but certainly rather stagnant at the moment. My life is very different now from when I first started the blog three years ago... gone are the days when I had time to post every day (yes, I unbelievably used to post daily). This is actually a good thing; I started blogging as a pleasant distraction from health issues that took over my life.The healthier I get, the more I am actually living life and the less I blog. I started a new job a few months ago, unfortunately leaving House of Harps looking a little sad and empty. I guess I just wanted to say that I am still here, and will continue to update the blog, just not as frequently as usual.

And now it's December, I've been enjoying the cold. Winter is the most fun season for dressing up, swathing oneself in furs and velvet, hats and gloves. Some winter outfits will be posted in the near future, but for now, enjoy some early 20th Century ladies who managed to beat the cold whilst still looking badass. If anyone knows the names of the unidentified ladies, feel free to contact me.

Lily Elsie (who always reminds me of Rachel Weisz)

Lily Elsie

Lily Langtry

Zena and Phyllis Dare

Ruth Vincent

Joan Crawford

Louise Brooks

Myrna Loy

Norma Shearer

Dorothy Arnold

Cameo

2011-10-21T20:16:00.000+01:00

We had a mini heat-wave at the start of October, giving me the chance to wear this dress one final time this year. Once again I found myself inspired by Bottega Veneta and their jewellery offerings...this time the lava cameo pieces presented for SS2011. The usual fusty connotations of cameos were turned on their head with varying shades of carved lava rock and blackened filigree. The classic Roman profiles carved from volcanic lava got me thinking of Ancient Rome, Vesuvius, draping...basically, that's how I got to this outfit. I dug out a few cameo pieces (annoyed I forgot about my cameo ring...oh well)....and added a tasselled belt I searched for months for and have hardly worn.

Vintage dress, belt (eBay), shoes (Bruno Premi)

Faux-bob, angular liner and no lipstick (I barely recognise myself without painted lips!)

images from bottegaveneta.com and style.com

Silk Road

2011-09-19T22:24:00.003+01:00

I bought this beautiful jacket at the start of summer and pretty much wore it non-stop. I'm not entirely sure on the age; it's an Oriental design typical of the 1920's, but it may be from the 40's or 50's. The poor thing was never lined and needs a bit of a tidy up, but other than that the silk is strong and the embroidery as good as new. I consider myself very lucky to have found and bought this before anyone else did!

Vintage jacket, vintage vest, trousers (H&M), vintage shoes

Gold Shell

2011-08-16T21:21:00.000+01:00

This outfit began with the bag; a pale gold, shell shaped beauty. From there, I developed some sort of 'turn of the century, summer seaside look.' I love the brooch I'm wearing because it looks like its been at the bottom of the sea for a while... although its colours are pretty awkward to fit into my outfits so it really doesn't get worn much at all. Mint green and pearl accents finished the look off (pearls come from the sea too! I do like to carry a theme through).

Hat (Accessorize), bag (Zandra Rhodes), vintage shoes, vintage bag, skirt (Asos)

Wild, curly mermaid hair (i.e. I didn't have time to straighten it) and mint green eyes.

I created a little seaside themed treasury over at Etsy. I was feeling quite shell-y after I bought the bag! Creating treasuries is similar to using polyvore to create sets, except its a little more restrictive. I think I prefer it this way though.

Cut Steel

2011-08-16T19:05:00.013+01:00

Back in June I talked about cut steel decoration in relation to an antique belt I bought featuring what I believe to be cut steel. The decorative technique was prolific in the Victorian era, featuring small, faceted studs of steel intended to mimic diamonds (similar, but not to be confused with marcasite). To say the Victorians loved a bit of cut steel is an understatement; they put it on bloody everything, not just jewellery. If you want to read more about Victorian cut steel, there is a good eBay guide here explaining the difference between true Victorian cut steel and 'fake' moulded cut steel. If reading isn't your thing, then enjoy looking at the pretty selection of cut steel I found.................

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Victorian cut steel choker £-sold

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Victorian cut steel shoe buckles $45 each

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Edwardian cut steel and pearl earrings $1325

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Pair of Victorian cut steel scarab brooches £350

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Victorian velvet purse with cut steel design on frame and body $795

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Georgian cut steel and peacock glass sash set $950

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Georgian cut steel Coque de Perle brooch $250

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Victorian cut steel necklace $785

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Late Georgian cut steel belt $275

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Victorian cut steel shoes buckles $50

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Art Nouveau enamel and cut steel buttons £-sold

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C.1900 cut steel earrings $850

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1890's cut steel lingerie buckles £-at auction

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Late Georgian cut steel bangle £-at auction

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Victorian cut steel belt and buckle $125

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Victorian cut steel button

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Victorian cut steel buttons

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Victorian cut steel buckle $42.95

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Antique cut steel shoes buckles $75

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Victorian cut steel brooch $225

HoH Holiday Highlights (week 2)

2011-07-19T12:47:00.010+01:00

Week 2 of my holiday to Provence. The day I wore this Edwardian inspired outfit was perhaps the hottest day of the entire holiday (37°c +). I think the hat helped me avoid a deep tan. Also shown is a beautiful peachy pink caped dress my boyfriend bought me. Towards the end of the holiday it got quite windy (due to the Mistral winds); I was rather pleased as it allowed the cape to fly around in true superhero style.

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And again, just some general holiday shots of the area.

The detail on the Popes' clothing below is wonderful; what looks like Battenburg lace, and wonderful tirered crowns, the 'Triregnum'. This painting is just one of many beautiful Papal portraits I saw in the Palais des Papes of Avignon.

HoH Holiday Highlights (week 1)

2011-07-16T17:17:00.011+01:00

I recently returned from a wonderful fortnight in Provence. Like last year, I shall share some of my finer sartorial moments. At times it felt too hot to even bother wearing clothes, but decency prevailed. I even caught a little tan, despite my factor 50. The area had a plethora of Roman ruins to explore, and many a picturesque vista. Enjoy!

This café surely has some of the best views in all of France...

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And some general holiday snaps; it really was a beautiful area.

My boyfriend nonchalantly walks past the Christian Lacroix shop in Arles, not knowing the beauty inside. Lacroix was born in Arles.

Bon Voyage

2011-06-12T22:22:00.005+01:00

I'm off to the south of France for two weeks. Fingers crossed for some gorgeous weather and good shopping! I'll leave you with a few photos from my second wedding of the summer, to which I wore a beautiful grey lace dress from Asos, completed with a vintage belt, Miu Miu shoes and antique jewellery. The dress has a beautiful scalloped asymmetrical hem and a cowl neckline.

Bye for now x

Cherry Amber

2011-06-01T12:13:00.000+01:00

I recently bought another EPNS belt, taking my total up to six now. This one is quite different to a typical EPNS belt. It's panels are smaller and less stylised; the buckle is bigger; and it features what looks like cut steel decoration. Cut steel was a Victorian technique of mimicking diamonds by faceting small studs of steel, similar to marcasite in its sparkling effect. It was used a lot in jewellery during the Victorian times (that gives me an idea for a post...) so I was pretty excited when I took a close-up look at the belt and noticed the little cut steel gems.

Today I am also wearing a vintage deco necklace my boyfriend bought for me this past Christmas. I'm not normally into bead necklaces, but these beads are rather gorgeous. The faceted beads have a cherry amber hue (I doubt they are real cherry amber, probably bakelite or glass? Opinions welcomed) and catch the light beautifully. The pendant is rather odd, with four clear rhinestones atop a circular feature, with a central red bead jabbing out. I'm by no means an expert, but I look at a lot of jewellery and have never seen anything quite like the pendant on this necklace. I love how unexpected it is.

Vintage jacket, antique belt, bag (ASOS), shoes (M&S), blouse (Miss Selfridge), vintage skirt.

Dented Elbows

2011-05-14T21:10:00.002+01:00

Over the winter months I became somewhat enamoured with white elbow-length gloves. There's an elegance to the crisp whiteness that can't be matched. I bought this antique pair off of an eBay seller who didn't provide much information about them, other than that they are kid-skin and brand new, still attached having never been worn. I was pretty excited upon inspecting them to find the faint stamp of 'Dents Gloves' in one of them. Dents have been making gloves since 1777, so who knows how old these are?! I would estimate them to be from 1900-1910. They really are a buttery soft leather, and quite fiendish to get on by yourself, what with 3 dainty buttons on each.

I'm also wearing a lovely Edwardian lace blouse, which is as light as air. I bought the blouse from a seller who had 3 or 4 similar lace Edwardian blouses listed with this one. Unfortunately I only won the auction for this one. I may be bitter and biased but I think I got the best blouse out of the lot. I hadn't intended to look like an Edwardian horse-rider in this get-up, but I'm not complaining!

Cape (Mango), vintage blazer, antique blouse, trousers (American Apparel), antique Dents gloves, shoes (French Connection)

I also took the opportunity to photograph this wonderful hat I purchased last year. It is an antique tricorn hat with a plume of ostrich feathers. I'm unsure of it's age and its base material; it feels like a waxed linen (it is very lightweight and has a slight sheen to it) but I'm no expert on hats. Just a little disclaimer; I didn't go out wearing the hat. One of the problems I have with styling it is that it looks very costumey. I have no problem being a little theatrical, but don't want to look like I'm in fancy dress. Also, it feels a bit lightweight for a winter hat, but a bit gloomy for a spring/summer hat (possibly a mourning hat then?). Either way, I love it and I'm sure I'll find a use for it one day!

Lady, you look fab - Fan Bingbing (2)

2011-05-14T20:30:00.007+01:00

Once again, Fan Bingbing displays near impossible heights of beauty and glamour, this time at Cannes Film Festival. The Chinese stunner wore a glorious red embroidered gown which she designed in conjunction with her stylist, Bo Kewen. Her hair and make-up were flawless as usual. I may be biased, but I am particularly loving her foray into a gravity-defying bouffant.

Bingbing also wore a beautiful gown inspired by traditional Asian embroidery to Cannes last year (shown below). I'm having a hard time picking a favourite between the two gowns, but I'd probably have to go for this years red number, as everything has come together perfectly to create a breathtaking look.

All images from zimbio.com

Blood Orange

2011-04-30T14:57:00.017+01:00

Excuse the wintry outfits, but I came across two sets of photos which were never posted and thought they deserved an airing. I wonder whether anyone else goes through 'phases' of loving certain colour combinations as I do? I remember a green/blue/purple phase, a coral/green phase which developed into a coral/royal blue phase...and in recent months, a burgundy/orange phase. It's been difficult finding the exact shade of coppery orange I adore, but that hasn't stopped me trying.

Outfit one - Vintage hat, scarf and belt, blouse (M&S), cardigan (Topshop), trousers (H&M), shoes (Office).

Stupidly wonderful shoes which were love at first sight... velvet; burgundy; fringed; lace-up; and with tassels. A combination of all things I love. Like theatre curtains for your feet.

Outfit two - vintage coat and dress, waistcoat (New Look), boots (Blay), self-made bag.

This dress features a marbled pattern on layers of tulle, with a vibrant orange lining. Two caped sections flutter from the shoulder to create the sleeves. The top 'cape' can be tucked into the neckline to create a scarf/cowl-neck (below). The dress is pretty versatile, if a little shapeless; I considered the usual route of belting it, instead opting for a black waistcoat, which contrasted nicely under the cape layers.

Hatty

2011-04-24T21:49:00.007+01:00

I adore this cover for Vogue Italia April 2011. I keep coming back to look at it. The way the tangy orange jewellery appears to glow in the dark; the slick of electric blue on the eyes; the turban; and the general sense of stepping into the cool shade on a tropically warm day. The accompanying editorial is rather wonderful too, with cover girl Kristina Salinovic wearing some fabulous 'coolie' inspired hats.

I've been looking for a coolie hat since last summer, but most of the available ones online are tacky costume hats. A few weeks ago I did however find a hat that should see me through the summer; an Edwardian style, tulle covered straw concoction. Think Meryl Streep in 'Out of Africa' meets Mary Poppins. Can't wait to wear it on holiday!

images from fashiongonerogue.com, guardian.co.uk and newsarama.com

Buckled

2011-03-31T21:15:00.008+01:00

Once again these photos are a few weeks old, hence the fur coat, gloves and hat. I actually went outside without a coat on today, so Spring truly has sprung. In this photo set I am wearing a Victorian belt buckle which I originally intended to transform into a brooch by adding a pin. I never quite got round to doing this, instead I added a chain to it and now prefer to wear it as a necklace. I get quite a lot of compliments when wearing this, it really is wonderfully detailed. I'm a little unsure about the chain fringing hanging from the buckle, one would perhaps think of chatelaine and its various little tools, but I think in this instance the chains are purely decorative.

Vintage coat, vintage hat, blouse and vest (Topshop), trousers (New Look), boots (asos)

I'm addicted to 'Vampira Polish' made by Eyeko, it's black with red micro-glitter....

Dangle

2011-03-24T19:34:00.000Z

I may not have posted an outfit in a while, but I have still been taking outfit photos...lots to catch up on, these shots are from 2 months ago! The outfit is a bit blah, but my hair had some spectacular volume to it that needed documenting, and I wanted to share the supremely dangly earrings I recently purchased from New Look. New Look is a pretty scary place to me, but it is worth an occasional venture into as these earrings prove.

Blouse (Zara), antique lace collar, skirt (Topshop), shoes (Rascal)

I bought the sweetest earring holder a couple of weeks ago, black wire fashioned into a miniature room divider. It's nice to have (almost) all of my earrings out on display, reminding me of ones I haven't worn in a while.

Lady, you look fab - Fan Bingbing

2011-03-24T18:46:00.005Z

Not only does Fan Bingbing have an adorable name, she has an exquisite sense of style. I've long been a fan of her polished, lady-like look, but she recently blew me away with this ensemble. Pictured here attending the Elie Saab Fall 2011 presentation, Fan is of course wearing Elie Saab. The turban was a self-made creation, showing her flair for styling as it really does complete the outfit. A bold choice, but when you're as flawlessly beautiful as her you can get away with anything!

images from: telegraph.co.uk and stylebistro.com

Curious Connections

2011-02-28T20:45:00.010Z

Pucci Fall 2011 --> William Morris

Jason Wu Fall 2011 --> Klimt

Fendi Fall 2011 --> Dew on spiderwebs

Images from: style.com; jakandjil.com/blog; www.vancouversun.com; weheartillustration.wordpress; redroosterquilts.com; here; here; here; here; and here.

Noir

2011-02-23T12:38:00.006Z

Constance Jablonski is witchy in an editorial for Numéro #120.

I love how the shots look like stills from a 1920's German Expressionist film.

Hi to all my new readers who found me via Marie, of Make the World a Prettier Place. I did a little interview for the lovely Marie, which you can read here. I talk a little about my hair, which I get so many questions about, so if you are wanting tips head on over there to read! I'm currently engrossed in all the goings on of fashion month. The Autumn/Winter shows are always my favourite (I love dressing for the cold), so this is a particularly exciting time of year for me. I will update the blog with outfit posts soon, promise xx

images from fashiongonerogue.com

Winter's Wonders

2011-01-31T20:31:00.008Z

Two items have dominated my wardrobe this winter: this vintage fur coat and velvet leggings. I bought the coat in the summer meaning I obviously had to wait a few impatient months to wear it. It's been my go to coat all winter, keeping me warm and cosy. The floral velvet leggings had me enamoured at first sight. I love the colours used and the devoré effect...it's sort of like Autumn exploded all over my legs. I went a little crazy with the photographing of them, but they photograph so beautifully.

Vintage coat and dress, antique belt, leggings (Urban Outfitters), shoes (Dune), gloves (M&S)

^Beautiful Egyptian/Art Nouveau style brooch my boyfriend bought me.

And below, a close up of my feet. The chains are anklets I bought two of, so I could wear them both together. They go well with a lot of my shoes, but hurt like hell.

Tudor Style

2011-01-25T18:26:00.012Z

Alice bands are quickly shedding their dodgy 80's connotations (something I doubt scrunchies will ever achieve). Browsing Asos earlier, I came across this leather studded spine alice band, which I found rather intriguing. Despite its modern, even Alien-esque/sci-fi look, I immediately thought of Anne Boleyn. The model looks rather regal don't you think?

Anne Boleyn: way ahead of her time. Almost 500 years ahead in fact.

Alternatively, Jennifer Behr can help you achieve that Tudor style, with these rather beautiful twisted velvet designs. I'd be willing to give these looks a go, not sure how I'd style my hair though.

images from: asos.com; jenniferbehr.com; cavendishlibrary.org/blog; myclassiclyrics.com

Prey

2011-01-21T20:37:00.004Z

I love this antique lion brooch. Unfortunately for me, someone else loved it and bought it before I could. Spewing forth out of his mouth are tiny little charms of his prey. It's pretty macabre, but rather poetic too. I can't help but wonder who first wore this, or commissioned it...

All images from Etsy seller 'Iciernia'

Festive Frock

2011-01-19T21:22:00.004Z

Terribly sorry for the long absence. I was enjoying the festive period and catching up with this and that. Christmas may be a distant memory now, but I thought I'd share some photos from the day as I wore a beautiful dress. I've been meaning to photograph this dress since I bought it early last year, yet never quite got round to it. Luckily, Christmas provided the perfect excuse to wear such a posh frock. The dress is from 1944, with black semi-sheer material layered over pinky red. The bodice has a lovely rose motif and a floppy collar fashioned into a bow. The pleated full skirt is so swishy and perfect for floating around in. It is a little large for me (the arm holes gape a lot so I have to be careful not to flash sideboob) but the sash at the waist helps pull it in and keep things in place. It was a delight to wear, now all I need are more formal events to go to so I can enjoy wearing it again.

Vintage dress, shoes (Poste Mistress)

I've had these lace-trimmed velvet shoes for over 5 years, but never have worn them outside of the house. So scared I'll ruin them!

Rediscovered Gems

2010-12-14T14:40:00.007Z

I recently enjoyed an afternoon browsing at a local antiques fair. I'm a bit of a regular at the fairs and often get recognised by the sellers, so I always make sure I'm glammed up as I have a standard to uphold, plus it keeps all the old dears entertained! I was there to collect a ring that was being resized for me; a ring that I fell in love with a few months ago and have been eager to collect ever since... but more on that later.

The turban-esque hat I am wearing has constantly been on my head since I purchased it. The rich red colour and velvet exterior make it the perfect hat for this time of year. I added a little articulated peacock brooch, as no turban is complete without a central jewel! As I was wearing high-waisted trousers, I wanted to keep my outfits proportions sleek with a cropped jacket. Luckily, in the depths of my wardrobe I found this fur collared creation, which I haven't worn in years. Long leather gloves ensured my arms didn't succumb to frostbite.

Jacket (Mango), vintage hat, shoes (Kurt Geiger), gloves (Oasis), trousers (Louise Amstrup for ASOS), vest (Topshop), top (H&M)

And here is the ring I was collecting.... The setting and overall design is nothing too special, however it is the central stone that had me instantly enamoured. The vivid, fiery red glows like lava. My boyfriend so eloquently said it looks like a 'cheap ruby', it is in fact a fire opal. I'd never heard of these before, and found its colour fascinating especially in comparison to the 'common' opal. The couple who sold it to me (who, incidentally, also sold me my Victorian beetle brooch) don't normally stock jewellery from the mid-century, however they made an exception with this ring as they considered it so special, and I have to agree!

C.1950-1960 fire opal and diamond ring

Chinoiserie

2010-11-30T21:46:00.002Z

I'm back in England after my little trip to Scotland. It was cold and snowy, just the way I like it. The main reason for my visit was to try on my bridesmaid dress, as my brother and his fiancée live up in Scotland. Visiting a bridal shop was way too fun.

This is a bit of a lame outfit post, but I just wanted to share the vintage jacket I found a couple of weeks ago. This sort of faux Chinese styling complete with frogging can look kind of tacky (Louis Vuitton's last collection springs to mind) but I love the colours and as long as I show a bit of restraint when styling it, I'm sure its not too bad taste. The jacket is warmer than it looks, being fully quilted.

Vintage jacket, hat (Oasis), gloves (M&S), boots (Blay), trousers (New Look)

Cheeky sneak-peek at my dress. It's a gorgeous purple, in quite a simple, elegant style. Excuse the straggly hair, I got incredibly snowed on just before I went to the dress shop.

The hallway to my brother's flat is full of beautiful antiquated portraits. One lady in particular had her black hair piled high on her head in a massive bouffant. She reminded me of someone...

HoH 2nd Birthday Highlights

2010-11-25T20:08:00.006Z

House of Harps is two years old today, so in a similar vein to last years birthday celebrations, I am posting my favourite outfits from the past year. I certainly haven't blogged as much this year, but I am grateful to those of you who have stuck with me. I am currently enjoying my annual jaunt up to Scotland, and should have some suitably snowy photos coming up....

Triple Fringed

2010-11-16T20:02:00.007Z

My parents brought me this scarf back from Spain recently. It's dark green, velvet and fringed; they know me well! To keep the scarf in place I added a little silver fringed shoe clip. I paired it with a fringed tunic (too much fringe in one outfit is an impossibility) and leggings and boots for a casual Autumnal outfit. The belt is yet another member of my growing collection of antique EPSN belts. I can only assume this one is of Scottish origin, as it has two thistles incorporated into the design.

Cardigan (Zara), boots (Blay), tunic (boohoo), antique belt.

Black and silver sparkly nails, slightly immature but the magpie in me loves sparkles.

Pagoda

2010-11-14T17:07:00.009Z

Giorgio Armani sent typically sleek and sophisticated ensembles down the catwalk back in September for the SS2011 collection; nothing too amazing, but look 17 certainly caught my eye. The silhouette reminded me immediately of the 1916 costume below, designed by Percy Anderson, worn by Patricia Olive. Dramatic pagoda tiers over harem pants may not be the most flattering or sensible silhouette, but it sure is enchanting.

Designers in the early years of the 20th century were captivated by the allure of the Far and Middle East. Costumes designed for stage performances of Arabian Nights tales and the Ballets Russes inspired fashion designers of the time, most notably Poiret, who beautifully translated exotic fabrics, cuts and patterns into European tastes. All the examples below are costumes designed for the stage or a party, however the layered silhouette is typical of the era and would have been worn by the most fashion-forward of ladies, albeit in a watered down manner.

I thought I had far more examples of this fabulous silhouette, but alas not. I'm being rather pedantic in not including Poirets lampshade tunic silhouette, which is very similar, but without the distinctive tiers of the pagoda shape. If you have any images to contribute, then please do share!

Chu Chin Chow costume, 1916

Pagoda costume 1914, image from Costumes Parisienes

Paul Poiret costume - 1911

images from style.com and artnet.com

Problem Post

2010-11-07T22:14:00.007Z

I've been having a few problems with my photo editing software, hence a lack of regular outfit posts. I don't use anything fancy, just Windows Live Photo Gallery for resizing, cropping, removing red-eye... etc.. However, ever since I updated the program a few weeks ago, it crashes instantly whenever I open it up, giving me a massive headache and meaning I now have to use my parents'/boyfriends laptop for photo sorting. Sorry for the rant, I do wonder whether anyone else is having similar problems with this program?

Ok, moving on....these photos are a few weeks old, due to the above reason. I wore this Grecian draped blouse a lot during the warmer months (you can see me wearing it on holiday here), but always found it falling off my shoulders. I have stupidly narrow shoulders, meaning I experience this problem a lot, even with regular cut tops that aren't supposed to rest elegantly on the shoulder. To combat this problem, I started to wear the blouse not on the shoulder as below....

...but pulled down so my shoulders and upper arms were covered with material in a cape like fashion. Basically, the black and silver crochet panels are moved from their precarious position on my shoulder to a much safer position on my décolletage. You probably can't see much of a difference, but it saved me a lot of frustration as the top no longer slips off my shoulder every two minutes. The neckline is however dangerously low so I do have to stay alert lest I flash some innocent bystanders.

Blouse (Religion), shoes (Rascal), trousers (H&M), antique belt

My boyfriend bought me this antique bracelet, which is almost certainly a tourist souvenir from the French ski resort of Chamonix. Last year I bought a similar piece of French souvenir jewellery, in the form of an antique key brooch, depicting the Sacré-Cœur basilica in Paris, which you can see here. Tourist souvenirs certainly seemed more tasteful 100 years ago!

Lady, you look fab

2010-10-31T11:42:00.005Z

Last night on the X-Factor (yes cringe, its my guilty pleasure), contestant Rebecca Ferguson wore a beautiful dress that had me in fits of jealousy. Red velvet, black lace and a caped silhouette, I was straight onto Google to find the designer of this gorgeous creation. Alexander Wang is the man responsible, as the dress formed part of his Fall 2010 collection. The dress is on sale at Liberty, or available full price at Luisaviaroma.

Liberty (was £790, now £553)

Luisaviaroma (£727.56)

I tried to find some clear shots of Rebecca wearing the dress, but had to make do with some grainy Youtube screen shots. The theme to last nights show was Halloween, so whoever styled Rebecca went all out and completely over did it. Huge earrings, red spider in hair, long plaited hair-piece....it was all a bit much, even for me. The dress was always going to be the star of the show however, and caught my eye immediately. What do you think, early Christmas present for myself?!

edit: finally found a clear full length shot....

images from dailymail.co.uk; liberty.co.uk; luisaviaroma.com; and style.com

Mint Mesh

2010-10-19T13:44:00.006+01:00

For the longest time I have been searching for an antique mesh Chatelaine purse. Antique mesh and chainmail purses are easy to find online or at antiques stores/fairs, but I am pretty fussy and wanted it to be perfect. As I wanted it for jewellery purposes, it had to be small and, importantly, had to have a finger loop so that I could add a chain and wear it as a pendant, or add a pin and wear it as a brooch . A couple of weeks ago, my patience was rewarded as I came across the perfect sized purse in mint condition. The design is rather plain, but I love it and the fact that it's in amazing condition. The hallmarks along the frame tell me it is from London, 1910.

On a side note, the trousers I'm wearing are the AA 'riding pant', however wearing them I get less of an equestrian vibe and more of a deep-sea diving vibe. Not entirely sure how comfortable I am with this...

Blouse (Zara), trousers (American Apparel), vest (Topshop), shoes (Miu Miu)

The Ones That Got Away

2010-10-11T22:11:00.015+01:00

A selection of recent eBay finds..... Most of the auctions have already ended, with me either being outbid, or (even worse), completely forgetting to bid at all. Others, I'm just dreaming of buying....

Victorian carved coral ring - $495

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1930's rayon robe - $168.50 sold

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1920's coral dress - $202.50 reserve not met

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Floral celluloid frame purse - $575.98 sold

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1920's embroidered blouse - $31 sold

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Dreamy 1920's lace dress - £57.38 sold

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Incredible bone fan with holder - $224.50 sold

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1920's salmon Canton shawl - £77.99 sold

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Sequinned lace vamp dress - $199.99 sold

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Ornate belt buckle - £48.10 sold

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1920's dress with beautiful lace - £89 sold

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Carved bone rose necklace - £43 sold

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1920's velvet & brocade opera cloak - £850 available now

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Fantastically detailed solid silver belt from 1893 - £535 available now

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Antique purse with wonderful art nouveau frame - $365 available now

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Immaculate 1920's beaded dress - $2990 available now

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1930's clutch bag with matching contents - £69 available now

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1970's scarf with beautiful print - $99 available now

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Antique celluloid dance purse with cameo - $599.50 available now

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Devils head purse from 1874 - £820 available now

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1930's piano shawl - £295 available now

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Finally, a couple of dedications to the glorious Nicole over at Fashion Forestry. I would love to see her in this 1920's cocoon coat with floral lining...

...and if she weren't already married, I'm sure this little 1920's garter would make such a cute wedding gift for her!

Phew, long post! Any favourites?

I don't own any of the pictures, they belong to their lovely respective eBay sellers.

Budget Bottega

2010-09-22T21:16:00.013+01:00

Following my recent post on Bottega Veneta's fall collection and its delightful beetle accessories, I was inspired to get all bugged out, with insect jewellery and iridescent fabrics reminiscent of beetle wings. I pretty much had the jewellery covered, as I own quite a few pieces of insect jewellery (the pièce de résistance of my collection being a Victorian beetle who I first introduced over a year ago in this post.)

Clothing wise, I was pretty limited with just a pewter vest and sheer blue blouse. The 'bag' however makes up for a rather lacklustre outfit, and has been on my mind since I blogged about Bottega Veneta, as it's green/blue chequered iridescence is certainly similar to one of the bags in the collection. I say bag, but it is actually a Clinique toiletries case, which I added a chain to. My mum is a bit of a Clinique hoarder, and has a closet full of the little bags you get with special purchases. This one was always my favourite, I can't believe how long it took me to turn it in a usable bag.

My nails are a shimmery mint green, however have unfortunately photographed a baby blue shade.

For my eye make-up, I used various shades of glittery blue/green/black. I was struggling to photograph the sparkly products with much clarity, but quickly realised the unfocussed shots were rather pretty with their splodges of colour. Some of the shots below look like deep space, which is always fun.

Clawed

2010-08-31T12:47:00.006+01:00

I've worn this floral blouse a lot this summer. Pure cotton, very breathable and easy to wear. The cotton is textured with raised dots, I'm sure there's a technical term for them but I don't know what (Swiss dots maybe?). My necklaces are part of a collection I started a while ago. It seems claw jewellery is all the rage now (Pamela Love anyone?), but I'm only interested in claws if they are grasping onto something. Today I am wearing claws holding onto pearl, green aventurine and crystal.

Silk trousers (Louise Amstrup at ASOS), blouse (Topshop), shoes (New Look)

Enchanted

2010-08-28T13:52:00.026+01:00

Ooh I've been lazy and not posted in a while. I do have some outfit photos I need to post, so they'll be coming up shortly. In the mean time though, some glorious photos of exquisite splendour. I never know whether my readers prefer outfit posts or general pretty things posts, so I try to balance a bit of both. As soon as I came across these 'Enchanted Dolls' I knew I wanted to share them.

Having graced the cover of Love magazine, I was intrigued by what I saw and went straight to the website, where I discovered an incredible body of work; each doll created solely by Marina Bychkova. The hours of work that must go into researching, designing and creating the costumes is incredible. On top of the clothing, jewellery, headpieces and even tattoos and henna are meticulously worked on. I selected a few of my favourites....some of which remind me of Lacroix or Gaultier couture, and this creation giving off McQueen vibe, no?

all images from enchanteddoll.com

Fleshy

2010-08-15T19:50:00.006+01:00

A couple of months ago I bought a silk Edwardian gate-top bag. The colour is a little hard to describe....quite a rusty, coppery tan colour, but with dusty pink undertones. I was finding it difficult to style, mainly because of its colour, and the fact that I don't have many pieces that fall into such a long-winded colour category. The bag presents a further sartorial dilemma for me in that it mixes gold and silver- having gold hardwear, and silver in the silk brocade. It kinda makes my skin crawl seeing gold and silver mixed, but I'm just going to have to get over it and stop being so damn fussy.

Anyway, I was searching through some of my mums 'vintage' belts from when she was a young lady, and came across a perfectly fleshy toned belt which complements the bag. Finally, I was able to take the bag for its first outing. I must apologise for baring my pasty white legs, but tights really didn't work with the outfit. There's a reason I always wear tights, and that is so I don't blind people with the reflection.

The bag is actually a bit of a Tardis, fitting all the essentials in, and more.

Anticipation

2010-08-10T17:50:00.010+01:00

The fall collections presented way back in February seem like a distant dream, but one collection has stayed at the forefront of my mind - that of Bottega Veneta. Not normally a brand I lust after, Bottega Veneta managed to really catch my attention, not with the clothes, but with the luscious accessories. For months I've been anticipating the arrival of the jewellery and shoes into stores, and now that time has come.

The major theme of the accessories is the beetle. I have a bit of a soft spot for insecty jewellery, with a couple of lucite bug bangles and my dear beetle brooch (plus this moment of madness). Not the most conventional source of inspiration, certain beetles actually possess a mesmerizing beauty with their colouring, hence their historic use in jewellery. Bottega Veneta have used the beetle as inspiration throughout the collection: in a very literal way, using the beetle form in much of the jewellery; and in a more subtle way, using metallics and iridescent green hues reminiscent of beetle wings.

Browns currently has a small collection of Bottega Veneta beetle jewellery available, including the standout, multi-tiered scatter necklace. Available here for £2250 (!).

Also available is a pearl and beetle necklace, which can be worn either as a long pendant (below), or doubled up and worn as a shortened festoon-type necklace (2nd below). Available here for £890

The beetle ring is a more subtle approach to insect jewellery. I just love the turquoise and coppery tones used. Available here for £230

Net-a-porter recently added some of their picks from the collection, including the beetle earrings, available for £185

The rather modest beetle bangle is one of my favourite items. I like the way it was presented on the runway, usually in pairs, to quite elegant effect. Available for £265.

Net-a-porter also has an oxidized silver beetle ring on its virtual shelves, but I find the coloured pieces far more interesting. It is the beetles outer colouring that I find beautiful after all. The whole selection of jewellery is viewable on the Bottega Veneta website here. There is quite a large range in styles with varying degrees of drama. I'd happily wear any of it. Whilst on the BV website I spotted a couple of gorgeous box clutches I failed to notice on the catwalk. The bug studded version is crazy expensive at $8000, whilst the beautiful patchworked, iridescent green clutch is a little easier on the wallet at $2100 (ok, not that easy).

I've been waffling on about the jewellery so much, you'd never guess it was the footwear I was most enamoured with. I'm not much of a wedge girl, but for some reason, the sinuous metallic wedges presented really got me lusting after them. There's something so elegant and organic about their form, I'd take them over the jewellery any day. I've been eager for them to arrive in stores, as I thought they'd make a beautiful summer footwear option, catching the sunlight. It's doubtful I'll be wearing them this summer though as their price is higher than I'd let myself spend. Looks like I'll have to wait a few more months for them to go in the sale.

The only place I've found them for sale so far is the BV website itself, where they are available for $1030. Come on 50% off sale, I need some green metallic shoes! (No seriously, I've been after some for months, years even.)

images from style.com, net-a-porter.com, matchesfashion.com and bottegaveneta.com

Silken Summer

2010-07-30T21:49:00.005+01:00

I bought this long sleeved silk blouse fully intending to wear it tucked into high-waisted skirts and trousers in the Autumn/Winter. However, rolling up the sleeves and wearing it as a tunic is proving to be a popular summer option for me. It's light and airy, and just so easy to throw on and create an outfit. Of course, between my nails, rings and belt, I have managed to snag the damn silk several times. In fact, it'll probably be ripped to shreds by the time the colder weather arrives! I'd go back and buy another one if I didn't already know that I got the last one in my size.

Antique belt, blouse (Zara), leggings (H&M), shoes (Bruno Premi)

I feel like I've been opting for bangles instead of bracelets recently, so I reintroduced a few old favourites..... a Siam silver bracelet, and a filigree heart bracelet picked up at an antiques fair.

Iron Awe

2010-07-29T12:40:00.008+01:00

I hate to be predictable, but how amazing is this Berlin Iron necklace and earring set? Berlin Iron jewellery has always caught my eye, as the pieces tend to be so very me: ornate, black, gothic and historical. Indeed, the history behind such pieces is very interesting and further adds to their appeal (and value).

Prior to 1813, jewellery represented only a small portion of the iron objects, both functional and decorative, coming out of Berlin (the then capital of Prussia). The blackened finish meant that iron jewellery was originally associated with mourning. Between 1813-1815 however, Berlin Iron jewellery reached its peak of popularity and production beyond mourning, as women of wealth wore the jewellery to symbolise patriotism. During the War of Liberation against Napoleon, the Prussian authorities urged the aristocracy to donate their gold jewellery, in a bid to fund the war. In exchange, they were given ironwork jewellery, often bearing the inscription 'Gold gab ich für Eisen' (I gave gold for iron) or 'eingetauscht zum Wohle des Vaterlandes' (exchanged for the welfare of the Fatherland). Such symbols of loyalism were extremely popular, with over 41,000 pieces of Berlin Iron jewellery made in 1814 alone.

My favourite aspect of this set has to be the fastening on the necklace, formed by two clasping hands. What a lovely hidden detail, only to be appreciated by the wearer.

On a slightly related note, this sort of blackened ornate jewellery is reminding of the pieces created for Karl Lagerfelds ss09 collection, which I talked about here. Muriel Grateau is another jeweller who creates similarly complex lacy pieces, but I can't think of anyone else. I would love to find a modern jeweller who creates dramatic pieces inspired by Berlin Iron work, any ideas?

Ornate Berlin Iron necklace and earring set - $6,450

images from Ruby Lane seller The Three Graces

Some Gorgeousness

2010-07-20T17:48:00.010+01:00

Today the Outnet added several gorgeous pieces from Alberta Ferretti. One dress in particular stood out to me, as I remember going green with envy when seeing it for the first time worn by Lily Allen. Fringing will never get old in my eyes, especially when used in more creative ways such as the back of this dress. I'm sure a lot of us ladies have the standard tiered fringe dress in their closet, but how about metre long fringing cascading from your shoulders? Sounds pretty perfect to me.

Fringed silk chiffon dress - was £1655, now £579.25

The dress is from the Alberta Ferretti s/s 2009 collection. Lily wore the stunning blue version as presented on the runway. I think it looks better fitted on her than on the model, however she did somehow manage to flash her bottom whilst wearing it.

And whilst I'm talking about Lily.... I kept on meaning to feature this Chanel dress since she wore it five months ago, but I never quite got round to it. The Chanel prefall-2010 collection made me dizzy with desire, I loved the dark colour palette, copious embellishment and Chinese influence. This dress in particular stood out to me because of its stunning, dramatic neckline. I think perhaps Lily is a little short to really do this piece justice, but then of course I am just jealous she got to wear it at all. Her hair and make-up were both exquisite and complimentary to the dress also.

A couple of months ago I bought a stunning vintage evening dress, from 1944. Whilst it's not quite as glamorous as the Ferretti or Chanel dresses, it really is a beauty. I must get round to photographing it so I can share it with you all.

images from: theoutnet.com; fashionising.com; style.com; and zimbio.com

Guilty Feet

2010-07-15T21:18:00.006+01:00

July is a pretty busy month for me, what with it being my birthday, my nan's birthday, and 3 of my best friends' birthdays.... each within 6 days of one another. That's my poor excuse for House of Harps being pretty dead recently, for which I am profusely apologetic.

I do, however, have sparkly new shoes to share (ok, ok, they were in my holiday post a couple of weeks ago, but they need a formal introduction). I kind of am disgusted with myself for buying them, as they are a straight rip-off of shoes from the Dior a/w 2009 collection (and what an utterly gorgeous collection it was). It makes me pretty angry to see massively ripped-off designs, made even more deplorable if they sell at a ridiculous price *cough Sam Edelman cough*. These were dirt cheap though, and I love them despite the tinge of guilt. I toyed with the idea of buying the real Dior's (in the sale, too!) but my boyfriend was unimpressed with this idea citing something about 'priorities' and 'real life.'

Lace cardigan (ebay), trousers (H&M), vest (Ted Baker), shoes (Rascal)

Glinting through a window, this necklace caught my eye as I was idly walking about last week. Lucky for me it turned out to be a charity shop window, and was quite the bargain!

The real deal Dior a/w 2009 heels.

Image from flannelsfashion.com

Lady, you look fab - Special Edition: Ronit Elkabetz

2010-06-30T22:23:00.009+01:00

Whilst researching my previous LYLF post, I stumbled across a lady who really caught my eye. It's not often I come across someone whose style I really admire (the Moss', Chung's and Olsen's of this world don't really float my boat), but the Israeli actress Ronit Elkabetz manages to impress me with a series of darkly alluring outfits. Most often found swathed in head-to-toe black, she has a mane of wild black hair and a good strong eyebrow (I love a good eyebrow). I hate to be uncouth and bring age into the matter, but I have to say she is looking pretty hot for a 46 year old.

This is a lady who is not afraid of big bouffants, heavy embellishments and severe black eye-liner. She inspires me to pile on the accessories, bring drama to my outfits and perhaps even revert back to my Gothic days of yesteryear.

images from: zimbio.com; life.com; bew.com/thefashionspot.com; commeaucinema.com; laternamagika.wordpress.com; ynet.co.il; daylife.com; sulekha.com; contactmusic.com

HoH Returns

2010-06-29T20:32:00.009+01:00

Hello everyone, House of Harps is back! I've been back home from France for a week now, catching up on everything I missed. Two weeks is a long, long time to go without the internet! Completely worth it though, my little jaunt to the continent was wonderful. I shan't share all the boring details, but get straight down to business with a few outfits. Nothing spectacular, just a few casual looks.

And onto my modest purchases... Shopping opportunities were few and far between, I did come home with some new jewellery and scarves though. I also bought some antique fashion magazines, dating from 1909-1910. These perhaps aren't everyone's idea of a good buy, but I personally love to look through these pieces of history for the beautiful illustrations and often perplexing advertising throughout ('Dr.Mixers Sure Cure for Cancer', for example).

These bangles were available in a myriad of colours, I opted for the two colours I thought I'd wear the most.

This silk scarf is truly mesmerising. A two-tone creation of royal blue and copper...so difficult to photograph! Really is beautiful in real life, the copper is so vivid its as if flames are engulfing the blue silk.

I also got one in black/pewter. After the sumptuous colours of the previous scarf, this one feels rather dull, but it is guaranteed to get a lot of wear as the colours are very me.

And finally, a pair of earrings purchased from a massive market on our last day in France.

Au Revoir

2010-06-04T17:44:00.007+01:00

I'm off to the South of France for two weeks, so it'll be pretty quiet in the House of Harps from now on.

I'll leave you with a summery selection of clothes I was messing around with on polyvore last night. I'm not a huge fan of gold, but when the sun comes out I love wearing it. Mixed with my new found love of blue, there is quite an Egyptian vibe to the set. If only I was bringing it all with me on holiday! Especially those shoes, and the blue dress... oh and the brown blouse...Ok ok I want it all.

Bye for now xxxx

Purple Haze

2010-05-31T00:59:00.005+01:00

I recently had a good 4 or 5 inches chopped off my hair, leaving me with mixed emotions. The ends were pretty ratty and I was way overdue for a trim, but it was those ratty ends that formed the bulk of my signature bouffant, giving me massive hair. I can't imagine life without stupidly big Gibson girl hair! So far I've been too scared to even try and put my hair up...fingers crossed I haven't lost my super-hair-powers.

I'm not in the habit of wearing leggings as trousers, but today's outfit was for a rather long car journey, where comfort was essential and being seen by the general public was minimal. I've had this blouse for a while now and thought it was about time it made a blog appearance. It's rather humongous on me, so belting is necessary, but it is light as air and shall be a delight to wear on a hot summers day. It is kind of fanciful, childlike even, but I love the jewel tones used and the little butterflies appliquéd all over.

Wedges (Pied A Terre), cardigan (Zara), blouse (Anna Sui), black vest [worn underneath] (Topshop), leggings (M&S)

Super new nail varnish. Wish I could find a lipstick this shade of bright purple.

Lady, you look fab - Kristen Scott Thomas

2010-05-31T00:27:00.003+01:00

Kristen Scott Thomas isn't someone I'd normally associate with great fashion, either on or off the red carpet, but here she manages to really impress me. Her black Lanvin SS2010 ensemble is quite different to your average red carpet dress, being rather relaxed in shape and completely unembellished, yet she manages to look elegant and darkly alluring. I love the soft draping and long train to the skirt, but of course it is the stand-out necklace that really completes the outfit. A simple dress like this is the perfect canvas for a stunning necklace, in this case a twisted snake concoction, also from the aforementioned Lanvin catwalk. Smoky eyes perfect the look.

images from zimbio.com and style.com