Pepto Pink

So admittedly these photos were taken nearly a year ago, but I've had a busy year! And I like to think my style defies being too time-specific and trend-led. The blouse I bought many years ago, but interestingly does fit into the ruffled, asymmetric, 80's tinged vibe we've seen a lot of recently. I bought if for the glorious pewter damask fabric, but it has languished largely unworn in my wardrobe due to the awkward elasticated neckline and the fact that I was never quite happy with how it sat when tucked into my normal high-waisted skirt/skinny trousers. So I've done the unthinkable (for me) and worn something untucked. Paired with a Pepto Bismol pink roll-neck, sparkly pink socks, and green jewellery, this look has reignited my love for the blouse. 

ASOS blouse, Benetton trousers, KG shoes, self-made and antique jewellery.  

Book Chain Beauties

Research for my dissertation required me to look through a lot (I'm talking 1000's) of CDVs and daguerreotypes containing Victorian women. My focus was on their waist/hip area as I was searching for chatelaines, but I couldn't help but be enamoured by what was happening north of the waist. Many women displayed an impressive system of chains, fobs, brooches, pendants and collar necklaces. Bodices acted as a canvas for women to display tokens of sentimentality in arrangements that were as individual as the women who wore them. Naturally, viewing so much Victorian jewellery really gave me a taste for some, an aesthetic I used to enjoy but moved away from years ago in favour of more Edwardian and Art Deco designs. In the limited quality of Victorian photography, book chain (or book link) necklaces stand out, their ornate, weighty presence really appealing to me. Essentially the book chain contains of flat, folded links that interlock in a manner reminiscent of book-binding; the flat links lend themselves well to intricate detailing, as you're about to see.     

Header & above - c.1880 book chain collar, available at ThreeGracesToo on Etsy

Book chain locket necklace with rose and yellow gold detail,
on eBay (auction ended)

c.1880 book chain collar, available on eBay

1880 book chain locket necklace, from Orange Tree Collectables
at Ruby Lane (sold) 

1882 book chain locket necklace, on eBay (auction ended)

Silver book chain locket necklace, on eBay (auction ended)

c.1880 book chain collar necklace, available at A. Brant + Son

I've put together a Pinterest board featuring many more book chain designs and evidence of women wearing them. Swooning over extant examples of book chain is fun, but seeing real Victorian women wearing them is equally fascinating.

London lady - CDV on eBay

Nottingham lady - CDV on eBay

Worcester lady - CDV on eBay

Not quite as illustrious (nor £££) as an original, I recently bought a 1940s Victorian-Revival book chain necklace, with matching bracelet. I've never been into lockets so the lack of a locket pendant doesn't bother me. The short, collar style of the necklace is similar to quite a few of my recent jewellery purchases- I'm very pleased with it! 

  

The Grey Gatsby

I went to see The Great Gatsby a few weeks ago and naturally wanted to dress up in the spirit of the film. Not wanting to look too costumey or over-dressed at the cinema, I reined it in a bit with a simple outfit jazzed up with some key accessories (yes, this is me reining it in...I was tempted to wear an ostrich feather boa. I didn't even add a brooch to my turban!).Silk harem trousers, obligatory turban, spectator shoes and an antique beaded sash worn as a necklace/scarf completed the look.

The beaded sash is a favourite piece of mine, sitting somewhere between clothing and jewellery. The craftsmanship involved from the intricate pattern down to the end tassels is superb. I hardly ever wear it due to my paranoia over catching it on something and watching as millions of beads scatter all around me. 

Cherry Amber

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.