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Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Show and Tell-Vintage Capelet

Now I know the Aunts are trying to communicate with me!
 I bought this piece about 25 years ago when I was still an antique dealer. I didn't sell clothing (mostly art glass, antiquarian books, and the odd piece of Mauchline ware) but this cape spoke to me and I kept it for my own collection. I packed it away carefully, and left it alone-until today. Danny is starting to show an interest in historical clothing, so I brought it out to show him the construction.

 The velvet is a beautiful dark teal, but it is hard to photograph in the bad light of my house.This photo is a bit closer to the true shade.
The collar is made of a moire taffeta-like material. The lining is interesting as well.
The capelet closes at the neck with a large hook and eye that feels much heavier than anything I've encountered-puts the "Hard" in hardware! It closes around my fat neck-barely.
I didn't wear the capelet out-It is in almost too-perfect condition to risk it for anything other than a special occasion. I'm letting it have an airing before packing it back away for another 25 years. 

Outfit Particulars:
Victorian velvet capelet-A yard sale in Newton, Massachusetts 25 years ago
1970's silk blouse-Thrift store in Seward, Nebraska
1970's skirt-Goodwill
Belt-Goodwill
Boots-Hand-Me-Ups
Engraved bangle-Goodwill
Glass earrings-A gift shop in Long Grove, Illinois about 30 years ago
Brooch-Hand-Me-Ups
Egyptian Revival ring-Can't remember
90's does 1900's purse-Marshall's about 15 years ago
Fragrance-Vintage formulation Jicky ("Wake up and smell the civet!") because it seemed appropriate with this outfit.



Today's cocktail:

Fare Thee Well
2 oz. gin
1 oz. dry vermouth
2 dashes sweet vermouth
6 dashes Curacao
Shake well with ice, and strain into a cocktail glass. 
Next time we do this, I have a silk and wool sailor middy blouse that dates to around 1915. 








13 comments:

  1. That capelet is gorgeous! Love the color, the cut, the lining, the collar everything!
    The Marshall's purse is quite a find too.
    Would you care for a little lavender with that civet? (My interpretation of Zee-kay.)

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  2. Finding either the silk blouse or the opera cape would give me palpitations! I liked the cape when I thought it was dark chocolate brown -- and now that I know it's my favorite blue!

    Hmmm. Do you ever wear your hair up? The better to display those interesting earrings?

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  3. I love the cape what a find, I seem to be thinking of velvet right now too, having got rid of all off my velvet jackets when I moved in August. Short sighted or what!

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  4. Wow, that cape was such a good find.

    Long may the Aunts continue to communicate.

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  5. The cape is exquisite and a wonderful colour, too. Lovely blouse and I love all your accessories - the earrings are amazing!

    It's so good Danny is taking an interest in clothes - I don't know of any child of his age who takes an interest in vintage clothing. My soon to be 12 year old grandson has only the minimal interest in clothes. He'd happily wear his Arsenal kit and football boots all the time...

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  6. Swoon!
    I am speechless.

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  7. That cape is effin' gorgeous. I don't know how you can pack it away, wear it to death (I would!) xxx

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  8. That capelet is such a fabulous piece of vintage loveliness. I can perfectly understand you don't want to wear it outside, and it's for show-and-tell purposes only. How great that Danny is showing an interest. Lovely purse too, even though it's a 90s one disguising as an antique. xxx

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  9. @Bibi
    Yep, that's a pretty accurate description of Jicky. Honestly, I like the reformulation better.

    @Cee
    Thanks! Gosh, maybe we need to have "Cape Week" at Eat the Blog. Something to think about.

    @Beth
    I chopped my hair a bit too short this time around to wear it up. I'm sure in a few week's time that will be resolved unless I get frustrated and give myself a pixie.

    @Miss Magpie
    You had such a traumatic move I'm sure it was the last thing on your mind. Anything in particular you're looking for in velvet?

    @Mim
    They are! For the past few weeks I've been drinking my tea with milk, something I only did when my grandmother would take me to visit the aunts. At first I thought it was a comfort food/stress of 2016 taking a toll sort of thing, but now I know it must be Annie and Rosie (or, "Bumps and Grumps" as my sister called them as Rosie was crabby and Annie had a huge growth on her head). If I start frying slices of toast in chicken fat I might need to call in a Medium to sort things out in a seance.

    @Veronica
    I wouldn't say he cares about clothes for himself, but rather has an interest in them historically. For the first ten years or so, I couldn't get Danny to wear anything on his head except a train engineer's cap-even to sleep! If I were 12 again, I'd live in a football kit too!

    @Radostin
    Thank you.

    @Vix
    That's the vintage dilemma! I love wearing vintage, but as a collector, I know I shouldn't. I don't feel bad hacking apart a polyester maxi, but if I stained or ripped something old as the cape, I'd never stop hating myself.

    @Ann
    Danny's great grandfather was a tailor, so perhaps that will have some influence on him.

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  10. The scene~~~

    I squirmed, watching with utter hopelessness the timer count down towards zero on the bomb left by arch villain The Choker. There was only a couple of minutes left and my struggles to free myself from the chair I'd been tied to met with less than overwhelming success. My desperate cries for help unheard due to the gag in my mouth.

    I was suddenly alerted to Super Goody's arrival by the loud crash through the warehouse wall, spraying bricks and cement in all directions.

    " TA-DAHHHH ! ", she exclaimed as she stood with her hands on her hips in one of her trademark heroic poses as her cape strangely fluttered in the still night air. She was then joined by her teenage sidekick, Troy Chunder.

    " Uhhhh... The door was open, Boss. That big one. Right next to the bloody big hole you unnecessarily made. ", he stated with a smidgen of disrespect as he played with his smart wrist utility phone.

    " I never hold back on a rescue mission, my youthful inert ward ! " I looked back at the timer. It was down to 40 seconds.

    I looked back at my two rescuers and made desperate grunting noises through the gag while wildly gesturing my head and eyes at the bomb.

    " Plenty of time to thank me later, my good hostage citizen ", she smiled as she ignored my frantic warning.

    I made another desperate attempt. " MMMERHHH'S MUHH MIME MMMOMMMB !!! ", I shrieked.

    " The Mime has a bomb !? Impossible ! I had that particular kooky silent villain and her striped turtleneck gang locked up months ago ! She's not due out 'til Kanye West's next award show appearance is met with critical acclaim ! "

    " MMMMOMMMMMB !!! ", I shrieked again with my eyes nearly popping out of my head.

    " I think Prof. Cee is probably referring to the time bomb, S.G. You know... the one that has less than ten seconds left on the timer before we all get blown to poop ", Troy said absentmindedly as he checked his social media and game updates.

    " HOLY CRAPULENCE !!! ", the Maid of Fashionable Steel said with a rush and moved forward in blurring speed before hurling the deadly object with great force though the roof... right next to the wide open skylight.

    " Phhheeewww... HAH ! The deep harbor waters will take care of that little nuisance ! ", S.G. breathed a little easier.

    " Guess again, Boss ", the Teen of Understated Sarcastic Wit interrupted. " You just threw the Professor through the roof. "

    " Oh, fff...*KA-BLOOEY !!!

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  11. @Cee

    You win "Best Blogger Comment Ever"!

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