1940's Inspiration

Outfit Details:

Wine colored velvet swing dress
Brooch -Eisenberg 1940  (More on the bow brooch below)
Bracelets -Eisenberg
Earrings-Eisenberg
Shoes -1940's peep toe (the first pair of vintage shoes I've bought and also one of my first vintage purchases, fabulous shoes and I'm so glad I brought them out because it reminds me that I must condition them.  I've learned from other shoes that vintage leather still needs a good conditioning every once and a while.
Hat- ebay

Nails- I'm trying the gel nails in a retro color effect, I think they turned out quite well.  I've had gel nails once before and it is a pain to get off but it does last one-two weeks.  I'll keep you posted on the chip effect.  I can attest that if I would have done this regular nail polish it would have been chipped by now.  I've been doing a lot of work with my hands today and it still looks fresh.  The one thing I would have liked is more of an oval effect on the nails.  I guess my nails were either too short or I really need to stress this more in the future.

It's difficult to capture the true color of this velvet in photographs, sometimes it shows up as more of a black but this is a good idea of the color it's like a soft wine.

A little bit over exposed image so you can get an idea of the color.

Ad to Actual Vintage Ad Match


Doesn't this ad just speak 40's?  I agree with the word "Excitement".  I indeed think this when I see these gems.  The ladies hair style is fabulous.   I'd love each and every piece.  It is difficult to find the topaz in the Eisenberg line but I did happen to find the rhinestone bow and it sparkles and shines madly.   I'm thinking it's the same year as the ad but it is possible they also made it later on but the back of the brooch does say Eisenberg Original which could date it to around this time.  This ad is from the Vogue Christmas issue from 1940.  What a grand Christmas present to have?  Wouldn't the perfume be interesting to smell as well?

Which piece would you choose?

You know one other thing about these brooches is that they are heavy in the words of an ebay seller that was a seller of an Eisenberg brooch a few months back,  "This is a heavy buggar."   This makes me smile as these Eisenberg brooches can be quite heavy.  So, it has got me wondering what the vintage ladies did when they had material that may not be able to support such a brooch.  I shall have to research this and see if I can come up with anything.  If anyone has any ideas, let me know?  I'm thinking just a bit of extra material in the back to support the weight.  We all know how much rhinestones the Hollywood starlets wore.

I was planning a trip to the local stroll garden today.  The weather is not coorporating.  I am a bit saddened by this as I'd like to get there while things are still in bloom.  It's a rainy day today here in good ol'New York.