Monday 25 April 2016

Dealer Spotlight: Arabella Bianco

This week we focus on the founder of Arabella Bianco, and lover of vintage, Lesley Sargeant.

Arabella Bianco at Vintage Modes

Tell us a bit about yourself and your business

I began selling fairtrade in 2007 one day a week at my local market, and later expanded into jewellery. Now I deal in vintage costume jewellery, specialising in the 1950s – 1980s.

What drew you to selling vintage?

As a teenager I enjoyed shopping in charity shops for 50s original clothes, and listening to 50s music. When I had the opportunity to set up my own business, vintage jewellery was a natural progression, as I have always loved adornments!


A colourful array of vintage beaded necklaces, available from Arabella Bianco

When did you join the Vintage Modes collective?

I joined in April 2014. Since then it has been through many changes.

What do you love most about being part of Vintage Modes?

I love the character of Vintage Modes, and being part of Grays Antiques. Every day is different, and I never know who I may meet.  I have learnt a great deal from the other vintage dealers, who have been in the business much longer than me, and I've still got lots to learn!


Lesley also sells a small selection of vintage clothing and scarves

Do you have any tips for buying vintage?

Do your research before shopping, and find trustworthy dealers who know their product.

You have a strong online presence, how important is that for you?

It is vital. These days it is no longer a sellers market. I believe traders need to have more than one income stream. I have the shop, my own website, a presence on the Grays website, and I do vintage fairs.

A stunning display of vintage costume jewellery available at Arabella Bianco

Why do you love vintage jewellery?

It is so well made and beautiful, and I never know what I may find next! I enjoy discovering obscure designers, and restoring pieces to their former glory.

What's your favourite item in your stand? 

At the moment my favourite item is a pair of gold leaf clip-on earrings from the 1950s, I like them because of the design, I think they're quite unusual with the different textures. There is also a matching bracelet and necklace in this design.

c1950s smooth stem and brushed texture leaf earrings, from Arabella Bianco
 

Arabella Bianco at Vintage Modes
Tel: 0207 409 0400
Email: mail@arabellabianco.co.uk
Website: www.arabellabianco.co.uk

Vintage Modes is also home to costume jewellery dealers, Gillian Horsup and Unicorn. You will also find designer vintage fashion offered by June Victor. We had a look around Vintage Modes and felt awestruck by the carefully curated collection of delightful and elegant pieces to suit all tastes.

Necklaces offered by Gillian Horsup and Unicorn

Items offered by Unicorn

Beaded bag, offered by Unicorn

Vintage Shoes and designer bags, offered by June Victor

A view of Vintage Modes

Vintage clothing offered by June Victor

Designer dresses from June Victor


All items posted are for sale. If you have any queries please leave a comment or visit us at Grays in Mayfair, London Alternatively you can call us on 020 7409 0400 or email info@vintagemodes.co.uk

Friday 22 April 2016

Recent Press

Pylot Magazine 
Issue 04

Items from Gillian Horsup Vintage Jewellery is featured in The Imaginary Friend photoshoot.








ELLE
May 2016

Plastic flower vintage earrings from Gillian Horsup is featured in a photoshoot.








VOGUE China
May 2016

Costume jewellery from Gillian Horsup are featured in this photoshoot.





VOGUE India
May 2016

Vintage costume jewellery from Gillian Horsup is featured in the Pageant Perfect photoshoot.





All items posted are for sale. If you have any queries please leave a comment or visit us at Grays in Mayfair, London Alternatively you can call us on 020 7409 0400 or email info@vintagemodes.co.uk

Tuesday 12 April 2016

Own your own Norman Hartnell

With the Queen's imminent birthday celebrations, we are highlighting one of Her Majesty's favourite fashion designers; Norman Hartnell (1901-1979). Hartnell came to prominence when he gained the Royal Warrant as dressmaker to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in 1940 after designing the famous 'White Wardrobe' (photographed by Cecil Beaton) in the late 1930s, which changed the Queen Mother's image forever. These elegant Norman Hartnell gowns were worn on a royal visit to France, aimed at strengthening Anglo-French ties. The French press praised the demeanour and charm of the King and Queen during the successful visit, augmented by Hartnell's wardrobe.

A Hartnell gown designed for Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in the 1930s, part of “The White Wardrobe".

Hartnell went on to design gowns for the two most important occasions in the Queen's life: her wedding and her coronation. Six years after Hartnell designed Queen Elizabeth’s sumptuous wedding dress in 1947, he was commissioned to design the coronation gown - the iconic dress of the mid-twentieth century - and Maid of Honour gowns. It took eight months of research, design and workmanship to make the intricate embroidery of the coronation gown. The Queen was so pleased with the outcome that afterwards Hartnell began to exclusively create her entire wardrobe and produced many of her finest evening dresses. Hartnell gained the Royal Warrant as dressmaker to Queen Elizabeth II in 1957.

Queen Elizabeth's wedding gown. The crystal and seed pearl roses, wheat sheafs and leaves embellishment took 350 seamstresses seven weeks to complete.

The Coronation Gown: The dress was to be an historic masterpiece befitting the occasion.

Dress by Norman Hartnell worn by Queen Elizabeth II to Princess Margaret's wedding, 1960.

Hartnell was a major personality in the world of fashion;  known for glamorous evening clothes, Hartnell's meteoric rise to fame resulted in London becoming a centre of style that closely rivaled Paris. Decades of achievement were rewarded with a Knighthood in 1977. He became known as ‘The First Fashion Knight’, and is one of only four British designers to have ever been knighted.

The largest display of the Queen's dresses and accessories, including Hartnell's designs, will open to the public later this month to mark the monarch's 90th birthday. The exhibition - Fashioning a Reign: 90 Years of Style from the Queen's Wardrobe - is to be held at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, her Scottish home in Edinburgh on April 21.

However, if you long for a highly sought after Norman Hartnell piece of your own, then look no further. June Victor at Vintage Modes, Grays, has a covetous collection of Hartnell finery on offer, as mentioned in the Evening Standard below. June is also based at sister centre Alfies Antique Market.


Rose pink silk velvet matching dress jacket trimmed with beading, late 1950s early 1960s, offered by June Victor at Vintage Modes 

Stunning 1950s black silk velvet couture dress with matching jacket trimmed with lace embellish, offered by June Victor at Vintage Modes 

1960s Bugle beaded cocktail dress, offered by June Victor at Vintage Modes 

1950s silk crepe outfit, beaded trim and mink cuffs,  offered by June Victor at Vintage Modes 


Rare 1950s vintage flower and drop Norman Hartnell necklace, offered by Arabella Bianco


All items posted are for sale. If you have any queries please leave a comment or visit us at Grays in Mayfair, London Alternatively you can call us on 020 7409 0400 or email info@vintagemodes.co.uk

Friday 8 April 2016

Recent Press

Another Man
Spring/Summer 2016

A snake ring from Gillian Horsup Vintage Jewellery is featured in a photoshoot.





Antidote
Summer 2016 - The Now Generation Issue

Items from Gillian Horsup Vintage Jewellery are featured in the new magazine, Antidote.





On the Rocks
Spring/Summer 2016

A bangle from Gillian Horsup Vintage Jewellery is featured in a photoshoot.






Online: hungertv.com

Items from Gillian Horsup Vintage Jewellery is featured in a photoshoot on the hungertv.com website, starring Angel Rose, a British artist who works in video, performance and printed media in the form of zines.







All items posted are for sale. If you have any queries please leave a comment or visit us at Grays in Mayfair, London Alternatively you can call us on 020 7409 0400 or email info@vintagemodes.co.uk

Wednesday 6 April 2016

A focus on.. the 1920s

Here at Vintage Modes we will be doing a round up of fashion across the eras over the coming weeks, starting with the 1920s.

The 1920s is largely associated with flapper style dresses and the Art Deco period. In terms of jewellery, the 1920s moved away from the fussiness of the Art Nouveau period and from the societal pressures to wear your wealth. Precious stones were replaced with semi precious stones and plastics.

One popular style was the long beaded necklace; they had round faceted stones in the popular Art Deco colour pallet of black, red, white and green. Beads made of bakelite or lucite made jewellery affordable to everyone. One popular style of the long beaded necklace was the Sautoir. It usually had a tassel hanging at the bottom or a large single gemstone pendant and could be worn down the front or back of a dress.

In addition to necklaces, with women cutting their hair short, drop earrings became a popular style of earring, drawing attention to the neck area.

Here is a selection of our favourite 1920s and Art Deco pieces from Vintage Modes at Grays:


Art Deco beaded bag. Available from Unicorn.


Filigree metal Art Deco brooch. Available from Gillian Horsup Vintage Jewellery.

Czechoslovakian glass drop earrings, pierced. Available from Gillian Horsup Vintage Jewellery.

Czechoslovakian glass drop earrings, pierced. Available from Gillian Horsup Vintage Jewellery.

Long 1920s style sautoir beaded necklace. Available from Gillian Horsup Vintage Jewellery.



Early Art Deco style metal and enamel drop earrings, pierced. Available from Gillian Horsup Vintage Jewellery.

All items posted are for sale. If you have any queries please leave a comment or visit us at Grays in Mayfair, London Alternatively you can call us on 020 7409 0400 or email info@vintagemodes.co.uk

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