Lots are live

They're up. 

I have muuuch bigger photos of each that show more detail. I also have a big batch of scarves, including several Veras, that will go up next week. I got a few dozen hats from that estate, too, and already sold my personal favorite. But I'm not a hat person, so my opinion is frankly naive. There are a number of very wearable, very modern 60s & 70s hats with deep crowns and soft brims. She especially loved her hats.

eBay time

I've been preparing some dresses to be sold in lots on eBay. 1960s & 70s, mostly day dresses and ensembles with a couple of formals.

Last summer, I bought an estate. The deal was, though, that I had to take it all, whether I wanted it or not. I didn't count the pieces, but there were over 1,000, easily. Check it out, it totally filled the van:

I guess I could've squeezed a little more into the passenger seat, but that would have blocked the side mirror. But enough gloating, the point is I bought a lot of stuff. It took a few days to sort it all (I have a picture of that process, too, but it's too terrifying) and I was frankly sick of it by the time I finished. Oh, and I only really wanted 5% of it in the first place. This

all got donated. Maybe a little more than this, because there were a few boxes which I don't see here. Anyway, the remainder's going up next week in groups of whatever will fit into a suitable box, probably 8-10 pieces per lot. I got dozens of hats, too, and a number of as-is Enid Collins bags that will also be going to auction soon. Watch this space!

Movie Night

Last night, I watched most of Midnight Run on YouTube. (Thanks, pirates.*) Anyway, I laughed out loud when I saw this sweater on Dennis Farina's character (Las Vegas mobster Jimmy Serrano):

A pretzel?? With checkerboard? My friend suggested it was a knot, but naw, man, that boob is wearing a sweater with a pretzel on it. With silk pants. Haha, the 80s! And you can't see them but he's wearing the obligatory pinky rings, too. How else would we know he's a gangster?

*I don't make a habit of watching pirated movies, but my friend was over and he was talking about this one actor that's in it and we searched for a clip on YouTube, and hell, it's a good movie. 

No harm done.

Well, I got away with it. It dried super fast, and I don't see any new holes or breaks. Handling it soaking wet (and therefore heavy) just seemed so risky! I did put it in the washer very carefully, and it was only on spin, and only for a couple minutes. And it was accordion-folded into the soaking tub, so I just paid it out into a circle on the bottom of the washer. Easy as pie. I had briefly considered using my salad spinner but didn't feel like digging it out, do you think that might have been better?

It's so pretty, look!

Handmade motifs appliquéed onto very fine (I think machine made) net. Now I have to decide what it's worth, and whether I'm willing to part with it for that amount, then photograph and list it.

Fingers crossed!

♫♪ I've got hu-uuge baaa-alls! ♫
I just put a piece of handmade lace in the washer on the spin cycle.   :-?
I had soaked it, and it seemed like the safest way to get some of the water out. I didn't want to drape it over the drying rack while it was still dripping, and it didn't seem safe to roll it in a towel.
Hope it turns out okay.
♫Weeeee'll seeeeee!♪♫

1930s or 1970s?

Well, 1970s, actually, but when I first laid eyes on them I did hope for a moment that just maybe... But no. Foam soles + vinyl insoles = 1970s. Those rounded toes and off-center lacing, though!

My grandmother, born in 1906, favored moc-toes:

but I think she would have loved these, with their sensible 1" wedge heels and old-fashioned laces.

I recently listed this Palm Beach tie:

along with some other neckties. I always thought of these as 1930s ties, probably because of the simple Art Deco patterns, matte finish, the lack of tipping - even the colors. But hey, look, I was wrong!

1950 Beau Brummel Palm Beach Ties ad, courtesy Atticpaper.com

This came out of a magazine, of course, so we know exactly when it's from. And there's my tie, second from the left! I used to have one like the green one at right, too, which wouldn't look wrong with a prewar suit. And in the center, several patterns completely typical of the period. But some Palm Beach ties do date to the 30s:

1937 Palm Beach Ties ad, courtesy PeriodPaper

That green pocket square would match the green tie of 1950 perfectly, and those striped ones seem to have been a mainstay for the company. Note the difference in the tags, though - in the postwar ties, the Beau Brummell tag has been eliminated, and the Palm Beach tag has been redesigned.