For A Ballerina to Dance In

Posted by Rachel {Raw-kul} on Apr 18, 2012 in 1940's, Dresses | 7 comments

40s-50s vintage Harvey Berin Dress, black lace & silk chiffon …

 

• an exquisite vintage dress by Harvey Berin
  
• made of black silk chiffon
  
• with dainty buttons
  
• a swath of lovely lace
  
• & a marvelously draped skirt
  

This is from the late 40s to early 50s, around the time Harvey Berin’s designer Karen Stark was awarded the prestigious Coty Award. This came from the estate of a former ballerina who wore it for one of her performances, and with it I’m including the vintage Capezio bodysuit she wore underneath. The dress is sheer and the skirt very full. It has a covered metal zipper closure on the side. The bodice is meant to be a bit blouson with kimono cap sleeves and a deep “V” neckline framed by a small lace-embellished collar.

I am simply in awe over the sheer talent that went into making this garment. I knew it was special even before I saw the Harvey Berin label on the inside of the belt. Chiffon is known for being a difficult fabric to work with, and the hands that made this must have been incredibly skilled …every single stitch is perfect, the hemline perfectly weighted, and the divine way in which it moves is simply beyond words.

Clearly, this was only worn a time or two and has been carefully stored ever since. It doesn’t even begin to show its age. I don’t see any flaws other than a small repair underneath each sleeve and a tiny crease on the belt. It is even lovelier in person, superbly made, and guaranteed to delight.

 

That is all I had to read and I was clicking my way to PayPal.

I couldn’t resist this dress of course, and Maya was amazing with the transaction at Etsy. Thank you so much Maya!

 

---

 

 

Undergarments by Adea, my favorite Italian-made luxury underthings.

Maya was so sweet to wrap the dress this way. When I shop at Etsy, the vendors go the extra mile to make me feel special.

(Yes, it is free plugs for all today!)

Gorgeous embroidery.

 

 

The energy of the Ballerina is still in the fibers.

The original leotard.

 

 

Little rats were coming into the house through that register behind the Cole Haan not so long ago.

 

 

I hear prints are really in right now. That’s nice, I prefer to look like a loon and wear this sheer black dress, for a Ballerina to dance in.

 

 

Cole Haan booties with Nike Air technology. Perfect after a performance.

 

Pretending I am 30 years younger and at Coachella. Trust me, there are flowers in my hair!

 

I need to rest a minute, from all that dancing…

 

I love stockings. Look how they hide the road-maps and other gifts I have acquired over the years on my legs.

 

 

 

Dorky, fake ballet, hoedown move. Shameful really.

Wee! I am spinning and losing my mind in this dress for a Ballerina!

 

Okay, enough of fantasy land.

Time to slip out of this dress, put on the wellies and clean out the chicken coop.

Enjoy your day!

 

---

Diamond bracelet: Shane and Co.  Diamond pendant: Fred Meyer Jewelers

Chiffon, Cashmere, Sequins

Posted by Rachel {Raw-kul} on Mar 28, 2012 in Makeup, Shoes, Sweaters | 8 comments

Let me just start by saying I am obsessed with this vintage chiffon dress from the 60's.

Sure, it smells like a woman wore it to many a cocktail party back when I should have been nursing but was drinking from a bottle instead.

And the mild but impossible to deny scent lingering in the fibers is a combo of:

• lacking any freshness whatsoever
• large vintage store
• old lady perfume (hey, I can make fun of something I am…)
• maybe even a smoke or two

I was able to get over the aroma rather quickly and now you are going to have to tolerate many photos of this dress because I cannot get enough of it!.

It is perfect for my vintage, sequined, cashmere sweater from Hong Kong that I purchased years ago. That sweater never really went with anything I had, but I loved it so much I kept it anyway. I have got a THING for cashmere.

Yesterday this chiffon beauty arrived at my doorstep and when I pulled it out this morning, I felt an urgent need to slip it on (and force my husband to shoot photos of me). 

Yes, I purposely stood in front of the flowers because they match the chiffon loveliness. I love Atlanta in the spring!

BUT… I DO NOT like the way this wig looks from the side. I should have worn the shorter one (or maybe brushed this one). Oh well, just focus on the dress! 

More displeasure with side of the wig… too bad I don't know how to use my Photoshop program. But, I LOVE THAT DRESS!

The heels of my MJ's sunk into the pine needles. This dress looks amazing with flats too!

I love looking down and seeing that chiffon! I could almost take a bite of it!

And that PILL HAT. Definitely, from that angle, it makes my head look like a pill. A big pill that would be hard to swallow.

 

I can feel the chiffon moving in this pic.

My daughters like these MJ's. My youngest warned me that they might end up in her closet someday.

My aging wrist looks quite veiny in this pic. That is the thing about "growing in wisdom". It shows in your hands and wrists. Oh, and your lower arms and your upper arms too. Seriously though, the hands need some gloves past 45. Your grandmother wore them for a good reason. Granny was smart!

 

Now you can see this AMAZING!!! cashmere sweater. Black sequins are heavy on the top and scattered on the bottom. The pics don't do this cashmere beauty justice.

Pretending to be a princess for just three seconds.

Woodstock, my Sun Conure parrot, wanted to get in on the action too. He was headed for those sequins. He loves to chew buttons and any jewelry or pretty item I am wearing. His beak has a strong grip and he can be the great DESTROYER, so I can only hang out with Woodstock when I am wearing plain clothes and no makeup.

He insists on preening my face whenever he sits on my shoulder so to protect him from cosmetic chemicals, I have to be sans makeup. Parrots are ultra-sensitive to toxins.

I also see a few of Winston's dog hairs on my hat. Note to self for the umteenth time: Remember that lint brush!  

Chiffon… and seams… indeed, it is a very good thing.

Okay. I feel better now.

I think I have had my chiffon, cashmere and sequin fix for the day. I hope you have too.

Until next time!

Chiffon Dress: Some Like it Vintage  Cashmere Sweater: Vintage, British Crown Colony, Hong Kong  Pearls: Akoya from American Pearl  Mary Janes: Lumiani  Watch: Rolex Oyster Perpetual