Shop Preview | Vintage 1920s + 1930s Bags and Purses

I spent last week photographing a portion of our collection of antique and vintage 1920s and 1930s purses and bags for the vintage shop. I love fancy little purses like these to dress up a simple skirt and blouse outfit or understated dress. I have this one vintage purse that I purchased awhile back from A Current Affair Vintage Market and I went through a phase of carrying it to the grocery store.

Of course I should have known a 1920s beaded beauty shouldn't be taken to a grocery shop (or in a bike basket on the way to farmer's market) but I was so attached to this vintage purse... the lining finally started shattering and there were a few bead casualties... anyhow... if you are looking for your own antique beaded (or crochet purse) to fawn over, here are some coming soon to Adored Vintage!



Shop Vintage Bags + Purses

Vintage and Antique Hats from 1913-1915 | Edwardian Portraits Part 1

These are some of the fanciest vintage hats I ever did see! Can you imagine wearing one of these millinery creations atop your head? Some of these antique hats are really rather fabulous, I do wonder where one wore such fancy hats?



This collection of vintage photographs from 1913-1915 of women in hats reminds me so much of the derby scene from Funny Face. Which of these antique hats would you wear?

Don't forget to stay tuned for installment two of more photos of antique hats from the Edwardian era!

sources: une | deux

The Prettiest Antique Mall I Ever Did See

Yesterday was suppose to be a day of whale watching, taking in some sunshine, and kayaking along the southern California coast... but because of a sudden wind swell the day before, the expedition was rescheduled for this weekend... so, what to do?

We decided to do a little exploring in San Diego instead. Grabbed quick beers at a brewery, Cuban pastries to munch on later, and set out to peruse some antique malls which is kind of our Sunday ritual anyway. We chanced upon this one antique mall called Vignettes and my eyeballs nearly popped out of their sockets, this place was oozing with Frenchy, girlie goodness. It was like Anthropologie on vintage crack.



This is one of the first things you see when you walk in. The dresses are vintage reproductions and mostly just for decoration.


I am such a sucker for fresh flowers in booth displays. They're even pretty when they're wilting.


This was my favorite little vignette. Industrial meets French shabby chic, which is what I really love.

















Sorry these photos aren't the greatest quality, I stupidly left my camera in the car, so phone photos it is! But...isn't this place amazing?!? And the most incredible part were the prices were so reasonable! Here are a few items I'm considering to populate my vintage atelier.




These last two pieces are from the antique shop down the street, still reasonable prices. Trying to decide which piece I want the most in the atelier. I really love the French looking china hutch cabinet, but it's a rather large piece, but for $235!? That's a steal! I am probably going to get the white wardrobe piece since I really need storage that can hide a "mess". Because let's face it, sometimes running a vintage shop just ain't always pretty.

Have to make a decision by Sunday, so we'll see which piece comes home with me! *wink*

Adorevintage Places to Go: Wertz Brothers Antiques in Santa Monica

I meant to share these photos from my quick trip to Wertz Brothers Antique Mall much sooner... but it's a bit of an understatement how far behind I am on "work"... in due time. One day at a time.



Wertz Brothers has one of the most well curated collection of antiques I've ever seen. At a very pretty penny. It's where I got my vintage Wolf dress form about a year and a half ago. Hmm... how times have changed. Anyhow... if you are in search of a vintage dress form, then Wertz Brothers is the place to go. They run about $450-$800. If you're lucky one of the booth vendors might be having a sale. It's how I got mine for a little under $390. *le sigh* But she was so worth it!


There are quite a number of vintage dress forms at this antique mall. Wold dress forms, PGM, a couple Acme forms. I'm still in search of a size 0 form, but no luck yet!


I can honestly spend HOURS here, but I mostly go there for vintage design and decorating ideas. I love the mix of industrial with shabby chic and French frou frou. I think that pretty much sums up the decorating phase I'm in right now. This weekend I think is the Irvine Flea market, so I'll probably head out on Sunday bright and early to see what wares I'll find.



Shop Information:
Wertz Brothers Antique Mall
1607 Lincoln Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA
(310) 452-1800
Mon - Sat: 10 to 6 • Sun: 12 - 6

What I Wore: Rainy Sunday Antiquing

This morning we ventured bright and early to the Long Beach Flea Market and unfortunately got rained heavily on. But, we did see a few of our booth regulars and was happy to run into the ever so sweet, Rose from The Tarnished Crown. She makes these lovely pillows with scented sachets of lavender. Mmmm.

So, since it poured down rain, we headed over to our favorite antique malls instead and met up with a friend traveling from Australia. The rain stopped for a bit and I got these little snaps of the garden area at Country Roads in Orange. It's such an inspiring antique mall and pretty close to a darling vintage shop, Elsewhere Vintage, where I've picked up a few vintage treasures. So, here we go, to the outfit snaps...


What I Wore:
Top: American Apparel over a vintage 1940s slip
Skirt: Vintage from Wasteland
Bag: Vintage
Trench Coat: Vintage
Straw Hat: Vintage, I love this hat. I lost it for awhile and it reappeared back in my life (it somehow ended up in the back of my storage closet!) and now we're best friends again!

I really love Sundays. (Saturday I'm almost always working on things for Adorevintage, then Monday it's back to the grind.) So, in Southern California, there is a flea market going on EVERY SINGLE SUNDAY of the month whether it be the Pasadena Rose Bowl (wayyy too expensive), Long Beach, Irvine, Fairfax Trading Post, or the Santa Monica Airport...so needless to say, I'm at a flea market every Sunday. I can drop money on antiques like that, but today I was good. Well, mostly because rainy days don't really make me feel like carrying around a bunch of stuff, AND I'm determined to stick to a budget. *grumble grumble*

So if I'm not at a flea market on a Sunday I'm perusing some random Antique Mall... well lately I've been going to them a lot to get decorating inspirations... a couple quick pictures from Wertz Brothers Antiques on my visit on Saturday. I'll have to share more pictures of this amazing antique mall in a separate post, it's my second favorite place to shop for industrial, shabby chic, and French inspired finds.



Photographs by moi. Feel free to share, but I would appreciate a link back ^_^.

Vintage Catalog Scans from Eaton's 1920s Fashion Catalog

My heart did go all a flutter upon seeing these most exquisite antique blouses in this vintage catalog scans from Eaton's 1920-1921. Don't you wish you could just wave a magic wand over these pages and the actual garments would show up in front of you. (Obviously you wish this too, LOL, who wouldn't?!)

{ click to view larger }


Image credits: Charmrmaine Zoe - Vintage Eaton Catalog Scans

Vintage Adventures at the Long Beach Antique Flea Market

The Long Beach Antique Market is one of my favorite hunting grounds for shabby chic, industrial, and vintage treasues for my apartment. I spied with my little eye (and my camera) a variety of antique medals with silk grosgrain ribbons that had the loveliest colors, I had to snap some photos! I did end up purchasing a few industrial bins and drawers and an industrial work bench for my eventual *crosses fingers* work studio.





















If you'd like to visit the Long Beach Antique Flea Market, it's every 3rd Sunday of the month, and if there is a 5th Sunday (which this month there is!) they do a SUPER SALE! I've never been to a Super Sale before so wondering if it's worth checking out... are there tons of vintage bargains to be found?! To check out when the next flea market day is in Long Beach, check out their Schedule