Replica 'Wizard of Oz' Ruby Slippers

Recently, one of our customers named Mark created a pair of replica Ruby Slippers from "The Wizard of Oz" using a pair of vintage 1930s size 6.5 pumps he purchased from Vintage Vixen.  Here's a "before" shot from our clever customer:

Beautiful shoes, but not ruby slippers... yet! 

The shoes had been previously used as prop shoes in the HBO series "Mildred Pierce" starring Kate Winslet.  Mark created a hand sewn overlay for the shoes made of thousands of vintage Belgian wine metallic sequins, and crafted bows made with vintage ruby rhinestone montees, bugle beads and ruby jewel stones. He lined the shoes with vintage kid leather.  It took Mark almost 5 months to create these replica shoes. 

And voila!  There's no place like home... and nothing more fabulous than these iconic shoes.

You can see a video of Mark's creation at YouTube under "replica ruby slippers".  Dorothy would be proud!

Vintage Fashion Photo Shoot

 Here at VintageVixen.com we plan photo shoots periodically for our front-page photo and ambient images.  We just wrapped one up and wanted to share some of the fun behind the scenes!

Our talented model Elaina came by the office and tried out dozens of new arrivals.  She was so easy to fit, we had too much to choose from!

We decided on accessories, shoes and locations... Then before we know it, shoot day's arrived!  Elaina rocked hair and make-up, while Robin Hagan and her assistant arrived on-site for the first shots.

Strike a pose!  This is a hot 1980s dress that looks like today's off-the-rack.  The original is always better!

Here's a surprise location around the corner from an abandoned building.  Terrific texture and good color composition with our fabulous blonde as the focus.

Then it's on to the beach, where the Head Vixen's little one wanted the spotlight for awhile.  Thankfully storm clouds passed soon after.

On to a date-night dress with a city scape in the background.  We've been going for hours, but both photographers and model charge ahead!

One more change and we finish the beach location with a gorgeous vintage Lillie Rubin design in ombre` chiffon.  Thanks to our hard-working team for a day well spent.  And watch for the finished photos as they appear at Vintage Vixen!

Vintage Giorgio Sant Angelo Original Art

 

Giorgio Sant Angelo's design studio created these original watercolors likely in the early 1980s. 

The angular faces are animalistic, echoing the triangular taper of that unmistakeably 80s silhouette.

Giorgio originally began as a stylist for Vogue, when Diana Vreeland suggested he had an eye for design.  He got his start as a designer with "those beautiful Twiggy covers", according to the sketches' owner.

Sant Angelo went on to become an "American Pierre Cardin", influencing the likes of Gianni Versace and Roberto Cavalli. 

For original fashion by these designers, check our current offerings of Sant Angelo - Cardin - Versace and other notable vintage designers.

Vintage Perry Ellis: 1979 & 1980

 More prints from a friend's collection of vintage Perry Ellis original watercolors.
Collections are Summer 1979 and a 1980 fashion collection titled "Party and Parting" with swatches intact.

Summer 1979.  Cursive in lower right reads "Cotton - Poplin Windbreak -
Macbeth Cotton Knit Strip - Lower Brief(s) Cut - Beach... Play."

1980.  Upper left cursive reads "French Angora sleeveless capelet crew -w- Silk taffeta tucked yoke riding skirt.
Wool Shetland cable-sleeved crew - evening white -w- dark garnet velveteen golfers.
Black french angora strapless cable front peplum -w- plaid silk taffeta riding skirt.

 

 

 

1980.  French Angora 3/4-sleeve sweater with Striped Tissue Taffeta Fullest Skirt.

"Party and Parting" detail.

Vintage Perry Ellis ca. 1979

 I was talking to a friend the other day on the phone, and he mentioned he had these original fashion watercolors from Perry Ellis years ago.  "What years, and when can I see them?" were my first questions.  And here's the first of the prints.

 In the close-fitting skullcaps and bandeau straps there's the spirit of an American flapper, like something Chanel would have sketched up in the late 1970s, had she seen fit by then to expose the knee.

Effortless, sporty elegance circa 1979.  We see vintage clothes by Perry's peers, including Ralph Lauren and Bill Blass of the same time period.  We don't see Perry Ellis much.  Perhaps that's because these well-made resort clothes were well-loved and didn't make it to the next generation so often.  In these prints, we can certainly see the chic that would make this so.