Vintage in the News

From remakes of old movies to books encouraging boys to get their faces out of their video games and their butts outside to build go-karts and treehouses to fashion runways to retro modern furniture design to kitchenware emulating design of the past, Vintage is a growing trend being embraced from here to Paris and beyond.

The Independent Saturday Magazine UK writer John Walsh takes a stab at explaining the "Retro Explosion". His article sets the stage for a number of "retro delights" you can click your way through. Though his suppositions may make sense in some regard there is always just this: A: They don't make things the way they used to. B: There was a certain vibrancy in mid-century design we haven't seen since; enduring style (like that little black dress in the back of your closet that will never be out of style), lickable colors and endearing futuristic qualities bordering on cartoonish. And 3: Vintage will always be vogue. Or so says I.

Take me there!

The Times Leader, a Pennsylvania paper, features an article entitled "Costume Jewelry Makes a Comeback" - no explanation neccessary - just....

Take me there!

And then there is an emerging trend I positively love and cannot wait to feature in the store... Interior design trends often follow the fashion industry. What's the hot trend in fashion this year? Look for it later in the year in interior design and home decor. Patent leather upholstery? Yeah, baby! I simply cannot wait to pick just the right piece for this. What a fab idea! Have a boo at the article in the WCF Courier entitled "Time to Shine".

Take me there!

Traditions of Yore

Today we are gifted with an extra day. Exactly how much of a gift it is depends, I suppose, on the kind of day you're having. It is Leap Year Day. In eras past it might have been anticipated with terror by those Peter Pan type fellows who suffered from terminal bachelorhood.


Leap Year Day has long been viewed as the one day of the year it is socially acceptable for a woman to propose marriage to a man.

There is no record as to exactly how and when this tradition started though it is a fairly wide held belief that it began as early as the 5th century in Ireland. According to legend St. Bridget, modern feminista that she was, complained to St. Patrick that women had to wait and wait and wait for a fellow to propose to her. St. Patrick, likely with a roll of his eyes, then declared that those yearning females could propose on this one day of the year.

Much has changed over time. Women are free to propose to their men at any time of the year without fear of the backlash of disdain and social ostracism. Well, from everyone else except their committment-phobe guy. We can also vote now!

As depicted in postcards and greeting cards popular in the early 1900's, a few pictures of which we found online for your amusement, artists obviously took great pleasure in depicting this day as one to be feared by bachelors. The women were often portrayed as comical and desperate looking characters with exaggerated features. The men were portrayed as trembling creatures or totally unsuspecting as they were about to fall victim to one of the many creative traps set by spinsters.

I haven't come across these cards anywhere in my travels but they can be considered a whimsical collectible. Not of great value but an interesting conversation piece.

Chichi Site of the Day

This is a site we found some time ago. We've shared it with everyone we know, and now that we have a blog we will share it with you.

If you are looking for a one of a kind gift for someone special, or for yourself, head over to Etsy.com. Etsy is a community of artistically and craftily inclined people from around the globe who offer their wares for sale. There is an absolutely amazing selection of goods to choose from ranging from the most adorable ugly dolls to original art to journals to jewellery. The selection is amazing, almost to the point of overwhelming, and we find we can literally spend hours there browsing the selection. There are a number of different search methods which enriches the experience all that much more - you can search by color, by geographical location, by seller, by catagory, by putting in your own search terms or by using the 'time machine'. All in all it is always a pleasure to visit Etsy!

Items from some of my favourite sellers:











Take me there!