Happy Holidays! oxo Ladybug
Friday, December 20, 2013
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
I am SO beyond thrilled that Ladybug Vintage is featured today in the #11 issue of Gwyneth Paltrow's blog, goop!
You can check it out here: http://www.goop.com/journal/go/256/goop-mag-11
or see below. Thank you, goop! oxox Ladybug
goop mag #11
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The FashionArchive |
Ladybug Vintage Stuart Mesires' Ladybug Vintage is Chicago's best vintage business. Without a brick and mortar store of her own, she sells at several boutiques (including space519 for her jewelry finds) and is available by appointment only. When you’re lucky enough to book some time with her, you will find a trove of bright (she loves color) pieces from Schiaparelli to Lilly Pulitzer. Her real passion, however, is jewelry. Bright, playful, statement pieces from Ciner, Yves Saint Laurent and Kenneth Jay Lane at prices that are fair to say the least. Stuart's Picks:
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80's Ciner
"Perfect for this fall’s trend for long chains and coin jewelry. The length makes it very versatile and it can be worn alone or layered with other necklaces."
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1972 Napier "Fox in the Forest"
"I love not only that it is fall-themed but that it is so whimsical and unique. It was designed by Eugene Bertolli for Napier in 1972 as part of their ‘Endangered Species Series’ – this is a Grey Fox."
1967/68 Juliana
"This necklace (and matching bracelet) is great for fall not only because of the trend for colored gemstones but because it's the perfect complement to fall’s midcentury fashion trend: nipped-waist coats, skirt-suits and full skirts."
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Friday, September 27, 2013
The Mecca - Barbara Berger's Collection of Fashion Jewelry
Two weekends ago I was in Manhattan and finally had the chance to go to the exhibit of Barbara Berger's fashion jewelry collection at the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD). The exhibit opened this past June and I have been dying to get there. It did not disappoint! It was like arriving at Mecca. Everywhere you look there are AH-mazing one-of-a-kind costume jewelry pieces - 450 to be exact out of Berger's collection of over 4,000.
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| Vintage Chanel Necklaces by Maison Gripoix |
The pieces were produced from the 1920s until today and include examples from Balenciaga, Valentino, Chanel, Dior, Miriam Haskell, Yves Saint Laurent, and many other one-of-a-kind runway pieces.
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| Lobster brooch by Iradj Moini |
It is interesting that Berger has decided to collect costume jewelry as she is the daughter of a New York diamond dealer and the wife of a Mexican fine-jewelry designer.
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| Chanel Cruciform Brooch 1990 |
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| Miriam Haskell c. 1950 |
Berger does appreciate fine jewelry, "But in fine jewelry, you're limited," she said. "The most fabulous, extravagant, the very baroque is fashion jewelry."
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| Toucan Brooch by Isabel Canovas mid 1980s |
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| Lanvin by Roger Scemama c. 1950 |
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| Coppola e Toppo |
In a Wall Street Journal article written by Sara Clemence, Berger says that she spends 1/3 of her year searching for pieces for her collection. "When I travel, my first stop is always the market," she said. "There's always a march aux puces in every city in the world."
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| Chanel Bracelet by Maison Gripoix 1993 |
The exhibition runs until January 20, 2014. If you have the opportunity, run don't walk to get there!
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| Chanel Necklace 1983 |
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| Cat earrings by Niki de Saint Phalle, 1989 |
There is also a fabulous book that accompanies the exhibition called, Fashion Jewelry: The Collection of Barbara Berger published by Assouline.
Friday, August 9, 2013
Farewell to Alex Colville
I had never heard of the Canadian artist, Alex Colville until I went to the National Gallery of Canada a few days ago. There I was struck by his 1965 painting, To Prince Edward Island.
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| Alex Colville, To Prince Edward Island 1965 |
I immediately wanted to know who had painted it and when. I loved the stylized way in which it was realized and the way that the viewer is drawn into becoming part of the scene. I couldn’t believe that I had never heard of Colville before. Upon doing a little research, I was surprised to learn that he had died only a few weeks before on July 16, 2013.
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| Alex Colville On a River 1996 |
Colville was born in 1920 in Toronto Canada. At the age of nine he moved with his family to Nova Scotia, Canada where he would live for the rest of his life. Colville graduated with a degree in fine art in 1942 from Mount Allison University. In 1944 Colville was deployed to Europe as a war artist for the Canadian Infantry. In 1946 Colville returned to his alma mater where he would teach until 1963 when he felt secure enough to earn a living solely from painting.
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| Alex Colville Child & Dog 1952 |
Colville's paintings have a sort of a Hopper-esque quality to them. He painted every-day scenes of people but there is a loneliness to them - a sense of isolation.
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| Alex Colville Woman on a Ramp 2007 |
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| Alex Colville |
Colville's paintings can be found in many collections throughout the world including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, The Georges Pompidou Center in Paris, The Musee National D'Art Moderne in Paris, the National Gallery in Berlin, and the Museum der Moderner Kunst in Vienna.
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| Alex Colville, Family & Rainstorm 1955 |
I love the painting above titled Family & Rainstorm. It seems appropriate as summer starts to draw to a close. Farewell to Summer and farewell to Alex Colville.
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Farewell to Esther Williams
Esther Williams, the legendary synchronized swimmer died in her sleep at age 91 on June 6.
She was best know for her stylized "aqua-musicals" in the 1940s and 1950s - a style that was invented just for Williams.
By age 16 Williams had already won three major swimming championships. She planned to swim in the 1940 Olympics but they were cancelled due to the outbreak of World War II.
Williams was discovered by an MGM scout in 1941 and went on to sign a contract with the studio and to make 30 films with them - most of which featured extensive synchronized swim scenes.
Williams was perhaps best know for her 1952 film, "Million Dollar Mermaid". Million Dollar Mermaid became her nickname and was was the title of her 1999 autobiography.
When Williams first started making "aqua-musicals" the MGM studio costume department had very little experience making bathing suits. Stretchy lycra fabrics had not been invented yet and oftentimes wool was used in making the suits. They were so heavy that once Williams put on one of the studio designed suits and quickly sank to the bottom of the pool. Williams began to collaborate in designing the bathing suits with the MGM costume department. In 1948 Cole of California asked if Williams would endorse one of their new bathing suits that was made out if a revolutionary fabric called lastex. This new fabric made it so that zippers were no longer needed, it had a better fit, and was easier to navigate in water. Williams had to fight with MGM but was eventually allowed to endorse Cole's suit. At the time celebrity endorsements were unheard of and she became one of the first celebrities to endorse a brand.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Vintage at the 2013 CFDA Awards
The 2013 CFDA awards were last night and as usual I am always looking for the vintage dresses. This year I was not disappointed.
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| Tory Burch |
I loved Tory Burch's vintage Chanel dress! The large leaf print was amazing and the purple colors of the dress looked beautiful on her.
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| Elizabeth and Mary-Kate Olsen |
Mary-Kate Olsen also wore vintage. It was at the other end of the spectrum from Tory's dress but no less amazing. Her dress was a vintage black, pleated Issey Miyake dress from the 1980s.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Ladybug Vintage at space519!
Great news! It just got easier to find Ladybug Vintage. Ladybug Vintage jewelry is now available at space519 - located at 900 N. Michigan Avenue on the 5th floor.
space519 is a unique boutique selling an assortment of hard to find women’s and men’s apparel and accessories, apothecary, books, music, furniture and home items.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Friday, May 3, 2013
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Gray's Lane Spring issue
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| Gray's Lane Magazine cover photographed by Rachel McGinn. |
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| John Robshaw textiles photographed by Rachel McGinn. |
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| Ladybug Vintage advertisement from Spring issue of Gray's Lane Magazine photographed by Rachel McGinn. |
Friday, March 22, 2013
S/S 2013 Vintage Inspired Statement Jewelry
I can't get enough of the vintage inspired statement jewelry being shown for Spring/Summer 2013.
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| Gucci Spring/Summer 2013 |
The jewelry at Gucci looks very much like the pieces created in the 1940s and 1950s by Miriam Haskell and Tony Duquette.
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| Gucci Spring/Summer 2013 |
And I love the long forgotten trend of the necklace matching the earrings!
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| Gucci Spring/Summer 2013 |
At Dolce & Gabbana, it's all about statement earrings.
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| Dolce & Gabbana Spring/Summer 2013 |
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| Dolce & Gabbana Spring/Summer 2013 |
They seem to be inspired by the look of Carmen Miranda in the 1940s.
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| Carmen Miranda 1940's |
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
April Trunk Show
Please join Ladybug Vintage for a fun Spring-time accessories show at Julie Watson Style on April 11th and April 12th.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Ebony Fashion Fair at Chicago History Museum
Run, don't walk to see Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair at the Chicago History Museum. The exhibit opens today and showcases just a portion of Ebony Magazine's massive collection of breathtaking vintage couture clothing. The pieces were collected by Eunice Johnson from 1956 until 2006. The collection is unique in that it not only spans a wide range of decades but also designers. Below, I have included photos of some of my favorite pieces.
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| Emanuel Ungaro (France) Fall/Winter 1971-72 |
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| Erreuno (Italy) Fall/Winter 2002 - 03 |
I love the matching hat and boots!
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| Erruno (Italy) Fall/Winter 2002 - 03 |
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| Laura Biagiotto (Italy) Fall/Winter 2006 - 07 |
Again, matching boots but this time in fur!
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| Laura Biagiotto (Italy) Fall/Winter 2006 - 07 |
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| Emilio Pucci Spring/Summer 1988 |
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| Jean Patou (France) Fall/Winter 1986 - 87 |
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| Emanuel Ungaro (France) Fall/Winter 1971 -72 |
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| Givenchy (France) Spring/Summer 1974 |
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| Oscar de la Renta Fall/Winter 2002 - 03 |
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| Oscar de la Renta Fall/Winter 2002 - 03 |
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