Daily Inspiration: Vintage Children's Book Illustrations

I simply adore vintage children's book illustrations! Some of the color combinations and mix of patterns are so inspiring for fashion. I particularly loved the colors in the top two illustrations and I love the Renaissance feel the "Swan Lake" illustrations have on the bottom.

Image credits: 1.} Every Child's Story book, 1959 scanned by Corduroy Cat, 2.} John Gee by Shelece, 3.} & 4.} "Swan Lake", Prague 1970 illustrated by Ludmila Jiřincová scanned in by josefskrhola

Summer in August: Fashion Illustrations & Patterns from the 1930s

Vintage 1930s dresses and frocks made from silk crêpe fabrics in solid and dainty prints. I especially loved the shirtwaist dress with large sleeves (model 8388) and strangely enough I have those shoes (not from the 30s, but from Neiman Marcus clearance center!)

Image credits: Sue Tarr on Flickr, 1930's Fashion Set

10 Image of Inspirations: I Believe in Fairy Tales

Once upon a time...
in a land far away,
where the clouds never lift,
and the sun is never seen...

There lived a beautiful young princess.

Who escaped into the thick forest
to find adventure and love








Image Credits:
1.} Castle in the Mist 2.} And there the beauty laid 3.} Running, running 4.} The Woodlands Procession 5.} There he is... 6.} The sea maiden upon the castle steps 7.} Journey 8.} Taming of the beast 9.} The recollections of a wandering princess 10.} It was all just a rose petal dream

Je t'aime: Vintage illustrations from the 1940s and 1950s Depicting Amour

I simply adore vintage illustrations depicting love and happy couples (in advertisements mostly). They are a little cheesy, but so very romantic. Don't deny it, you know you've fantasized about being swept off your feet (wearing a gorgeous vintage dress, of course!) and being kissed as if you were in a TCM movie.



A snippet from the poem "Camomile Tea"
"We might be fifty, we might be five,
So snug, so compact, so wise are we!
Under the kitchen-table leg
My knee is pressing against his knee."
- Katherine Mansfield

Antique Illustrations & Botanical Prints from le Petit Poulailler

I've always loved antique illustrations and botanical prints as artwork in people's homes. I can't quite put my finger on it why at the moment, but if you like this type of work you probably feel the same as I do. There's a bit of magic about them, don't you think?

You can get these vintage botanical pages from my favorite online source for vintage ephemera papers le Petit Poulailler.

A vintage Christmas card for the servicemen...

I love this vintage holiday card, so cute! I especially love the little lip kisses on the side. Someone should remake these so we can give them to our significant others.



Image sources: Paula Wirth

Vintage Inspirations: Mirror Mirror on the Wall...

A lovely set of inspirations with just a hint of vanity...





Sources: 1.] Norma Talmade, 2.] Unknown, 3.] Gaby Deslys circa 1919 4.] You're the fairest 5.] Room With A View 6.] False Scent 7.] Lobster & Swan

Saturday Vintage Inspiration: Marie Antoinette

Inspirations from Marie Antoinette... hope all of you had a lovely Saturday!



Tid Bits: 1. Marie Antoinette never actually said "Let them eat cake", 2. On the day of her death Marie Antoinette wore purple mules, 3. Marie Antoinette was the 15th child out of 16, 4. 216 years and 1 day ago Marie Antoinette was guillotined (Oct 16th, 1793)