This is one of two incredible 'Made to Order' customs bags from the 1930s-1940s period. Each is amazing and what is even more special about them is that both bear the label John-Frederick. The John part of the label is John Harberger who later became famously known as the milliner behind Mr. John, when he launched that label in 1948. The Frederick part of the label was Frederick Hirst, another famous milliner. John and Frederick formed a partnership in 1929. Seeing a hand bag come out of that partnership is very rare. Each of the bags, though similar, are wonderfully unique.

This one presents with more of the black taking predominance. It has an ivory satin lining and one open and one zipped pocket inside. The exterior is covered in thick, jagged looking rows of gold, black and clear sequins. You can instantly see that these are older, early and original sequins that were used. I believe them to be cellulose acetate sequins, developed by Kodak in the 1930s. These were painted and reflected light wonderfully but could crack under the right circumstances. Fortunately, all of the ones on this bag seem intact and in great condition. They all seem present and there is just the normal patina to some of their painted surfaces here and there that you would expect to see on a piece this age. Thousands of these are worked though cotton thread. These have then been had attached to the inner satin part of the bag. The handle is very wide and set on a twist. There is a zipper that runs across the top with a black ribbon pull. It is remarkable and a rare piece of history from this time period. Excellent condition

Measures 9.5" high and x 11" wide. The hand is approx 3.5" wide and sits above the bag making it 13" high in total laying flat, when you hold it it drops down a touch as you can see in the photos and is approx 14" long

Item#B146

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

This might be one of the most incredible vintage hats I have ever had in the shop. This is by Christian Dior and it is absolutely wonderful and so very unique. The base is a fine ivory felted wool and the crown of the hat is high and rounded. It  then curves softly down to a small brim. Over this is a wide banding of a gold metallic mesh fabric that curves around the base of the crown. Attached to that are hundreds of hand placed white feathers. Each of these feathers has been hand dipped in gold at their edges and then they have been carefully placed atop each other. The have all been placed in the same direction so that as the thickness of them is built up they softly curl over each other. Just the work to hand dip and then select the feathers based on the right size and shape would have taken hours and hours. The hat is soft but with a shaped crown and not so soft that it is floppy. It feels very chic and modern and is a remarkable example of the work that Dior was doing in this time period. Excellent condition

A wide taupe grosgrain ribbon in the interior. 21.5" inner circumference

Item# A371

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

This is one of two incredible 'Made to Order' customs bags from the 1930s-1940s period. Each is amazing and what is even more special about them is that both bear the label John-Frederick. The John part of the label is John Harberger who later became famously known as the milliner behind Mr. John, when he launched that label in 1948. The Frederick part of the label was Frederick Hirst, another famous milliner. John and Frederick formed a partnership in 1929. Seeing a hand bag come out of that partnership is very rare. Each of the bags, though similar, are wonderfully unique.

This one presents with more of the gold taking predominance. It has a black satin lining and one open and one zipped pocket inside. The exterior is covered in thick, twisted  rows of gold and silver sequins. You can instantly see that these are older, early and original sequins that were used. I believe them to be cellulose acetate sequins, developed by Kodak in the 1930s. These were painted and reflected light wonderfully but could crack under the right circumstances. Fortunately, all of the ones on this bag seem intact and in great condition. They all seem present and there is just the normal patina to some of their painted surfaces here and there that you would expect to see on a piece this age. Thousands of these are worked though cotton thread. These have then been had attached to a black knit base over the inner bag. The handle is very wide and set on a slight twist. There is a zipper that runs across the top with a yarn pull. It is remarkable and a rare piece of history from this time period. Excellent condition

Measures 9.5" high and x 12" wide. The hand is approx 3" wide and sits above the bag making it 13" high in total laying flat, when you hold it it drops down a touch as you can see in the photos and is approx 16" long

Item#B145

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

I love this little hat by Christian Dior. It is just wonderfully made and so unique. I have seen a couple of version of this over the years in duller colors - a taupe and a olive green, but this is the only one I have come across in this wonderful red color. The brim is wide and bold with a touch a a slant that you can play with once it is on. I love the soft, 'fuzzy' chenille felt choice of fabric that gives it a fur feel. It has a wonderful patchwork of ribbons hand placed around the crown and onto the brim. The band is a pale dusty rose grosgrain ribbon that extend out the back into two ties that are each finished with the same ribbon. It is then top stitched over the ribbons all the way around the crown and brim. The hat is soft but with a shaped crown and not so soft that it is floppy. It feels very on point and modern. Excellent condition

Interior matched red grosgrain ribbon. 21" inner circumference

Item# A370

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

It was Norman Norell who actually e ncouraged a young Frank Clive to become a milliner and he took to it like a charm. He had his own label but also designed many hats for various designers like Oscar de la Renta and Pauline Trigere. He also did lines for departments stores and did custom pieces as well. In 1985, Women's Wear Daily, in their '75 Years of Fashion' issue, cited Mr. Olive as one of the influential designers of the century.

This is a lovely little hat. It is more of a cap really and made of a dusty colored purple wool felt. It is meant to sit just to the side and pop slightly off the head. Set onto this is an amazing long tassel that is made out of an ultra suede dyed to match. This is set in a knot where it is attached to the hat and then dangles down one side in a full 16" long cascade. Excellent condition with a small note below

Inner pink grosgrain ribbon. There is a slight fading to the felt that you can see in the photos. 22 3/4" circumference

Item# A369

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

This is a gorgeous hat that I believe to be from the 1997 season. It is made of a felted wool in a bright and vivid purple shade that is quite lovely. It has a high crown that is trimmed by a wide black band. The band combines a black suede and a black patent leather that is intricately braided. The brim is wide and is done with a slight downwards slope that perfectly frames the face. The shape and color give it a bit of drama and it is the perfect pop of color to add to your wardrobe. Excellent condition

Interior purple grosgrain band. Tagged a size 57 and has a hand written tag that says A970.

Item# A368

Reference Photo: Cherie, Owner of Shrimpton Couture. (Cherie is also wearing a 1970s YSL Cape - click here to shop)

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

This exception and huge Yves Saint Laurent silk scarf from the late 1970s, early 1980s is wonderful. I love the bright fuchsia pink of it and the quality of the fabric is very high. This fabric choice allows the colors to be fully saturated so the scarf is exceptionally bright and vibrant. This one mixes a bright pink with a beautiful floral design. This is then surrounded by a green and deep purple border. I love the hand rolled edging to the scarf that adds a pretty and feminine finish. It is made of a fine silk and cotton mix that is extremely light and pliable - it is the same weight and feel as a fine Hermes piece. It is super light weight despite its size. This will allow you to wear it for many purposes, as a scarf, a shawl, a sarong, a head wrap, or anything else you can dream up style wise.

The YSL logo is screened directly onto the silk and the edges are hand rolled. It is freshly cleaned and it looks to have been worn very little if at all.

Measures 54" x 53"

Item# A366

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

This lovely little Christian Dior scarf is from the late 1970s, early 1980s, and it is very pretty. I love the mix of the stark black with that brilliant blue and the way the two colors are divided down the center. This give you a lovely effect once it is tied. It is made of a double layer of fine silk chiffon that has a slight texture to it. This fabric choice makes it extremely light and pliable so that you can easily tie it as you wish. Excellent condition

Christian Dior tag as shown. It is freshly cleaned and it looks to have been worn very little if at all.

Measures 45.5" x 17.5"

Item# A365

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

This exception and huge Yves Saint Laurent silk scarf from the late 1970s, early 1980s, is wonderful. I love the bright vibrant green of it and the quality of the fabric is very high. This fabric choice allows the colors to be fully saturated so the scarf is exceptionally bright and vibrant. This one mixes a bright green with a beautiful floral design. This is then surrounded by a blue and purple border. I love the hand rolled edging to the scarf that adds a pretty and feminine finish. It is made of a fine silk and cotton mix that is extremely light and pliable - it is the same weight and feel as a fine Hermes piece. It is super light weight despite its size. This will allow you to wear it for many purposes, as a scarf, a shawl, a sarong, a head wrap, or anything else you can dream up style wise.

The YSL logo is screened directly onto the silk and the edges are hand rolled. It is freshly cleaned and it looks to have been worn very little if at all.

Measures 54" x 53"

Item# A364

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

Gorgeous and absolutely huge, this Yves Saint Laurent plaid scarf from the late 1970s, early 1980s is a mix of a deep and bright reds with deep blues that are overlaid with shots of metallic blue, red and gold thread. The plaid is surrounded by an intricate paisley printed double border that is also overlaid with this same gold and blue metallic highlights and then the center goes back to the red plaid. The addition of the metallic thread gives the entire scarf a subtle shine that is gorgeous in real life. It is made of a fine silk and wool mix that is extremely light and pliable - it is the same weight and feel as a fine Hermes piece. Hand fringed edges. It is super light weight despite its size. This will allow you to wear it for many purposes, as a scarf, a shawl, a sarong, a head wrap, or anything else you can dream up style wise.

The YSL logo is screened directly onto the fabric and it is tagged. It is freshly cleaned and it looks to have been worn very little if at all.

Measures 54" x 54"

Item# A363

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

Gorgeous and absolutely huge, this Yves Saint Laurent plaid scarf from the late 1970s, early 1980s is a mix of a red and yellow that is overlaid with shots of metallic red and gold thread. The plaid is mixed with an intricate paisley printed inner border that is also overlaid with this same gold and blue metallic highlights and then the center goes back to the yellow plaid. The addition of the metallic thread gives the entire scarf a subtle shine that is gorgeous in real life. It is made of a fine silk and wool mix that is extremely light and pliable - it is the same weight and feel as a fine Hermes piece. Hand fringed edges. It is super light weight despite its size. This will allow you to wear it for many purposes, as a scarf, a shawl, a sarong, a head wrap, or anything else you can dream up style wise.

The YSL logo is screened directly onto the fabric and it is tagged. It is freshly cleaned and it looks to have been worn very little if at all.

Measures 53" x 54"

Item# A361

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

This is a gorgeous and absolutely huge Yves Saint Laurent silk scarf from the late 1970s, early 1980s that mixes a pretty and bright red rose design on an ivory silk. The print also has pops of green and taupe to highlight the design. I love the fine fringe edging to the scarf that adds a pretty and feminine finish. It is made of a fine silk that is extremely light and pliable - it is the same weight and feel as a fine Hermes piece. It is super light weight despite its size. This will allow you to wear it for many purposes, as a scarf, a shawl, a sarong, a head wrap, or anything else you can dream up style wise.

The YSL logo is screened directly onto the silk. There is one small pinhead mark and a small stain. It has been priced slightly less then its counterparts as a result.  Please review the two photos after the photo of the label. It is freshly cleaned and it looks to have been worn very little if at all other then the two areas noted.

Measures 53" x 53"

Item# A360

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

This fabulous Yves Saint Laurent scarf from the late 1970s, early 1980s is huge. The print is a beautiful mix of greens and reds done in an elaborate print that is inlaid around the edge and leaves the innermost part of the scarf a solid white cotton. It is made of a fine cotton silk mix that is extremely light and pliable - it is the same weight and feel as a fine Hermes piece and has a touch of transparency to it. The edges are amazing with a white, looped embroidered lace that is placed all the way around the square. It is super light weight despite its size. This will allow you to wear it for many purposes, as a scarf, a shawl, a sarong, a head wrap, or anything else you can dream up style wise.

The YSL logo is screened directly onto the fabric. It is freshly cleaned and it looks to have been worn very little if at all.

Measures 55" x 55"

Item# A359

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

This huge Yves Saint Laurent silk scarf from the late 1970s, early 1980s is gorgeous. I love the bright fuchsia pink of it and the quality of the silk is very fine. This one mixes a bright pink floral design on a backdrop of an ivory so that the pink pops. I love the hand rolled edging to the scarf that adds a pretty and feminine finish. It is made of a fine silk that is extremely light and pliable - it is the same weight and feel as a fine Hermes piece. It is super light weight despite its size. This will allow you to wear it for many purposes, as a scarf, a shawl, a sarong, a head wrap, or anything else you can dream up style wise.

The YSL logo is screened directly onto the silk and the edges are hand rolled.. It is freshly cleaned and it looks to have been worn very little if at all.

Measures 55" x 55"

Item# A358

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

This belt is from the 1974 season and has the correct D stamp within a circle for that year. This is a classic and  very chic Hermes belt. It is made of a deep brown crocodile leather and has the signature H buckle. The skin is still very supple, soft and shows no signs of dryness or cracks. The buckle is a gold metal and these would have been gold plated during this time period. To close the belt it just hooks into please under the buckle. Belts from this time period are quite rare and this one is in excellent condition with just a hint of natural patina to the hardware and leather. This just adds to its vintage appeal. Excellent condition

The belt is just under 32" from end to end x 75" wide. The buckle is 1.5" x 1". The belt is currently set to fit a about a 28" waist and can be adjusted up or down accordingly. There is only one hole to hook the buckle into and the size is all done by adjusting the other end. All appropriate stamps and blind marks. Authentic and appears to have been worn very little. There is a bit of a bend to the leather that is turned under the buckle from being adjusted to different lengths over the years but the leather is not cracked.

Item# A351

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

This belt would be from the Marc Bohan days of the Dior atelier. I love the wideness of it and how this allows you to really get a cinched in look if you wish. The belt is made of a slightly textured white leather with a simple slip buckle at the front that makes it super easy to adjust in size. Attached to the belt all the way around are 3D, raised round gold medallions that have an intricate design etched onto each of them. It looks to have been worn very little and has only a light patina to it from natural aging and minimal use. Excellent condition

33.5" x 2.5" and the buckle is 2.25" across. It will accommodate up to about 31" and if the buckle is perfectly centered between the medallions it is a 27" waist. Era appropriate logo stamp.

Item# A350

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

This is a very pretty belt from the early 1980s by Emanuel Ungaro. The belt is a deep brown in color made from what looks to be alligator. set between a top and bottom row of gold metallic top stitching with a braided edge to finish. The buckle is gorgeous. It is made out of a metal that has with an open work floral design on either side. It hooks to close in the center of these and then flows across your front like a pretty piece of jewellery. It looks to have been worn very little if at all.

28.25" x 1.75" and the buckle is 4.75" across once hooked. There is some leather folded back under each side of the buckle - just under 3" on either side of you needed to adjust it (see provided photo). Era appropriate logo stamp.

Item# A349

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

Yves repeated various renditions of this hat throughout his collections during the 1980s. A version of this same hat has also just been re-issued by Saint Laurent, a testimony to the enduring impact of this design. This is one of the originals and is wonderful. It is made of an extremely fine braided straw with a wide black, silk grosgrain ribbon wrapped around the brim. The hat is a miniaturized version of the boater and meant to sit high on the head to the side or pushed forward. It has its original elastic that you can wear under the chin or tucked around the back of the head depending on how you angle the hat. It is very chic and collectible. Excellent condition

21" circumference but meant to fit high on the head so will fit any head size. 2" high

Item# A340

Reference Photos: (1) YSL 1982 Haute Couture.  /  (2) YSL 1983 Haute Couture.  /  (3) YSL F/W 1987 Haute Couture.

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

This Chanel hat is amazing and I was very pleased to find a photo of Stella tenant wearing a version of it from the Fall 1996 collection. The hat is made to sit lightly on the top of the head. You can play with which direction you wish the feathers to face. It can literally be worn with the feathers at the front, either side, or at the back, This gives it so much versatility and the feel of it completely changes depends on how you have it sit on the head. It has an attached comb that holds it in place and then the glossy black feathers rise up from there for a very Haute Couture feel. It is an instant shot of high glamour to any outfit and a very collectible piece of Chanel. Excellent condition

Secures to the head with a comb. The base of a black felt wool and the feathers are still glossy and strong with no shedding. It will fit any size head. Each side of the triangle shape measures about 8" long.

Item# A339

Reference Photo: Stella Tennant by Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel F/W 1996.

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

This is the second collection of headpieces for Shrimpton Couture, designed and made by hand by the talented Lucia Echavarría of the Magnetic Midnight label. Both this collection and the first that we did together draws its inspiration from some of the most famous headpieces in fashion’s history. Each collection, along with each individual headpiece, is exclusive to Shrimpton Couture.

This collection has been named Egyptomania and Lucia drew her inspiration from ancient Egyptian art and its presence in our cultural imagination. Egyptomania was a term used for the fascination with all things Egyptian in the nineteenth century, a fascination that spread to architecture, art and literature. The movement culminated in the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922; after which, Egyptian motifs pervaded modern culture, art and fashion, becoming an integral part of the language of Art Deco. Cleopatra, its most famous queen, and her countless portrayals in art, literature and film throughout history, equally embodies this fascination with a magnificent past.

Each of the twelve pieces in the collection plays tribute to the dialogue between old and new in a palette combining rich black and gold velvet with gold sequins, mirrors and beads with hints of turquoise, coral and blue. Each is a one of a kind, made by hand masterpiece that feels modern yet evocative and like an incredible vintage find that is both timeless and unique.

The Sphinx headpiece features stacked wood and metal beads and a black velvet base. This piece is entirely handmade and a one off. As a result it may have slight imperfections, which only add to the uniqueness of the piece. To clean any mirrored surfaces, please gently and carefully wipe with a soft cotton cloth moistened with alcohol. In order to protect this piece, please store it in the hard-sided box that it will ship in.

Measures 9" total height from bottom of band to the top x 9" total width. The height from the center of the band to the top is 2.75". The size of the band can be adjusted to fit any size.

Item #MM2-4

This is the second collection of headpieces for Shrimpton Couture, designed and made by hand by the talented Lucia Echavarría of the Magnetic Midnight label. Both this collection and the first that we did together draws its inspiration from some of the most famous headpieces in fashion’s history. Each collection, along with each individual headpiece, is exclusive to Shrimpton Couture.

This collection has been named Egyptomania and Lucia drew her inspiration from ancient Egyptian art and its presence in our cultural imagination. Egyptomania was a term used for the fascination with all things Egyptian in the nineteenth century, a fascination that spread to architecture, art and literature. The movement culminated in the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922; after which, Egyptian motifs pervaded modern culture, art and fashion, becoming an integral part of the language of Art Deco. Cleopatra, its most famous queen, and her countless portrayals in art, literature and film throughout history, equally embodies this fascination with a magnificent past.

Each of the twelve pieces in the collection plays tribute to the dialogue between old and new in a palette combining rich black and gold velvet with gold sequins, mirrors and beads with hints of turquoise, coral and blue. Each is a one of a kind, made by hand masterpiece that feels modern yet evocative and like an incredible vintage find that is both timeless and unique.

The Aswan headpiece is a small headband that features gold beaded leaf and flower embroidery on a black velvet base. This piece is entirely handmade and a one off. As a result it may have slight imperfections, which only add to the uniqueness of the piece. To clean any mirrored surfaces, please gently and carefully wipe with a soft cotton cloth moistened with alcohol. In order to protect this piece, please store it in the hard-sided box that it will ship in.

Measures 7.5" total height from bottom of band to the top x 9" total width. The height from the center of the band to the top is 1.5". The size of the band can be adjusted to fit any size.

Item #MM2-1

In the 1960s Pierre Cardin produced a series of modernistic animal pendants. They were huge and made out of a silver toned metal. Each has a with a good, decent feeling weight to them and each hangs suspended from the same chunky silver chain. There is at least a half dozen animals in the collection and this is one of two that I currently have in the shop. I love the 'space age' aesthetic they have, a signature of his work during this era. This one features an elephant and the pendant is both massive and dramatic. It is a perfect statement piece that you can wear with anything. It is signed at the back. Excellent condition

The elephant measures 4.5" across at the widest point and is 5.5" top to bottom including the large loop clasp that attaches it to the chain. The chain is 21" end to end and has a clasp closure that allows you to adjust the length.

Item# A344

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

Hermes is the gold standard when it comes to producing bags and the ones done in the 1950s and into the 1960s are among my favorites. This is a stunning example of the work they were doing during this time period and it pairs exquisite style with excellent craftsmanship. The bag would have been assembled entirely by hand and is a testament to the excellence demanded by the Hermes ateliers. This bag is made from a calf box leather in a wonderful shade of blue. This is the only one I have ever seen in this color so can only imagine that it was a special order as it is very unique. It has both a long, adjustable one shoulder strap and a wooden top handle. The detailing is done in a gold.  The bag opens out completely at the top and is secured by a double turnlock closure. The interior is a combination of blue fabric and leather and features one zip pocket, one slip pocket, and four adjustable leather loops to secure the contents. This would have been used as a vanity or train case in its time period and is just the right size to be used as a bag in our modern times. It presents as being in great condition with some notes to review below.

This bag is in very good overall condition. There is very light, normal scuffing to the exterior leather, minor, normal wear scratching to the hardware. Overall the exterior is in excellent condition with wear consistent with its age and normal use. The interior fabric is discolored and the bottom leather base, the side leather loops and sides shows wear and discoloration. There are no signs of alarming odors or real damage. The interior flaws are all surface damage only. General signs of wear and age. The bag is still infinitely wearable with years and years left to it.

11" Width x 8" Height x 8" Depth. The strap adds 18" to the height

Item# B144

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.

Iradj Moini is a renowned designer of couture jewelry with work and/or exhibited in several museums around the world including, the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Louvre Museum. This is a particularly beautiful piece that blends fresh water pearls with citrine, semi-precious stones and mother of pearl. Eight full strands of pearls circle the neck and meet at the huge brass clasp. This is a Iradj signature and the clasp on this piece is especially beautiful. It is adorned with stones, crystals and mother of pearl to form a beautiful spray of large flowers. The clasp slides into itself to close and the necklace is signed. Excellent condition.

Measures 16" from end to end and the clasp is approx 2.5" x 1.75"

Item# A333

This garment has been professionally cleaned, pressed and is odor free. Thoroughly checked over before shipping, it will be ready to wear upon arrival.