CAROL CHANNING

CAROL CHANNING

AUTHENTIC - CAROL CHANNING /
BOB MACKIE "Diamonds" Dress



#3300 - c. 1975 Original BOB MACKIE Silver Beaded Fringe Dress Worn by CAROL CHANNING! First off, I love what I found online...

"When broadway star Carol Channing sang "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" in the 1974 musical Lorelei, all that glittered was not what it seemed. Designer Bob Mackie created the show's eye-catching costumes, including a bejeweled dress for the character Lorelei Lee's big number. (Channing had gotten her big break in the Anita Loos play Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in 1949 and starred in its revival, Lorelei, 25 years later.) The showstopper of a dress, which Channing wore for all of the production's 320 Broadway performances, now resides within the collections of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. Mackie's extravaganza, with its hailstorm of stones from Czechoslovakia, weighs about 40 pounds. 'The first time I took a bow in that dress,' Channing told me recently, 'I fell over forward and almost broke my teeth.' During the production, Channing had to make a quick change between scenes. 'I told Bob that getting out of that dress in one minute was almost impossible. So he said, "Take off the sleeves."' (Channing would wear the costume in both configurations.)" SO... TAKE NOTE: This is one of the highly coveted Bob Mackie/Carol Channing's "Diamonds" dresses WITH the sleeves!!

Carol wore many of her pieces multiple times, and had certain "iconic" designs that she would wear over and over again! In 2007, someone robbed Carol of her original, most famous 1974 Bob Mackie "Diamonds" dress that she wore on stage in Gentleman Prefer Blondes, which was valued at $150,000!! Luckily the dress was recovered and returned to Ms. Channing and has since gone to the Smithsonian. So she obviously values these dresses highly!!! As for this Bob Mackie Diamonds dress, the sketch for the shorter version of this dress designed for the 1974 Broadway production of Lorelie sold at auction for $960! (the sketch only!)! Condition is Good... amazing for such a heavy dress! The netting at the shoulders is a bit torn under and the dress weighs a ton (OK, I'm slightly exaggerating!)

[ ... ]

Silk Ball Gown

Silk Ball Gown

Rare 1820s Raspberry Silk Ball Gown

Evening dresses of the 1820s were decorated with all types of fancy borders including rouleaux, the bands of bias cut fabric stuffed with wool or cotton that would provide additional body and shape at the hemline. In addition the hemline is decorated with a pinked silk ruffle above the rouleaux and above that a scalloped flounce accented with satin appliques that appear to be flower buds about to open. The dress has a slightly empire waistline with the bodice fitted with a series of three vertical darts on both sides of the bust.

The neckline is rounded and set off by delicate hand made lace and satin trim. The satin is carried around the neckline and extends in layered "petals" across the puffed short sleeves. Each petal is edged in lace and the sleeves are decorated with the same bud shapes and scalloped edging as is found at the hemline. Back closure with hooks and eyes. The sleeves are lined with a fine silk gauze that is deteriorated but this is not noticeable when on display.

The condition of this gown is remarkable! There is no shattering of the silk and only a few minor holes about the size of a pencil eraser are noted, a couple of which have been backed with tiny pieces of matching silk. There are also a few scattered and minor organic discolorations of the silk which do not detract and should not be unexpected on a piece of this age. Faint crescents of underarm discoloration are also present but again, do not detract. No noted weakness or deterioration of the fabric other than noted.

[ ... ]

Victorian HOT Raspberry

Victorian HOT Raspberry

1889-1892 Victorian HOT Raspberry Pink POPPY straw bonnet French Italian Couture
This is a stunning and unusually colored phenomenal Victorian bonnet of vibrant raspberry handwoven and wired chip straw, trimmed with WONDERFUL vibrant pink hand-painted silk poppies and a huge boned silk taffeta bow! This absolutely stunning hat was made in the height of frivolous French and Italian couture worn in Paris 1889-1892 for the extremely rich who did not need a bonnet do anything than look charming on a summer day. Made by "Mme. Josse at 3 Boulevard Italiens, Paris (underneath)" (written in stylized yellow-gold of the finest makers). Mme. Josse was a famous hat maker at the time. The straw crown is very tiny, and diamond shaped. Four separate brims make up the "Flower petal" brims (bonnet made to resemble a flower!). The handmade and hand painted thick silk poppies surround the brims, and the very decadent and poufy boned bows decorate the front. Long, stylish pink silk taffeta ties tie prettily under the chin. There's a white silk tissue bun holder on the inside with the tag. This stylish bonnet was definitely the most frivolous but beautifully decorated head wear in her hatboxes. Due to condition- Bonnet is Sold "ASIS."

Condition:

I consider this bonnet strong enough for wearing, but I could also see it in a serious collection or museum due to the rarity of the style, colors and materials used. The vibrant raspberry straw is strong and supple, I see some straw "separations" but no breaks. The poppies have some light slight soil sprinkles and a few pinholes. The poppies, bow, silk bunholder and tag are all original, but I believe the pink silk taffeta ties have either been removed and cleaned at some time or replaced altogether. They seem to be era correct, but have 5-10 snags/ and irregularities, a pinhole and a tiny soil mark. The silk bunholder has holes through it from the rough straw, and the tag has some wearing at one side where it came away from the bonnet. (But due to the age mellowing, soiling and colors, it's obvious this bunholder and tag is original to this amazing piece.)

Price is: $585

[ ... ]

1910 Edwardian

1910 Edwardian

1910 Edwardian MARGUERITE Madame Marge' COUTURE EVENING GOWN Metallic Lace

What a gorgeous, remarkably made early Couture designer gown with "corset" style waist by MARGUERITE!

Ms. Madelyn Shaw (the Associate Curator of Costume and Textiles at the Rhode Island School of Design and Art) wrote a research paper on the Tirocchi Sisters, and touched upon this enigmatic designer, MARGUERITE, (with grateful assistance from another unpublished research paper by Filomena D'Elia of Washington, D.C..) I wish to thank and credit both of these ladies for this important information below on Marguerite's little known life plus works, to be able to describe the background of this special designer made this wonderful gown.

Ms. Shaw referred to this early, important, but nowadays not generally well-known but successful designer of the 1910s -1920s- late 1930's, Marguerite, (later on known as Madame Marge'). Marguerite's dressworks are noted in the research to be documented within the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York (in their Special Collections Library) possessing some of her original gown design sketches, trim clippings, and even dated photos of Marge' Models from 1921's, R. Mallinson's Blue Book of Silks. In the 1910s, Madame Marge' (or, Marguerite as we know her from this time period) appeared often in the American Silk Journal, and was featured for her excellent use, execution and styling of American silks.... MARGUERITE even won the Gossard Trophy from the Fashion Art League of America, (a very big deal in those days) for Excellence in Dress Design an amazing THRICE in a row (1915 to 1918)! For apparelling Ms. Marilyn Miller (of the Ziegfield Follies fame), Marguerite (Madame Marge') was awarded the Mallinson Cup for Excellence in Stage Costume Design, standing on her own alongside the works of the famed Erte's fabulous Zeigfeld Follies designs. Ironically, even with Marguerite's tremendous good press over her career, she'd managed to maintain a low profile, and so is believed to have chosen and preferred to make her living designing clothing predominantly for an exclusive, word-of-mouth clientele... (her name is noted to have never appeared in fashion magazines of the era, such as Harper's Bazaar or Vogue.) Interesting fact to mention also that her story had never been published like many of her more famous female contemporaries suchlike, Lady Duff Gordon (Lucile Ltd.). Now that you know a bit about this wonderful designer, Marguerite, I believe you can only appreciate how remarkably elegant and substantial this example of her earliest 1910 dinner gowns from her truly was!

The use and execution of the silks employed in this truly classic, Edwardian dinner gown are exceedingly in the Paris style fashion, with uncommon and beautiful styling... yet, very true to what is usually considered a much plainer period in American fashion. The magnificent Edwardian bodice has a pointedly dropped "V" (Gasp...to the waist!) with loosely pleated, Bretell oversleeves (loosely overblown panel sleeves, as I have seen similarly styled in a "May Manton" fashion pattern) trimmed in yards of hand-made, one-of-a-kind self-fabric, tubular, "Rolleaux" style leaf motif patterns, even with dangling epaulet balls on shoulders, and large Rolleaux patterns directly on the breasts! (Oh my!) Back is decorated much like the front, and closes with hook and eyes.

The net under bodice appears to be made primarily of deep ecru Reticella/ Cluny needlework over net in combination, mixed with insertions of ground net/ with satin-stitched, hand-embroidered flowers, Irish crochet medallions, and woven, hand-knotted shadow lace made in the Valenciennes lace style- in an ode to Fall season wearing- a flowers-to-seeds motif. Very ornate and striking. There's metallic ribbons outlining the throat area, and elbows, ending in fancy, lacy "flowered" Chevrons at elbows and wrists.

The ebony-black, soft, silk gossamer sheer overlay of this resplendent Edwardian gown is trimmed profusely in a keyhole pattern of shiny and smooth, Glace' silk taffeta with many, large, padded needlework crochet balls, and large, leaf patterns of yards of Rolleaux hand-knotted trimming, and 1910's styled era tucked hem pleats! Notice the intricate pleated pintucking around the waist to form a very structured, but faux corset, perfectly?! Wow- is all I can say... Marguerite was a REALLY talented designer- the folds all lay perfectly, molding smoothly into the softly flowing skirt to train! There is no underlining to the skirt (never was) so a dark petticoat was worn with this dress.

The inner bodice is made of net, with flexible, cream, twilled silk taffeta liner. You can see Marguerite's tenacious hand stitches inside in black- (this whole gown is a virtual testament to the old school of hand styling...) she made silk taffeta pleats inside at underarms to fill out and acetuate the sides of the bust, and between the breasts to add to the feminine ideal of the "monobust" phenomenon that had been all the rage. All her inner seams are curvy and hand-finished, and has featherboned stays lined in silk twill. There's a lace "Modesty Panel that could (or not be) used by tightening down, and it's edged in original, sturdy, high quality pink, silk satin ribbon. The cream, woven grograin silk satin Petersham at the waist says, "Marguerite, 49 West 39th St., New York" and attached with shiny silk thread in an "X" pattern. Has a quality overall weight and touch to the hand. A decent size 4-5, tall! This is a "WOW WOW" antique Couture gown!

Condition:

This superb dinner gown is overall in very good condition, with only minor concerns to be mentioned. With this being an early designer of importance to the evolution of ladies fashion, and little data known of her to this date as of yet, I really do not recommend wearing this gown... however lovely and mostly stable the overall condition is... someday someone will likely do a biography of her, find out some obscure but important facts about her, and she becomes a household name like Jeanne Lanvin, or Coco Chanel! This beautiful Edwardian gown would do very well in a clothing museum or important collection of old vintage designers. That said, the condition is stable enough it could as it could easily be on a display, or almost be worn (if a few minor things were done first to shore up a few minor things.)

First, there is a very sheer, ultra fine, silk gossamer gauze inside of the sleeves/ outer underarms that have some small tears/ wearing. This liner should just be removed (or, relined with china silk or cotton net if desired). Personally, removing the sheer should just be enough. The inside of the bodice netting had been well replaced some time ago (long before me) and this stabilized the inside well enough that it could actually be worn. (I wouldn't remove this net although it is not original to the gown... In this case, if you did not know it was not original, you might not even realize it, so this fact makes it really not worth removing...) All the ecru needle lace is slightly dingy and has a few, tea-colored, tiny spots. Metallic pieces are darkened with age- related tarnish. Ideally, if a talented needle woman removed these lacy pieces and carefully hand cleaned them (removing the sheer sleeve lining at the same time) then replaced these sections- this gown would have almost a new appearance otherwise- the other silks used still glisten with lustrous good health. (No dryness or dry rot.)

The black sheer silk has a few pinholes (as to be expected), and a few vintage, woven mends on skirt. On bodice and skirt there's 2-4 of the black crocheted balls missing- they are almost impossible to make out as missing as the designs are so intricate. One might be able to replace these or make some, or move a few of the others if desired...again, I consider this to be minor. Silk Petersham, and all steel hardware strong, good working order, no obvious looseness, rust or tarnish. A real prize! One of the prettiest 1910 gowns you are ever likely to see, ever.

Price is: $1825

For ordering, go to "Order this item" toward bottom of page.

[ ... ]

Antique Textiles

Antique Textiles

Contentment Farm features a wide, ever changing selection of high quality antique textiles, fashions and vintage clothing.

Early Clothing from the 1700s through the early 19th century including beautiful ball gowns, antique dresses, corsets, delicate petticoats and accessories of the time.

Victorian mantles and fancy evening garnitures, fancy day dresses from the pre civil war era through the bustle era, lingerie and other accessories of dress.

The Edwardian clothing section also features items from 1901 through 1919 including Titanic era dinner gowns and day dresses, evening wraps, sporting clothing and day dresses as well as lovely lingerie.

Flapper & Art Deco dresses can be found with special emphasis on ornate beaded flapper dresses and stylish art deco designs from the 1920s and 1930s. Included are dance
dresses and purses as well as metallic brocade dresses and evening wraps, chiffon dresses and many accessories.

Hi style Designer clothing from the 1940s through today can be viewed in the category for Designer & Other Eras. Creations by Hattie Carnegie, Bonnie Cashin, Helen Rose, Ceil Chapman and others will be found in this section.

In addition special selections will be found in the Hats, Shawls, and Shoes categories which feature accessories from all eras.

Textiles & Needlework features samplers, antique sewing implements and other handmade antiques, while fine quality antique Quilts are now featured on their own page.

Contentment Blog This is where we will post news aboutweb site updates as well as host articles and discussions about antique and vintage clothing and present an archive of previously sold items for study purposes.

[ ... ]

Black Hair Style

Black Hair Style

[ ... ]

Hair Style 2

Hair Style 2

A mid-length bleached bob haircut was scruch-dried with mousse to give a tousled look. Use a diffuser to encourage more volume.

Mid-length Bleached Bob Hair - Pictures of Medium Hairstyles

Medium Textured one Length Bob Haircut - Pictures of Medium Hairstyles

How to get this Medium Hairstyle

This bob hairstyle shows how fine mid-length hair can be made to look thicker by blunt cutting just below ear level. This hair-style can be roller set and brushed through with a bristle brush to smooth or simply blow-dried with a round hair brush.

[ ... ]

Girls Hair Style

Girls Hair Style

Headbands have certainly made a major comeback, in both short and long hair. Very long hairstyles look amazing with the use of smooth or textured headbands. This look definitely has the classic 60's appearance we know and love. At the same time it has adopted a current carefree audience. This long hairstyle can be used for casual or even semi-formal events.

Cool Medium Hairstyle for Girls

Medium Long Hair Style for Prom or Wedding

Medium Layered Bob with Fringe

[ ... ]

Easy Step of Hair

Easy Step of Hair

Sleek is Chic. Again. 4 Easy Steps To Get Your Hairstyle There

Image Source: Bob Charlotte / PR Photos

It seems that Hollywood can’t make up their mind with this trend. The super sleek look was hot about four years ago, and then got all tousled and mussy over the last little while, but award season has turned the tides yet again. Sleek is chic again and if you are looking for a new look, sleek, straight hair may be just what you need to change your look without making any drastic changes. Whether your hair is long or short, straight locks that are also uber glam are easy no matter HOW late you are waking up in the morning.
Tools You Will Need: clips or bobby pins, fine tooth comb, flat iron (ceramic is recommended), straightening serum, shine spray or mist

Step 1: Separate hair into sections (with your clips or pins) that are as wide as your flatiron.

Step 2: For each section, start at the root with your comb, and glide your flat iron down each section. If you don’t have one and are looking for one, you want to get a flat iron that is ceramic, and if you can afford it, from a salon. These will be the best for your hair as they are often ionized and easier on the hair shaft.

Step 3: Smooth some straightening serum over your palms and then run them through your hair. To lock in the straightening serum, just smooth the flatiron real quick over your hair one last time.

Step 4: If you are happy with the sleek as it is, but if you want to glam it up a bit, don’t be afraid to smooth or mist over some glossing serum.

[ ... ]

Hair Care Tips

Hair Care Tips

10 Great Hair Care Tips

by Darla Di Grandi-Aguilera

If you watch the tabloids, you know that even the stars have bad hair days. It just seems that when the professional stylists are out of the picture, it is inherently human to have a less than glamorous mane. But you can do your part to stay ahead of the battle by following these great tips for hair care.


1. Use a professional conditioner that is formulated for your specific hair type. While you can skimp a little on the shampoo, a good, professional conditioner is a must have. Look for products in salons that are customized for your hair type. For instance: If you have color or a perm, choose a conditioner that is for chemically processed hair. And stay away from those all-in-one shampoo and conditioner combos.

2. Choose a cut tailored to your face and body shape. The number one mistake that people make when choosing a new hairstyle is to pick a style based on popularity rather than how it will enhance their features. Always choose a new cut based on how it will enhance or detract from your facial features and build. If you have broad shoulders, choose a full-bodied cut over a close cropped head hugging doo.

3. Don’t forget your UV protectants. Just as your skin gets damaged by wind and sun, so does your hair. To combat this, look for finishing products such as mousses, gels and sprays that block UV rays.

4. Keep your appointments. Did you know that your hair will split faster than it will grow? You need to get a trim every 6 to 8 weeks, even if it’s just a micro trim. A good hairdresser makes them good because they know what to leave on the head, not take off.

5. Leave chemicals to the professionals. There is a reason why beauticians need to go to school to learn how to handle chemicals and hair processes. You can do irreparable damage with these products even if the package says that it’s way easy. And even if you don’t make your hair fall out, you could end up looking like a clown and paying a stylist big bucks to fix your mess. (Note: Most stylists charge double the rate for corrective color than they do for normal color processes)

Your Ad Here

6. Get color for interest and body. Every cut needs a little bit of color to make it truly breathtaking. No matter whether your taste is subtle or dramatic, you can add interest and volume to your tresses with a color process. Highlights, lowlights, all over color, gray coverage, you name it, it’s all good for your look.

7. Do weekly conditioning treatments. Even if your hair is extremely healthy, it is constantly on the attack from wind, sun, cold and heat. During the summer months, your hair is battered even more when it absorbs chlorine and other chemicals from your pool.

8. Get an ionic ceramic flat iron. Instead of frying your hair with a conventional metal plated flat iron. Straighten your tresses, add shine and infuse moisture with one of the a negative ionic flat irons. We personally use T3 irons for all our work.

9. Choose your styling products wisely. Avoid products that leave build-up on your hair. If you see white gunk, that means that your product is not water-soluble and may be coating your hair shaft. Build-up causes limpness, breakage and inability to curl not to mention the white flakes.

10. Did you know that if you use a towel after your shower to dry your hair you are causing split ends and adding static electricity to your hair. Don’t rub the towel back and forth over your hair, scrunch the towel around your hair like your would scrunch crackers in your soup.

While all of these tips won’t make you look like you’ve hired a personal hairdresser, they will help you look the very best that you can each and every day. When it comes to hair care, remember that you wear your hair everyday. Now isn’t it worth the time, effort and money that it takes to keep it looking spectacular?

About The Author: By Darla Di Grandi-Aguilera, Founder of Hi-Lites Aveda Palm Springs Salon & Spa http://www.HLspa.com

*

/10greathaircaretips.aspx

[ ... ]

Celebrity Hair News

Celebrity Hair News

NBC'S PEACOCK PRODUCTIONS SIGNS CELEBRITY HAIR STYLIST NICK ARROJO FOR UPCOMING REALITY SERIES

Nick Arrojo

DailyCeleb.com All Rights Reserved

(New York) Celebrity hair stylist Nick Arrojo has signed with NBC's Peacock Productions for an upcoming reality series currently in development. The announcement was made today by Sharon Scott, Executive Vice President of Peacock Productions.

Arrojo, previously of TLC's hit show "What Not to Wear," is an acclaimed stylist and educator in the business. His work is regularly featured in fashion magazines, and he's a regular stylist at New York fashion shows and a regular guest for hair-related news stories on NBC and ABC.

In 2003, he formed ARROJO education; and in 2007, he successfully launched the ARROJO product.

His first book, Great Hair, a self-help hairstyling handbook providing every woman with secrets for looking fabulous and feeling beautiful, was released in October 2008.

Born in Manchester, England, Arrojo's career began as a Vidal Sassoon apprentice. He won the prestigious Young Hairdresser of the Year Award and, at 21, became Vidal's youngest ever Assistant Creative Director.

After 20 years in the industry, including stints as Creative Seminar leader for Wella International and Director of Education for Bumble and Bumble, New York, he opened ARROJO studio in Manhattan's SoHo district in 2001.

About Peacock Productions

Peacock Productions is an award-winning, nonfiction production company that combines the editorial expertise, technical resources and seasoned production talent of NBC News to offer a wide-range of programming to broadcast, cable and digital entities with worldwide reach.

Lady Gaga Teams Up With Beyonce, Wears New Gigantic Hair Piece Shaped Like Yellow Telephone

Lady Gaga who is famous for her eccentric hair styles, including a huge bow created from hair, has unmasked a new design for her latest video. According to London's Daily Mail the famous blonde has had her hair sculpted to look like a giant telephone received positioned on top of her head. Why? She has a forthcoming video called "Telephone."

The gigantic hair telephone was created out of yellow hair extensions. Adding to the drama of the yellow telephone hairpiece Gaga, who plays a waitress in a diner, adds a gigantic plastic chef's hat. Gaga is teamed up with Beyonce for the video who makes a cameo appearance. Sources have reported that the connection between Beyonce and Lady G is "magical."

Last year Gaga popped in as a guest for Beyonce's remix of "Video Phone." Keeping her video completely edgy Gaga showcases an American flag bandana with a matching bikini after the initial waitress outfit. A source told The Mail that Gaga was inspired by Quentin Tarantino.

Distraught by the sudden death of her friend, fashion designer Alexander McQueen, the blonde superstar performed a less theatrical version of her "Telephone" at the London Brit Awards which she dedicated to him. Although sad about McQueen, Gaga went on to win best International female artist, best International breakthrough act and best International album for "The Fame".

Mel B Goes With Partially Shaved Hairstyle

Mel B

DailyCeleb.com All Rights Reserved

Mel B, known as Scary Spice, 34, of the former Spice Girls is famous for her large personality, fashion styles and hairstyles. She recently appeared in the UK with a brand new partially shaved hairstyle which definitely got attention from the International media.

Of course Mel B is not setting a new hair trend, she's following the lead of Rihanna and others who have been incorporating partial shaved scalps into their hairstyles.

The former "Dancing With The Stars" contestant had the right side of her scalp shaved. She decorated the scalp section with twinkling stars.

Although Cassie was the first to kick off the razored hairstyle in the Summer of 2009, she was followed by Rihanna, model Alice Dellal and Amber Rose, the girlfriend of Kanye West. Mel B gave her own daughter, Angel Iris, a rock chick Mohican haircut last summer.

Although Mel B has not commented about her new shaved do, she was reportedly all smiles when she and film producer husband Stephen Belafonte landed recently at LAX Airport.

Mel B partnered her new shaved hairstyle with big shades and bold necklaces.

Social Media Network Information

Please follow me on Twitter at: http://Twitter.com/HairBoutique. I look forward to meeting new people from all walks of Twitter and learning from their Tweets. Visit us at Hairboutique.com located at: http://www.HairBoutique.com, on Facebook, MySpace and YouTube.

Thank you for visiting us at The HairBoutique Blog and for leaving your comments. They are very much appreciated. We apologize in advance but must remove any direct advertisements or solicitations.

[ ... ]

Antique Hair Comb

Antique Hair Comb

My Antique Hair Comb Collection

Introduction

Some of us are born collectors. We can’t help it; we see, we want, we collect. I own collections of collections—tiny boxes, cat figurines, jewelry, books, blues CDs, black shoes, crystals, and so on. I can’t help myself.

But some of my collectibles are more ornamental than others, especially my antique hair comb collection. I have them mounted on a long piece of celadon brocade, and display them as a wallhanging.

Comb #1

I’ve always loved long hair, but it doesn’t look good on me. Also, my hair is so coarse and thick that wearing it long here in hot and steamy Texas would probably cause my head to spontaneously combust. So I collect old hair combs, lovely in their individuality, and in admiration of the long hair they once held in place.

They are not always easy to find, and the fourteen I own have come from many different places. Most of them are made from tortoiseshell (which you cannot find now, and a good thing, too, for the poor turtles), and some are adorned with rhinestones and carvings.

From the top, #1, the largest one, curved with 21 remaining teeth, was found in a rummage basket at a small town flea market. It was clearly made for holding up heavy hair in the back, and it is a lovely deep honey-amber color. I think I paid something like $5 for it; I don’t think the woman who owned it recognized the treasure it was.

Comb #2 & Comb #4

The two tiny combs, #2 with clear rhinestones and #4 with bright green ones, were found as a set in an antique shop in Portland, Maine.

I was having one of those “I got to get away/I got to get awa-a-ay” days, and had taken off for the coast.

At the time, I had grown my hair out to chin-length, and wanted to try using combs to hold back the hair over my ears. Well, that look did nothing for me, but I loved the combs.

As the store was one of those fancy-shmancy ones, I paid about $45 for the pair of them. But it was love at first sight; what could I do?

Combs #3, 5 & 6

The center comb, #3, beautifully carved and set with blue brilliants, was found in a friend’s grandmother’s backroom in a box jumbled up with an assortment of oddments.

I pounced on it, and offered to pay my friend just about anything for it.

It ended up costing me nothing but a trip to the movies, popcorn, Cokes, and Milk Duds, my treat. The two round-top combs, #5 and #6, are set with rhinestones. These two, plus #11, cost me an afternoon of cleaning out my then boyfriend’s mother’s walk-in closet.

On that same day, she also gave me a pair of marble-sized pearl earrings (which turned out to be fakes), the most hideous zip front burnt-orange cardigan sweater I’ve ever seen before or since, and a huge Sombrero before 10:00am.

Oval Barrette #7 & Comb #9

The oval barrette, #7, and the tall carved comb, #9, shown to the side, came from my own grandmother.

She had gorgeous knee-length auburn hair when she was young, and I like to think of that lovely tortoiseshell comb with its intricate carving gracing that vibrant hair.

Note: Speaking about my grandmother’s long auburn hair, I have to insert one of my favorite stories about her. To say she was willful, stubborn, and opinionated is like saying that the ocean holds several bazillion cups of water.

Just before my grandparents were married, my grandfather used to like to watch her to brush out her hair. As he was enjoying the sight of that rippling titian mass, he said, “Phyllis, don’t you ever cut your hair!”

She snapped back, “NO ONE tells me what to do!” and with that, picked up the shears, cut it all off below her ears, and threw the shorn hair at his feet. He married her anyway. She knew he would.

Bow Shaped Barrette

The tiny bow-shaped barrette, #8, #12, a large barrette with the back broken off, and #13, with the curved rhinestone top, came from a church white elephant sale.

I paid about $15 for the three of them, and I remember the lady who sold them to me also made me take an unopened box of ladies linen hankies. I guess she thought that anyone buying hair combs would automatically be lady-like enough to appreciate hankies as well!

Bow Shaped Barrette #10

The little hourglass-shape barrette, #10, one of the lightest in color, belonged to a friend’s aunt.

Years ago, a dear sister of hers wore it constantly, and when the sister died tragically of pneumonia at age 11, the barrette was put away for good. I think it made my friend’s aunt glad to know that it would be out on display again.

Comb #14

My favorite, #14, was used to adorn a chignon. I’ve always loved its warm amber color, and as always I like to imagine who wore it and what their hair looked like.

This one came to me from a vintage clothing shop in Tamworth, NH, where I spent an unforgettable summer as an ingnue in summer stock. My own hair was never long enough to wear it, but I did own a genuine hair fall that I wore to play Jane in Jane Eyre. It certainly gave a better performance than I did!

So, there you have it—this is my collection to date. During a recent visit, my mother kindly re-arranged the combs on the brocade, some of which had come loose from random abuse from my cat, Blackie.

After giving Blackie a good talking-to (which did no good at all), Mom re-sewed the combs to the brocade, and we hung it a lot higher. They make a great conversation piece, and they are definitely unique.

Conclusion

If you are interested in collecting antique hair combs, you might want to check out this web site: http://www.antiquedress.blogspot.com/

You may also be able to scare some up at online auction sites: www.ebay.com and www.yahoo.com/auctions. Happy hunting!

If you want to talk more about this or other hair care articles on HairBoutique.com or anywhere else, please post a message on HairBoutique.com's Hair Talk Forums.

[ ... ]