The most common remark Madge gets once someone knows that she sells vintage hat is “I love hats, but I just don’t look good in them”. Madge’s reply comes right out of her personal manifesto: The women who thinks she can’t wear hats just hasn’t found the right hat. For today’s stylish woman who wa...
Category: Livin’ La Vida Vintage
The Evolution of Easter Hats: From Simple Bonnets to Extravagant Headwear
An elaborate 1920s Mantilla
archivio personale, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
The Covering of the Head
The history of Easter hats begins with the long-standing tradition of covering one's head in a place of worship. This tradition developed in many religio...
Claude Saint Cyr, the French Milliner to Queen Elizabeth II
As part of our continuing series - What's in a Label, meet our milliner of the month Claude Saint-Cyr.
Who was Claude Saint-Cyr
Claude Saint-Cyr was one of the most important milliners of the 20th century. Known for her innovative materials and designs, the most fashionable women of the day ...
Archie Eason & the Green Sequin Hat
One of the most imaginative milliners in the business was Archie Eason and his “green sequin” hats, known for their high quality and unique design. Eason’s success is a classic story of a hometown boy who makes good.
Archie Eason Netted Straw ha...
Vintage Condition Explained
Evaluating the vintage condition of clothing, hats, jewelry, and accessories: A Grading Guide
IntroductionWe had a question from a prospective buyer on how we grade our vintage inventory. That question left Madge a bit embarrassed she hadn’t written a post about grading vintage. When it comes to...
Christian Dior, the New Sensation of Paris Fashion
As part of our continuing series What's in a Label? we cover this month's featured designer Christian Dior.In a machine age, dressmaking is one of the last refuges of the human, the personal, the inimitable. ...