Vintage Coats - 1936

Judging by early sales of vintage coats from my website, you all are starting to think about the coat you'll buy for this winter. Today, and for the next several Wednesdays, I'll be presenting a look at vintage coats through the decades.

In the 1930's, garments were long (at least to mid-calf), lean, and fitted to the body. Fur trim was found on most fashionable coats of the time, and almost all were belted. Here are a few looks from 1936. Note the fun hats and the clutch purses.

This red tweed knee length jacket is worn over a matching skirt, so this is a suit jacket, not a coat, but could be worn as one today. Persian lamb fur at the collar. A Macy's copy of the Molyneux original, the suit sold for $60 in 1936 (about $921 in today's dollar).

Sable-dyed skunk fur swirls around the collar and across and down to the hem on this Forstmann wool coat. Sold at Arnold Constable for $98 in 1936 (about $1503 in today's dollar).

Sheared beaver fur forms a squared off collar on this Alpaca wool coat. Sold at McCreery for $65 in 1936 (about $997 in today's dollar).

Grey squirrel fur forms a double collar and the pelts form a chevron pattern on the front of this coat. The fur front forms a muff below the belt. Sold at Emily Shops for $65 in 1936 (about $997 in today's dollar).

Cross fox fur wraps close to the face, or the ends can be pulled down and tucked to form muff pockets. Sold at Betty Wales for $66 in 1936 (about $1012 in today's dollar).

Let's go Dutch

I have been an admirer of Dutch fashion designers and brands for a long time. I must say, I love the Dutch for their fashion forward way of thinking.



Every fashion week, new designers come up with subversive ideas, clothes which are generally transformed in works of art. Not necessarily being practical pieces but most certainly, works of originality, true craftsmanship and a feast for the eyes.



The latest Amsterdam fashion week, happened about a month ago and certainly wasn't disappointing.

One of the designers, the former ARTEZ academy student Iris Van Herpen, sums up all of the above.



Iris, has been displaying her work on Amsterdam fashion week for a couple of years. For every collection she tries and test new materials. In her Summer collection for example, she used the finest woven wire mesh to create amazing metallic floaty dresses. The wire used was finer than a strand of hair and it was hand woven to create this beautiful illusion.



After coming across a such avant-garde work, I was so eager to see the Winter collection, which was inspired by mummification(!) but not in a scary way at all.

Quite the opposite, you will surely be stunned by it.



This time around she came up with the most intricate designs using leather. The structure given by new leather, which still hard, it's amazing. It's playful with it's shape and intricate with it's detailing.



Here a quick view:




















It's also interesting to think how some of those pieces would look after being worn for a long time. The leather would get soft and pretty much adapt itself to the wearer shape. As always with leather, in my opinion, the most worn it gets the nicest it looks.



So, Iris Van Herpen is definitely a name to remember, I shall be sharing her work with you in future, because it's so unique and extraordinary.



Further info at www.irisvanherpen.com



See you tomorrow with some street style at Portobello, and thanks so much for all the support and kind messages.



PS: I have now open comments for anyone who wishes to leave a message.

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