Collections: Pretty Lacy Things

Lacy nighties, petticoats and slips usually fall in the category of "things our grandmothers wear," but when it comes to our own wardrobes, perhaps they are garments we should reconsider. There is something rather lovely about wearing silk, ribbon and lace next to the skin. Even if it's only reserved for date night or other special occasions, every woman deserves to have a few items in her dresser drawers that make her feel pretty.

The romantic and whimsical brand Anthropologie has capitalized on this idea by carrying lines that feature lacy petticoats, trimmings of satin or velvet ribbon and carved pearl or wood buttons.

To recreate a similar look for a fraction of the price, simply visit estate sales, thrift shops and antique malls and look for delicate slips and petticoats. They are easy to find and add an element of pretty when worn under an unlined dress or skirt. If you prefer using them as decorations, they also look just as lovely hanging on a satin and ribbon-trimmed hanger.

Love the look but need help finding your own pretty lacy things? Contact us here.

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Collections: Vintage Avon

[gallery type="rectangular" ids="1939,1936,1937,1938"] These Avon pretties have been in our family since the 1960s. I'm not sure if they were originally purchased by my great-grandmother or grandmother, but I remember seeing them at Joan's house throughout my childhood. When Jonathan and I moved into our first apartment, the bath oil bottle was the very first thing of Joan's that my mother gave us. We inherited the powder box a few years later. It is particularly special to me because I can remember it being filled with Joan's curler pins. She curled her hair every single day, and I can still remember the way her curlers smelled as they were heating up. As I child, I loved to watch her at her makeup table -- curling her hair, applying foundation, mascara and lipstick and spritzing herself with her favorite perfume -- O de Lancome. It has been more than 10 years since I watched her with awe, but the image in my mind is still very vivid and will always be one of my favorite memories of her.

I would imagine that many women across the country have similar memories of their mothers and grandmothers, thanks to Avon. If you frequent estate sales or antique malls, then you’ve likely seen quite a few of their pretty bottles and boxes. Avon is one of those nostalgic brands that still feels very current, but it has actually been around since 1886.

Their story is pretty inspiring. Avon's founder, David M. McConnell, started his career as a traveling bookseller with an entrepreneur’s intuition. As he was peddling his books, he noticed that his female customers enjoyed his free perfume samples (that he made himself) more than his books. He also recognized that many of these customers were struggling to make ends meet but that they would make excellent salespeople. With these thoughts in mind, he launched his California Perfume Company.

Mr. McConnell’s ideas caught on like wildfire because he fulfilled a need and genuinely cared about his products and his employees. The California Perfume Company followed simple but very important principles that remain in place today – it brought jobs to people who needed them, recognized that each employee could bring something special to the table, gave back to the community and offered great products with a satisfaction guarantee. By the turn of the century, Mr. McConnell had recruited 5,000 salespeople. In 1920, his company’s sales topped $20 million. Today, sales have exceeded $11 billion. In recent years, the company has been through numerous financial struggles and scandals, but the Avon name still holds special meaning for generations of American women.

Also, if you’re curious about the company’s original name, Mr. McConnell chose the California Perfume Company to honor his business partner friend from California. Although the company began using the Avon name (a reference to William Shakespeare's home Stratford-upon-Avon) on packaging as early as 1930, it officially changed its name to Avon in 1939.

To see more vintage Avon beauty products and ads, visit our Vintage Beauty Pinterest board.

Do you have a favorite Avon memory?

Collections: Franciscan Desert Rose Ceramics

Franciscan Desert Rose ceramics were first introduced by Los Angeles-based Gladding, McBean & Co. in 1941, along with the company's Apple pattern. They were manufactured in L.A. until 1986, when Wedgwood, Franciscan's owner since 1979, closed the Los Angeles plant, discontinued all of the patterns except Desert Rose, Apple and Fresh Fruit, and moved the remaining Franciscan dinnerware production to England. Both Desert Rose and Apple are now owned by WWRD - The Luxury Lifestyle Group (Wedgwood Waterford Royal Daulton). They are two of the most popular china patterns in American history, and they continue to be produced to this day.

Ironically, my great-grandmother used Franciscan Desert Rose dishes in her L.A. kitchen in the 1960s and 1970s, and my mom began collecting her own Desert Rose dishes while living in England in the 1980s. She now has all of my great-grandmother's original pieces from California as well. When Jonathan and I got married, we decided continue the tradition and register for some Desert Rose dinnerware. As luck would have it, everyone bought us Desert Rose dishes. We have 12 place settings, plus most of the modern serving pieces. I love comparing the '60s Franciscan to the modern pieces. As one would guess, the original details are much nicer, but I love that you can still buy Franciscan Desert Rose ceramics at your local department store. Of course you can also find it on Ebay, estate sales and at most antique stores.

You can learn more about the history of Franciscan ceramics (and see more photos) here.

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Learning About Mid-Century Modern Design

Optimism ruled in postwar America. Young soldiers rushed home to marry their sweethearts and start families. To accommodate the baby boom, neighborhoods popped up across the United States. Some of these homes had the modern look featuring wood, glass, stone and an open plan. Mid-Century Modern was dubbed the "West Coast" look because it originated in California and seemed natural and organic.

These new houses needed furniture, and the pieces that were produced during the era reflect that happy mood. Materials that had helped during the war effort – rubber, plywood, epoxy, fiberglass – were incorporated into furniture design. Synthetic materials also exploded due to scientific advancements. Nylon, laminate, PV, plastic, melamine, plywood and vinyl were modern and hugely popular. An added bonus -- all of these materials were affordable.

Many of the top designers of the movement had the same overarching goal – they wanted to provide good design to the masses. Some of the most popular designers were Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson and Isamu Noguchi. At the time, the spare style had its critics, but beginning in the early '80s, its timeless appeal became highly coveted among collectors. The mid-century craze continues to this day.

Fortunately, if you can't get your hands on an original mid-century piece, you can buy reproductions straight from the original sources. The two biggest manufacturers of mid-century modern furnishings -- Herman Miller and The Knoll Company -- are still in production today!

To see more mid-century pieces then and now, follow along on our mid-century board on Pinterest.