Vintage Vogue

Liz Lange - Domino

Using vintage Vogue magazine covers has always been a favorite design look. I always wanted to do this, it makes for a highly visual wall of glamour doesn't it? These ones are shown framed tight and with an exact frame fit. If you have a spot for just a couple, you could matt them with a wide border to extend the size and impact. Conde Nast has a vast online library of reproductions, fashionable covers from Vogue, House & Home, Glamour, Vanity Fair, Gourmet, and an older magazine called Charm which I vaguely remember. They aren't inexpensive, a 12" x 14" will set you back about 185.00 US but are of a magnificant exhibit quality. The fun is in the searching for a cover or photo that has meaning to you, whether it subject matter or date.

The early days of civilized air travel..... I seemed to prefer the older illustration covers. This one is from a January 1, 1947 issue of Vogue Travel and was drawn by illustrator Carl Erickson. This would be a great gift pick for the travelling friend or a fashionable travel agent.

See you later darlin....
another wonderful illustration by Carl Erickson for a November 15. 1938 Vogue issue.


It's fascinating to see the progression of cover artwork, this quaint Vogue illustration by David is from 1910!

Yachting by Edward Steichen 1928

The Conde Nast archives also includes photography. It was in the Vanity Fair archives that I found that fabulous shot of Katherine Hepburn that I used in my Friday Finally post a few weeks back. I think I should buy that image........especially since Vanity Fair is my top magazine read each month.

Top photo from Domino archives on Flickr/All other illustrations and photos from Conde Nast

Wrap Vintage

A breathtaking array of vintage ribbon spools, what a gorgeous photo via Such Pretty Things a gorgeous blog

and flickr photo collection. Little girl parties in your future? Check out her blog for pretty ideas.

I always send along a box of matches with any candle gift order so I was experimenting with wrapping the Effiel Tower match boxes (yes, even those get wrapped around here!) and devised a way to wrap open-ended. Some items have fragile corners and so a light touch is needed. I've used a Paris Postcards gift wrap paper that at first glance didn't excite me, but the more I played the more I appreciated it's soft look. This is a great way to use up narrow strips of leftover paper and easy for the gift wrapped-impaired, simply cut to fit and fold the bottom edge into a V shape. A small strip of hand-dyed silk ribbon gives this simple little package a bright touch and vintage Paris labels (you could even use a postage stamp) hold everything in place, not a bow or piece of tape needed. I would consider using this open-ended technique for a book gift, I like the idea of seeing the book pages on the open ends.

Here's the same paper that was used to wrap a photo frame being sent as a comfort gift. I tried to use a aqua ribbon but it looked too cute so switched over to a gorgeous ivory double face satin and then a bit of subtle aqua sheer ribbon, this seemed to fit the mood of the gift much better. A wired stretch of ivory paper flowers cascade along the bow center to make this gift most special and comforting.

Middle and Bottom Photo by Sande Chase for Oooh la la Cadeau.