Thursday, October 26, 2006
Ok, I did ever mention that we are "too proud to own someone's unwanted stuff". Maybe, I was wrong.
Well, Straits Times's Lifestyle on a blah~blah~ Sunday had did a feature on vintage, which too included parts on flea markets. Umm. It was dated on 8 October 2006.
Anyways, we need to move on to flea market findings. We need to 'learn' on getting a good buy. I need to credit this to all the writers on the paper because I am in no way did any research.
Let's start on its heading: "Bazaar Behavior" Hmmm. How true.
This article is title: Jewels in the Junk (I had taken a portion of the write-up.)
Begin with Chandeliers or some would call ceiling lamps (?) (I believed that Lorgan Wong of Lorgan's Design Source contributed these)
- Gold is considered old-fashioned and is seldom used for light fixtures these days.
- Another sign is its intricate filigree balls that are strung together with crystal globes. Such workmanship would be hard to find in fakes.
- Bad copies often have unsightly electrical wires running between bulbs.
- Dirt drives desperate housewives crazy but it is a good sign here. The fungi in the munrano glass gives it an antique patina. It cannot be scrub off, even how hard you try.
Next, Furniture
- Look for good quality chrome parts and solid wood arms and legs.
- Genuine designer furniture, Herman Miller chairs are considered lucky finds. But curvy 195os pieces and futuristic, streamlined 197os non-branded ones are worth buying if they are under S$8o. No one would bother crafting a convincing fake only to let it go at such a low price.
- If you fancy anything that cost more that that it would be best to take along a trained eye for a second opinion.
- Check out the labels, if there are any. This is easy chair from the mid-196os bears a blue sticker with the logo of the Norwegian furniture brand, Spilka.
- Peer beneath, too. Good craftsmanship there is a good sign.
From this point onwards, I am digressing.
Next, dresses. (I believed that Ms. Spinach herself contributed these as well as Loh Hsiao Ying of Granny's Day Out). 197os polyester dresses.
- Polyester was big in the 197os as it was a cheap, versatile fabric. Look out for original tags which proudly claims "1oo% Polyester". Designer labels are usually hand-sewn onto dresses and feature fancy lettering.
- Metal zips were more common than plastic ones back then.
- A size 14 woman today is a lot larger than her size 14 counterpart in the 197os. Manufacturers have adjusted their sizes over the years. If it does not fit ever though it is your size, it is probably a blast from the past.
- Frills, haler necklines, peasant dresses, toga and slinky wrap dress were the rage as the disco divas and happy hippies enjoyed their fashion moment.
195os dress
- Lining- once regarded as the hallmark of a lady's decency- was an essential component of most 195os dresses.
- Natural material like cotton, silk and linen were the main fabrics used, as synthetic ones were not common then.
- Clothes made to last, therefore, seams allowance were huge so the dress could g row or shrink with you. (I love that idea for this millennium)
- Metal zips were the only ones available. As many dresses were home-made (unheard of in this era, perhaps tailor-made), the side zips may be found on the right or left side, depending whether if the seamstress was left- or right-handed (Umm. I am a leftie). Zips were concealed behind a strop of fabric to make the dress appear seamless.
- Handmade details like beads, wired bodices and bows were a staple feature, too.
Part deux would be about random flea markets featured on the article.
Postscript: My after thought is who actually cares if it was vintage. As long, as it looks good and you 'feel' that it is vintage. My advice, get it. Don't miss a chance for a good buy because it is not a vintage.
12:46 am♥
