Fabulous Flappers and Luscious Lamé

The opulence of silk lamé perfectly embodies the decadence of the 1920s. At 21st Century Vamp we have a unique and breathtaking selection of lamé pieces in gold, silver, florals and prints.

    

1920s Silver Lamé Orchid Print Flapper Dress

There is a timeless allure to these metallic flapper dresses. They sparkle and catch the light beautifully with their real metal threads. 

1920s Egyptian Revival Flapper Dress in Gold Lamé

The quality of the textiles and the attention to detail in their creation are unsurpassed and only equalled by high end couture houses today. Unique luxury.

1920s Flapper Dress in Butterfly Print Gold Lamé

One of the more unusual pieces is this rare 1930s, labelled Harvey Nichols gown. Made from an exceptional printed and woven chiffon lamé, with gold lamé lace cuffs, and wired stand-up collar. Other design details to note are the ruched and gathered hips and the numerous covered buttons. It would make a gorgeous vintage wedding dress.

1930s Harvey Nichols Lamé Gown

To see these and more beautiful, original vintage dresses, 

coats and accessories visit our Etsy shop. 

We ship Worldwide and offer Layaway plans.

21st Century Vamp

Rare Vintage. Marcelle Alix.

Once in a while you find what can only be described as a dream dress. Labelled Marcelle Alix gowns are a true rarity. Marcelle Alix Couture traces its roots back to Germaine Émilie Krebs, otherwise known as Madame Grès, renowned for her fabulous draped and pleated grecian gowns.

                   

RARE Marcelle Alix Couture, labelled gown. Circa 1940s

This gown is a true reflection of the design style of Grès. Marcelle Alix produced collections that were influenced by that magical touch, with the use of yards of jersey fabric, intricately pleated and draped. This gown has numerous hooks and eyes, and press studs to secure and wrap the gown about the wearer. 

Marcelle Alix Gown : yards of draping.

Marcelle Alix ; more of that hallmark pleating

For more examples why not visit our Pinterest board about Marcelle Alix and related designs. There are more links to the few Marcelle Alix designs that have come up for auction, and also to the Marcelle Alix gown in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Marcelle Alix : Metropolitan Museum of Art

If you would like to see more of our dress please visit :

21st Century Vamp on Etsy

Bloomers To That. It's Just Capri Pants

Back in April this year I originally shared on Facebook(see photo below) my mock up of a capri pant design I wanted to produce. There's a lot of these knocking about so I wanted to be a little different, to put my own stamp on them, so to speak. I knew from experience I wanted them to be a slim fit and below the knee to give the most flattering look to the shape of the leg. They needed to be ruffled. Well, I have a small ruffle addiction which I tend to need to nurture here and there ;-) And lace. Lace had to be featured. I just so happen to have a small stock of a gorgeous antique style lace which is the perfect shade of champagne to give a lovely vintage feel to anything. This led to a double ruffle. Now when I say ruffle, this is actually a circular flounce cut from one whole piece of fabric, without seams. This type of flounce reduces the bulk at the top of the 'ruffle' but is full around the bottom with lots of movement. This combined with graduating the flounce from front to back and short to long, goes a long way to emphasising a shapely leg.

So here is the original mock up from April, cute but not quite there

More tweaking of flounces required! So I made them bigger. Eats up the fabric this way, but I think you'll agree, the end result is worth it. I've listed them on Etsy as a made to order item in a choice of fabrics, sizes and with the option to have a standard waistband or a low rise waistband.

Steampunk Swashbuckler Capri Bloomers on Etsy

Golden Jubillee Sale at Vaudeville Gypsy

Over the Bank Holiday for HM Golden Jubilee I shall be running a sale over at Vaudeville Gypsy on Etsy. My shop has a range of Tribal Fusion and Steampunk inspired costume and accessories. Many if not most of my pieces are OOAK, unique and made using a combination of Vintage and Antique treasures for the Belly Dance community and beyond. They are all handmade by me using good quality materials and with care and attention to detail.

Some pieces have rare pieces of Antique french jet or beautiful bullion braid, dating from the Victorian period. I love the 1920s and have produced flapper headdresses from these treasures.

1920s Flapper style headdress with beautiful Antique French Jet and Bullion Braid

Orchid & Poppy 20s Flapper headdress with Vintage treasures in Gold, Black and Pink

Also included in the sale will be several Gypsy Twist skirts, my asymmetrical take on the hip accent, overskirt or hip wrap. These can be worn in several different ways, worn down, tied up one or both sides, or even as a poncho style shoulder wrap. Great for covering tums and bums!

Gypsy Twist Tribal Fusion Skirt Hip Wrap for Belly Dance in Gold Black Lurex

Not forgetting my Ruffle N Bustle skirts. These are great fun. They too can be worn in several ways because of the incorporated channels. All up they make a great bustle skirt.

OOAK Ruffle N Bustle Tribal Bellydance Skirt in Lace

The Jubilee Sale starts on Friday 1st June and runs until close of play Monday 4th June. 

Visit: 

VAUDEVILLE GYPSY 

This Weeks Featured Artisan

Are you On Fire for Handmade? http://onfireforhandmade.com

Hoorah for our hardworking Anne! And yes, CROCHET! Love it!

This week's Featured Artisan is Anne Hopfer - Made for Me by Oaklie. Handmade knit and Crochet Fashion Accessories made with YOU in mind! You can find Made for Me by Oaklie on:

Website
Etsy
Facebook
Twitter
Google+
On Fire for Handmade Gift Guide

SALE ends Midnight Tonight (30/04/12) on ALL Hair Jewels

Get 25% off all Hair Jewels in my Etsy Shop until midnight tonight. Prices start at just £3.75 for Vintage Button Bobby Pins. Included are Tribal Fusion Headdresses, Bridal Hair Ornaments and sparkling diamante Hair Combs. Like most of my creations these have beautiful antique and vintage elements for a special and unique look.

Visit Vaudeville Gypsy on Etsy

This Weeks Featured Artisan

Are you On Fire for Handmade? http://onfireforhandmade.com
Yes! One of my favourite Etsy shops! Congrats Georgia :)

This weeks' Featured Artisan is Georgia Groves... georgiamarbles. A taste of the past with her delicious aprons and darling dolls! You can find georgiamarbles on:

Etsy

Facebook

Blog


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An Heirloom for the Future

For the past few weeks I have been quietly working on a tribal fusion bellydance belt. It's been a labour of love from the start. I was lucky enough to discover a stunning piece of Art Nouveau fabric from what must have been a heartbreakingly beautiful dress. The fragment from the past formed the idea in my head for a deluxe piece of tribal fusion art.

It takes time, patience and a fair bit of disposable cash to find treasures to adorn a deluxe belt. I was lucky enough to have been given some Victorian gold metal bullion braid by my mother. It has the most exquisite metal thread work and sequins hand embroidered onto purple velvet. My mother was initially horrified I'd cut a piece for the belt! thankfully now she's seen the finished piece she loves it, phew!

The belt has a true feel of Orientalism about it and a touch of Egyptian Revival. The colours are based on black with blues, purples and various shades of gold weaved through the design. Many of the sequins are iridescent which creates fabulous movement. Several vintage and antique buttons in glass and brass have been dotted around the piece to further catch the light. Art Deco jewels are centred at the back. Vintage Japan glass chain forms a fringe along with beaded tassels.

It's a treasure trove of historical delights waiting to adorn a belly dancer wanting to be transported back to a bygone age.

OOAK Dark Fusion Flapper Belt

Liebster Blog Award

I had the lovely surprise of being sent a notification from my dear friend Anna over at Annamaltoys that she had chosen me for the Liebster Blog Award. So a very big thank you and hug Anna! It's a super idea based on the pay it forward principle. 

Here are the rules:

1.  Choose up to 5 up-and-coming blogs (with fewer than 200 followers) to award the Leibster to.
2.  Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
3.  Post the award on your blog.  List the bloggers you are giving the award to with links to their sites.  Leave comments on their blogs so they know about the award.

My chosen blogs are

Made For Me By Oaklie Anne Hopfer deserves this more than anyone else I know. What a talented, generous and lovely person. She makes gorgeous knitwear and crocheted accessories and jewellery. Anne also runs the On Fire For Handmade team on Etsy and beyond, which is so supportive of independent artists.

Edi's Little Treasures makes some of the most beautiful wire wrapped and chainmaile jewellery. I'm always pleased to see what new beauties she has made!

Trundle Bed Times a whimsical and eclectic blog of vintage treasure hunter's delights 

This Weeks Featured Artisan - Anne Hopfer

I am honoured to share this weeks featured artisan - Anne Hopfer's Helping Hands Graphic Design. Anne is the driving force behind the On Fire For Handmade team and does all the hard work you see here each week on this feature, plus much, much more. She creates a beautiful design for each person featured, from her own time and pocket. She is an inspiration to us all for her hard work, determination, generosity and just a good all round sort. We love you Anne. And a BIG thank you xxx

This weeks Featured Artisan is Anne Hopfer - Helping Hands Graphic Design. Banners, Avatars, Ads, Templates.. all customized to your Style! You can find Helping Hands Graphic Design on:

Website

Esty

Blog

Facebook

Twitter

These are a few of my favourite things...on Etsy

It doesn't take long to get throughly addicted to looking at all the beautiful things people make on Etsy. If you have even a passing interest in bellydance you can find some of the most talented artists all in one place. So to share a handful of them I made a little treasury...

Dance Like There's Nobody Watching

This Weeks Featured Artisan

Check out the beautiful jewellery of this weeks featured artisan...

This Week's Featured Artisan is Deb Hall - Zur Designs! Deb not only is a dedicated artisan she also is

dedicated to helping promote her fellow artisans  She has a group on Facebook and team on Etsy called

Indie Junction! You can find Zur Designs on:

Etsy

Facebook

Blog

January Sale at Vaudeville Gypsy

OOAK Ruffle N Bustle Steampunk Bellydance Skirt

Here's to 2012 being a great year for everyone, full of happiness and fulfillment. It has started off well as I am working on an exciting costume project for a Suffolk dancer. I look forward to being able to show you photos in due course. As I am concentrating on this costume, there will be a very limited selection of new items in the Vaudeville Gypsy Etsy store during January. However I am having a January sale. You can receive a 20% discount off any of the  items currently listed by entering the code JAN12 at checkout.

Visit my Etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/VaudevilleGypsy

Tribal Fusion Feather & Flower Hair Ornament

Steampunk White Lace Ruffle Cuffs

This Weeks Featured Artisan

Oooh yummy stuff!

This weeks Featured Artisan is Debbie LaRue - Vintage Tags for Days! Gorgeous tags in a vintage

style to give a unique look to your gifts! You can find Vintage Tags for Days on:

Etsy

Blog

Facebook

Debbie also has a shop called Flower and Bud Jewelry on Etsy too!

Sale this Weekend at Vaudeville Gypsy on Etsy

All this weekend(12/13 November '11), I am having a sale on lace fingerless glove, gauntlets and ruffle cuffs. There are various colours and styles available. They make a beautiful finishing touch to an outfit or costume for Tribal Bellydance, Steampunk, Renaissance Faires, Weddings or just a super Romantic look.

Each pair has been listed with 30% off the usual price. So Ruffle Cuffs are down from £15 to £10.50 and gloves/gauntlets are down from £10 to £7.50.  All are made with beautiful stretch lace, in a variety of vintage style patterns.

Full details can be found in this section of my shop on Etsy: Vaudeville Gypsy Tribal Bellydance

Here are a few examples...click the photo caption to go to the listing

SALE Tribal Bellydance Black Lace Ruffled Wrist Cuffs Steampunk Victorian Gothic

SALE Steampunk Tribal Bellydance White Lace Ruffle Cuffs

SALE Lace Fingerless Gloves White with Black Delicate Design

SALE Magenta and Purple Lace Fingerless Gloves

This Weeks Featured Artisan

Pretty and wearable beaded designs. Lovely

This weeks Featured Artisan is Molly Kimball - Elephant Beads!

Truly unique and one of a kind creations to accessorize your wardrobe with!

You can find Elephant Beads on:

Etsy

Blog

Facebook

This Weeks Featured Artisan

Loving the chainmail

This Weeks Featured Artisan is Frann Ramales - Armored Hearts!

Beautiful chainmail creations and more! You can find

Armored Hearts on:

Artfire

Etsy

Facebook

Blog

This Weeks Featured Artisan

This week's Featured Artisan is Andrea Zimmerman Rogers - Blue Highways. Gorgeous Handbound books and journals. A work of art to keep your thoughts, pics and more! You can find Blue Highways on:

Etsy

Blog

Facebook

This Weeks Featured Artisan

 This weeks Featured Artisan is Debbi La Rue - 

Flower & Bud Handcrafted Jewelry!

You can find Flower & Bud on:

Etsy

Facebook

Twitter

This Weeks Featured Artisan

You may be wondering why I didn't post a featured artisan last week...that's because it was me! Big love and appreciation to all who shared my work on their blogs. One of my items is on it's way to France. I hope the new owner will have lots of fun with it.

OOAK Golden Bustle Belt

This weeks Featured Artisan is Sharri Powell - Most and Mist! Gorgeous creations created with love.

You can find Most and Mist on:

Etsy

Facebook

Twitter

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