Dress Clips and Duettes in the National Post

posted on: Thursday, November 8, 2012


A wonderful article on vintage dress clips appeared last weekend in the National Post.  It was written by Nathalie Atkinson, a fan of vintage costume jewelry.  We both have a passion for early Deco dress clips.  Duettes are pins that can also be worn as two dress clips; they are among my favourite examples of this period that we hope will come back in fashion.  They are versatile and create a unique fashion statement.  Here are a few of my favourites:
Dress Clips



Stay Fabulous,
Carole

Q & A with Carole Tanenbaum on TNT fashion blog

posted on: Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Here is an Q & A Carole had with TNT fashion blog.


Click here to read on.


Stay Fabulous,
Carole

Summer/Fall Issue of Wedluxe

posted on: Tuesday, October 9, 2012

We are pleased to be featured on the cover of the Wedluxe magazine this season.


There is a lovely editorial dripping with CTVC.



Stay Fabulous,
Carole

US Election

With the US elections fast approaching, support your party preference with vintage.

Stay Fabulous,
Carole

10 Minutes with Carole in Colin Cowie weddings

posted on: Friday, September 14, 2012

We are delighted to see an interview that I had several months ago with Juli Alvarez on Colin Cowie weddings. I thought you might enjoy some of the "old" new ideas we had for the bridal community

Stay Fabulous,
Carole

House & Home

posted on: Friday, September 7, 2012

Several months ago, the editorial staff from House & Home visited me for an interview and photo shoot. It was great fun! I particularly appreciated their respect for the various collections. During the shoot, I was able to view my collection with fresh "eyes". What a terrific team these professionals are. It was a delightful experience. Please take a look at the finished product.




Stay Fabulous,
Carole

The September Issues

posted on: Friday, August 31, 2012

I have a hard time wondering what’s more intriguing – the original colorful and creative clothing featured in the editorials – or the Ads by the different designers. Take for example the Alexander McQueen ads in Harper’s Bazaar. McQueen collections are touted as being among the finest and the ads do not disappoint ! They are beautiful, provocative, and unique.

 

One of the most intriguing editorials I’ve seen pares artist Nick Cave’s wearable sculptures known as “soundsuits” with the wild and wonderful prints that are so hot this fall.  Kudos to the fashion world for making this year’s fashion a veritable art form!  






Stay fabulous,
Carole

"Addio", sweet Anna

posted on: Thursday, August 23, 2012

A true icon of fashion and style, perhaps the last remaining from the heyday of the 20th century, passed away earlier this month, on August 7th.

Anna Piaggi was a true original. I wanted to take an opportunity to pay homage to her.

Anna was Italian, a writer and translator who understood the nuances of making fashion accessible and consumable for the masses. She applied her creativity with notable publications such as Vogue Italia. She was noted for her double-page spreads featuring montages of text and imagery which reflected her fashion sense. She quickly became a sought-after authority in European fashion.

Piaggi became infamous for her vast collection of clothing, rumored to have over 2800 dresses and 260 pairs of shoes. It is said that she was never seen in public wearing a repeat of the same outfit. She was a walking work of art - bold, creative and absolutely exciting to follow. She held company with some of the greats of fashion, from Karl Lagerfeld to Manolo Blahnik - who were all enamoured by her sense of style and beauty. Taking residence in New York periodically since the 1950s, Anna became a favorite subject of another one of my icons - legendary high fashion street photographer Bill Cunningham. She will be missed by many.

Carole

ART DECO Purses & Clutches

posted on: Tuesday, August 21, 2012

I have always been particularly obsessed with the segment of my collection that features purses and clutches from the 1920s Art Deco period to the '50s.

One of my favorite aspects of these pieces is their variety of shapes and silhouettes. Each design is original, and add an interesting aspect to current-day accessorizing.

The hardware on these pieces are often made from bakelite, marcasite, and lucite, adding a unique feature of days gone by.

Whenever I wear them, people stop me on the street to ask - where they are from, and where they can find them.

Do you share my obsession for these classic vintage purses? If you happen to know a bit more about their interesting history, we always welcome feedback!

Stay Fabulous,

Carole

GRAZIA MAGAZINE x CTVC!

posted on: Wednesday, August 15, 2012

In the wake of the 2012 Summer Olympics, London-town is still absolutely rocking in Grazia Magazine's latest edition!

They have featured a stunning Alan Anderson collar necklace from our collection (second from the top), and we could not be happier to have worked with this banner British publication. Special thanks to Kitch + Honey, our PR firm on the British side of the pond, as well as to the ever-lovely Noelle Reno, Kabiri, and Rous Iland.

Enjoy!

Stay Fabulous,

Carole

Olympic Coverage!

posted on: Thursday, August 9, 2012

We are thrilled to be featured in the UK Olympic edition of HELLO Magazine. Our London representative Noelle Reno shines in jewels from the Carole Tanenbaum Vintage Collection.

Stay fabulous,
Carole


Polka Dot Heaven

posted on: Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Bill Cunningham is one of my all-time faves, one of the most iconic photographers in fashion history and of course known for his raw street style. So whenever I do get to catch his column "On The Street"in the New York Times, it is always a treat.

This past Sunday he featured the art adorning the facade of Louis Vuitton's Fifth Avenue store in New York City. LV has been collaborating as of late with the mercurial Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, who is renown for the heavy emphasis on polka dots in her work. The Whitney Museum also launched a retrospective featuring Kusama to coincide with the Louis Vuitton unveiling. Notably, another Japanese designer, Rei Kawakubo showed a collection heavily laden with huge polka dots last spring.

So apparently its now officially a love affair again, but I did want to show you some beautiful bakelite bangles from the 1930s and 1940s that featured inlaid polka dot designs. There has long been a fascination with this geometrical shape, especially when it can be used to complement and to contrast. Bakelite jewelry in general enjoys a cult-like devotion among vintage connoisseurs today, and we are proud to have some great pieces in our collection here at CTVC.

I do however also share a love for polka dots, so yes, if I do get down to New York City in the coming weeks, I will be sure to stop by the Whitney Museum to take in what should be a very interesting exhibit!

Stay Fabulous, Carole

Downton Gatsby

posted on: Wednesday, July 4, 2012



We seem to be looking at a fall/winter season rich in hair adornments! These divine treasures reference the much-talked-about premier of The Great Gatsby, as well as the ongoing hit series Downton Abbey.



A creative way of achieving these looks could be to pin a favourite large-scale brooch onto a simple headband! We love this deco trend.

Stay Fabulous,
Carole

Impossible Conversations: My Thoughts

posted on: Monday, June 25, 2012



I finally made it to the Schiaparelli and Prada Exhibition at the Met. Although their individual styles don’t necessarily echo each other’s’, I found that both designers were unconventional in their approach to fashion. They came from diverse backgrounds (Schiaparelli from humble means and Prada from privilege), and they both rebelled against the ‘safe’ styling in fashion jewelry during their respective times.
One of the most interesting things I found about the show was that they were both influenced by the concept of “ugly”, with Schiaparelli being told by her mother from an early age that she was ugly, and by Prada using “ugly” as a fashion statement. The exhibit itself tended to favor Schiaparelli’s short jackets and hats. Prada was well-represented by her extraordinary sculpted shoes and unusual skirts.
All in all, an inspirational show, and a must-see for those of us who are interested in the connection between the artist and his work.

Stay Fabulous,
Carole

Spring Blitz

posted on: Friday, May 18, 2012

I always feel so fresh and optimistic when warm weather begins to be the norm. So, we at CTVC have selected two wonderful pages of rings and seasonal sets for your perusal. Hope you enjoy. Stay Fabulous, Carole

Impossible Conversations

posted on: Thursday, May 10, 2012


Earlier this week marked the launch of the Schiaparelli and Prada retrospective at the Met in NYC. The two women, Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada, were both Italian fashion trailblazers and leading women of their time. Though the two never got to meet in real life, this exhibition is set up against a backdrop of imaginary filmed conversations between the two, featuring the real Prada and actress Judy Davis in the role of Schiaparelli.

I have been collecting vintage Schiaparelli jewels and illustrations for years; the use of colour and uniquely cut stones have always captured my heart. To see a modern-day resurgence of popularity for the designer is so exciting! I can't wait to see the show, which is on until August 19th. For more information on the show please go here.

Stay Fabulous,
Carole

PursesToBuy

posted on: Friday, April 13, 2012



I am pleased to announce that the couple behind one of my favorite websites, Watches To Buy, have launched a site for vintage purses entitled Purses To Buy Our family has been dealing with Derek and Michelle Dier for many years, purchasing some of the most rare vintage watches from their impressive collection, which is currently featured on this season of ABC's Mad Men.
To launch Purses To Buy, Derek and Michelle came and chose a diverse and high-quality selection of purses from my collection. They range from the turn-of-the-century to the 1970s. So far he is the only representative of my purse collection so please enjoy this exclusive showcase!

Stay Fabulous,
Carole

CTVC on The Marilyn Denis Show!

posted on: Wednesday, April 11, 2012




The Marilyn Denis show featured a segment last week with star stylist Peter Papapetrou going behind-the-scenes in his career. All the jewelry for the shoot is from CTVC! Watch his great interview here!

Stay fabulous,
Carole

Charmed, I'm Sure!

posted on: Tuesday, April 3, 2012




While browsing the pages of this month's Harper's Bazaar, I came across an editorial that featured the launch party of Dolce & Gabbana's spring collection. The collection, which is inspired by the Italian tradition of the family feast features charm bracelets embellished with peppers, garlic, and pasta. In almost every photo a guest is pictured wearing one of these whimsical bracelets. I am hoping that this becomes a trend as there are so many wonderful vintage charm bracelets out there. They are fun, colourful, and a great accessory to start off the spring/summer season! Click here to see some of our favourite charm pieces.

Stay fabulous,
Carole

TVCJC

posted on: Wednesday, February 29, 2012




I am very excited about my lecture at the Toronto Vintage Costume Jewelry Club on March 7th. It's chock-full of designers that are rarely mentioned and areas of costume jewelry that are sorely neglected but will finally have their chance to shine.
For many of you who are curious about my personal collection, there will be a great slide presentation as well as pieces of mine in person. I'm hoping there will be an interactive discussion among us all at the end. Please take part! It will be an evening of bijoux!

Stay Fabulous,
Carole

British Invasion

posted on: Wednesday, February 22, 2012



We love our UK team! Representative Noelle Reno and PR firm Kitch & Honey have done a great job with spreading the buzz about CTVC across the pond. They sent us tearsheets today of all the UK press we've received in the last few months. We're thrilled at seeing the pieces in new publications! We particularly like this photo from S magazine of the model in Vendome earrings. We've featured the designer this week here. Take a peek!


Stay Fabulous,
Carole

SJP in CTVC!

posted on: Thursday, February 9, 2012




Fashion icon Sarah Jessica Parker kicked off NY Fashion Week by hosting the gala for amFAR: The American Foundation for AIDS Research. We love the cause, and we LOVE that she wore a CTVC vintage jewelled collar by Schreiner for the occasion! It looks incredible on her.


Stay Fabulous,
Carole

Toronto Vintage Costume Jewelry Club Lecture

posted on: Monday, February 6, 2012




I am delighted to be invited to lecture for the Toronto Vintage Costume Jewelry Club. I will be speaking about a few of my favorite designers who are relatively unknown, as well as the importance of unsigned beauties.
I will also talk about areas of collecting costume jewelry that I feel have been neglected and that will be tomorrow's treasures. These are new subjects that have not been addressed, and I think it will be an exciting discussion with lots of audience participation!

I will be bringing in a selection of my favorite vintage pieces as well. Please join us.



Stay Fabulous,
Carole

Two Must-Have Books

posted on: Wednesday, January 18, 2012




I was given two amazing books for the holidays that all fashion enthusiasts should own. Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty delves into the designer's full career, from his small beginner label to the huge fashion house he would become, challenging social and political ideals every step of the way through his designs and avant-garde installations.

The next is Daphne Guinness by Valerie Steele. Guinness, the subject of this book, is renowned for her style and collection of haute couture. As both a patron and inspiration to today's major designers, Guinness' candid interview with author Steele, the origins and character of her sense of style come to light. It's littered with eye candy!

It takes a lot to be considered a true fashion icon, and both of these books illustrate the influence these two had and have on the world of fashion. Get them here and here!

Stay Fabulous,
Carole

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