2.16.2012

Antique store finds

Photobucket
All in one booth at an antique mall, I found some great treasures. Photobucket
I couldn't pass these two photos up because those crepe paper decorations look so cool! Must have been so much work. I think these are by a photography student, the back of the top photo reads "Existing light 4 P.M. F/4 @ 1/25 no tripod." The bottom one reads "Existing light 4 P.M. F/4 @ 1/25". 
Photobucket
This lady looked so cute, and I love her dress. The palm tree setting (looks like southern California) doesn't quite match the look of the dress. Looks like early 40s. 
Photobucket
My favorite finds are these dresses. A 1940s Hawaiian evening/wedding dress on the left (Holoku I am told), and a 1940s Flamenco dress. I'm kind of obsessed with the Famenco dress. 
Photobucket
This belt is amazing! While sitting on the floor of the booth looking at old photos I saw this tucked under a shelf. It's a 1950s elastic belt with ballet dancers painted on, and the back reads "ANITA PIENOVI SCHOOL OF DANCE ARTS". From what I can find it's from a dance school in Beaverton Oregon. 
Photobucket
Photobucket
And last but not least, a couple of 1943 rationing books. I've been trying to read up on rationing during WWII, and how it works, so it's nice to be able to hold the real thing. Photobucket

28 comments:

art deco dame said...

I love old photos!the prints on those dresses are amazing I can't wait to see them in an outfit post.

Ms.Tips said...

Love the belt, what a great print! can't wait to see you in the Flamenco dress:)

Rizza Lana said...

I have a swollen heart now. I adore the photos. :)

Sorella said...

The funny thing about old pictures are how everybody seemed to be such great photographers before :D.

Anushka said...

The dress fabrics look amazing - incredible colours!

Beth said...

WOW this stuff is great! i too love to go to antique and thrift stores and find old photos and books. I also just found a picture of my grandparents on their wedding day in the 40s when i was going through some things. Good job on the finds!

Unknown said...

Great finds! I esp love the rationing booklets-been meaning to rd up on that as well!! xox

jessica said...

Love the old photos! I have a little collection going of mainly ones with writing and stories on them or years. Adds more to what your already seeing... and the handwriting is always beautiful!

Anonymous said...

What trasures! I imagine the photographer was doing a quick pre-event shoot, to make sure he had the right camera settings for shooting the actual event. Before digital showed you instantly that you had the right exposure, photographers used to do this a lot before weddings etc so they didnt have a big disappointment when they got the film developed!

Deb Clark said...

Lovely finds - that 40s dress really is lovley with the pleated skirt, and she looks so pretty. Lucky you with the rationing book - I have been trying to get one on ebay but they are hard to find.

Annalise said...

Really beautiful vintage items! I also collect vintage photographs from flea markets mostly because I can never find any at the thrift stores. I have a full album that I love to flip through and imagine the lives of the people in it.
XOXO

Lynn Brooks said...

cant wait to see the dresses on, i love flamenco dresses.

Mr. Tiny said...

Great finds! I want to build a giant streamer fort!!!

Straight Talking Mama! said...

What amazing finds, I LOVE old photographs, I always wonder about the story behind the people.

I also love the type of place where you are ferreting around and then find a treasure tucked away somewhere, it's like finding gold :o)

Unknown said...

lovely finds! I'd love to find an original ration book - we are currently spending a month living on 1940s rations! Not easy for a family of 4!!

Maxine x

Http://1940sfamilyonrations.blogspot.com

Charlotte said...

Those dresses look stunning - and that belt! The very next black elastic belt I find, I'm customising it!

xx Charlotte
Tuppence Ha'penny

Miss Tallulah Porkchop said...

WOW, great and unusual finds.

Casey Maura said...

Oh wow! I'm especially loving the ration books, since I've been reading alot about the WWII home front over the past 9 months or so. What a fascinating piece of history! Can't wait to see those dresses you picked up too--and whatever outfit you wear that beautiful belt with. Darn it... Now I want to chuck everything I have to do today and go antiquing! lol.

Dr. Bubbles said...

Have you read Grandma's Wartime Kitchen and Baking Book, both by Joanne Hayes?

A couple of years ago in my grandparents' memorabilia barrel we found not only their ration books, but a 'sugar check' that was used to donate some of a personal sugar ration to...I think it was a church. I'm convinced that a present-day rationing system wouldn't be able to handle such a thing. Or, if it could, it would be a lot more complicated than that 'check'.

In The Heyday said...

Looking forward to seeing that flamingo dress in action!

Sunjo said...

I love those photos, you were lucky to find them! :)

www.sunjooverthemoon.blogspot.com

CC Babydoll said...

Could you please take a photo of the full dress?

Mrs. Diva Akira said...

Oh, the old photos were so nice! :)
I would love to see more of the dresses :)

contrary kiwi said...

I went op shopping the other day but I realised I didn't actually know how to tell what era everything was from, so I couldn't try for anything 1940s/50s. Oh well. I'm sure I'll learn as long as I keep reading your blog.

Unknown said...

That dress is pretty amazing! I wish I was able to find this kind of stuff here in Sydney. Love the blog :)

Zane said...

beautiful finds

Danielle said...

Those photos are wonderful (those decorations are something quite amazing)... I too have been currently obsession about such things... photos of the family from days past. Such fun. And those dresses... you lucky duck!

SassySisterVintage said...

yep, you gotta show us the dress on now! Love that belt too!