Garden parties & evening wear

One of the auction sales that I attended last week had a collection of shawls and other vintage clothing that I just had to buy. The silky embroidered shawls are perfect for either a casual garden party - keep your shoulders warm in the cooler evenings - or to set off  more smart evening wear. 

The shawl below is very striking and would be perfect with a plain dress

Whilst this black one could be used with a more patterned or multi-coloured outfit.

Finally to complete the look why not add a pair of extra soft kid leather evening elbow length gloves. Actually, you would need to have quite small hands to fit into these gloves. Women were much smaller in Victorian times and they were meant to be worn very close fitting.  These gloves are probably a size 6 or a 6.5 but even if they don't fit your hands they do add the look when draped over a dressing table or bedside table

Summer linens and lace

I have had a hectic time lately...hence the long time since posting anything on the blog! Last week I was at Carlisle in the Lake District where I came across some nice old and interesting linens some of which will be listed on eBay today. Amongst the treasures was a very unusual tablecloth with Maltese lace edge and teatme motifs.

This is a close up of the centre motif

I also came across a tablecloth with lovely needlelace - each square panel completed in a different needlelalce design

Close up of a couple of the panels below

After Carlisle on Monday, I went to Scotland, then Northumberland and then on to Yorkshire at the end of the week. So linens from all over the north of England and into Scotland. More to come later.