On the Radar -- A Red Handbag

Things have been pretty hectic around the Blackbird World Headquarters lately.  As you learned in the Junk Love post for this week, the other Blackbird deserted me to travel across the ocean and have all kinds of adventures in Ireland.  It was a really boring, long, sad two weeks while she was gone, but I was productive!  Well, I was for the first week.  The second week -- not so much.  All I can say is that I am thankful for my Netflix subscription, and I now have a new appreciation for Gossip Girl. 

(In my defense, I had to watch something.  I tried Antiques Roadshow, but believe me, that just made it worse.)

But since she got back home, we have been junk shopping like mad.  (Boy, have we been finding some really good stuff!)  I've been listing our new finds left and right in the Etsy shop.  We're both getting ready to start teaching again -- she's really the teacher, I just have one class.  And the blog has been suffering.  You know, for example, a Radar post on Friday...

Anyway, in the middle of all this, we sold this bag on Etsy:

It's a super sweet frame handbag by Dover, and it has a lovely new home in Texas.  However, while I was bringing this bag from our storage studio to the house, I got several offers from people wanting to purchase it.  When I told them it was sold, they asked, "Do you have any more?"

Oooooookaaaaayyyyy....What's that about?  And then I checked the stats on Etsy.  This bag's views spiked last Saturday.  A major spike.

And then I remembered what one lady who wanted to buy this bag said -- she said, "I'm all about a red bag right now."  So I looked it up, and lo and behold!  EVERYBODY'S about a red bag this fall!

I feel like I am so behind the curve!  But maybe it's because I'm ALWAYS about a red bag.  Red is my favorite color, and if given the choice, I will always pick it.

So here's my roundup of designer bags to drool over.  Look at these, and then just go to Etsy or your local antique store and buy a vintage one.  I mean, ours was only $18.  That's a steal!

Roberto Cavalli, Fall 2013

Marchesa clutches, Fall 2013

Dolce and Gabbana, Fall 2013

All Valentino, Fall 2013

Alexander McQueen, Fall 2013

On the Radar -- Victorian Macabre

Robert Downey Jr as Sherlock Holmes

Ok, so RDJ is not the trend.  (However, any reason I can find to talk about him is fine by me.  As any of you who know us are well aware, we Blackbird girls are his biggest fans...)  But he did kind of inadvertently start this trend rolling again with the Sherlock Holmes movie franchise.  Not only was the occult-ish, dark storylines riveting, the design of the sets, clothing, and the views of London were super inspiring. And hey, the bare-knuckle boxing scene wasn't too shabby, either! 


Victorian design, especially the darker, macabre side, never really seems to go away.  We just keep reinventing and rediscovering it.  The fascination with the cycle of life and death, as well as the fabrics and embellishments that are representative of the Victorian time period made a reappearance in this year's fall fashion shows.  Designers seemed to be fascinated with the idea of a delicate darkness.  The macabre was lightened by a slight sense of whimsy.

Marchesa skeletal bodysuit, Harper's Bazaar October 2012

Alexander McQueen knuckle clutch, Fall 2012

Needlepoint, embroidery, feathers, trims, gold -- you name it, they did it.  But with a lighter hand.  Alexander McQueen (RIP, dear sir...) was the master of the mysterious, and Sarah Burton continued his legacy this season with knuckle clutches.  These small purses have a Victorian sensibility with a modern, rocker edge.  Other designers went with the elaborate and grand -- but with a defter touch in the design than what has been done in the past.  The designs left room to breathe; again, the idea of delicate darkness.

Ralph Lauren, Fall 2012

Lace is also a big influence.  But we'll talk more about that in a few weeks...

Salvaltore Ferragamo dress, Fall 2012

And, as I always say, try vintage pieces to keep up with the trends -- it's usually one of a kind!  One of the more delicate Victorian ideas is hair jewelry.  Hair jewelry was either made for romantic reasons, mourning, or as "memento mori", wearable reminders that we all will leave this world one day.  These pieces are beautiful, and decidedly original.  Here's a lovely example, a braided hair ring,  from a vintage shop on Etsy, Mag Wildwoods Closet.

From Mag Wildwoods Closet on Etsy