talkingfashion
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The Benefits of Consigning your Jewelry and Vintage Accessories with TalkingFashion
The Benefits of Consigning Your Jewelry and Vintage Accessories
By Paige McKirahan
Looking to get rid of any pieces collecting dust in your closet? Look no further! Here at TalkingFashion, we are always looking for fun, fresh inventory to join our collection. We accept high quality women’s and men’s vintage or antique jewelry, as well as bijoux accessories. If you don’t see the designer of your piece on our A-Z Designers List, not to worry; if you have an unmarked or unknown piece that is unique or valuable, we would be happy to take a look at it! Wondering how you can consign? You can take your pick of our three easy methods below:
- Schedule a free in-home pick up with a team member. (Columbus, Ohio residents only!)
- Ship your items to our office directly
- Come into our office for a free valuation and drop-off.
Once we receive your piece, one of team members will carefully evaluate your item to ensure it is properly identified, authenticated, photographed, and priced. We will then market and ship your piece once it is sold, and you can be paid by online cash transfer, direct deposit, or site credit (which earns you an extra 20%!). Our commission rates vary by item price, and you can view our commission structure here.
Consigning in general has great benefits as it is a sustainable practice that extends the life of pieces, putting their beauty back on the map. When you consign with us, the list of benefits only seems to grow; our high commission rates makes us the obvious choice for all your vintage and bijoux consignment needs! Have more questions? Email use at consign@talkingfashion.net and we would be happy to help!
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Fashion & Style Photography Spotlight: Richard Avedon
Fashion & Style Photography Spotlight: Richard Avedon
By Paige McKirahan
To get off ground the launch of our new photography-focused column, we have elected to spotlight Richard Avedon to kick off the new year! As an American fashion and portrait photographer who was best known for flawlessly capturing his subject’s personalities, he shot over 148 Vogue covers throughout his prestigious career. With humble beginnings as a photographer for the Marines during World War II, he then moved on to become a quintessential photographer at Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, and The New Yorker. Born in 1923, this New York City native’s meticulous eye for detail and great ability to convey emotions through photography landed him the position as one of legendary fashion editor Diana Vreeland’s staff photographers. Her wild visions and eccentric fashion stories were given a new life under Avedon, and his position in the fashion world was secured with her approval. Though most of his work was created before the our current century, his piece's iconic compositions and notable subjects have allowed them to survive the tests of time. Wondering where you have seen his work? He produced a Calvin Klein campaign with 15-year-old Brooke Shields, Revlon’s ‘The Most Unforgettable Women’ campaign, and an advertisement series for Gianni Versace beginning with the spring/summer campaign 1980.
Sources:
Hardy, U. (2016, April 04). 10 Iconic Fashion Photographers. Retrieved from https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/articles/10-iconic-fashion-photographers/
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She Sells Cowrie Seashells by the Sea Shore
She Sells Cowrie Seashells by the Sea Shore
written by Morgan Watkins
In the cold winter months ahead, it’s safe to say that we could all use a little bit of warmth and sunshine in our fashion lives. But how do you incorporate the spirit of the sea into an everyday look? Accessorize with cowrie seashells! Along with being sleek and chic, these natural, nautical pieces carry with them great symbolism and history. Keep on reading to get the low down on cowrie shell accessories.Most commonly found on continents and islands of the Indian Ocean, cowrie shells were utilized by many as currency. Holding monetary value in ancient Asia, Africa, Oceania and even North America, these shells could be used to acquire necessities and goods such as clothing and food. During the height of the West African slave trade, slave owners could buy slaves with this currency.
Juxtaposing the sinister trade going on in Africa during the 17th century and beyond is the beautiful meaning within the cowrie shell. African cultures associated these smooth shells with the Goddess of protection, as well as the strength of the ocean. In fact, it is believed that those who are attracted to the cowrie shell are actually descendents of ocean spirits. These shells also symbolized destiny and prosperity, as they were worn on the hips of both African women and the women of Ancient Egypt to increase female fertility. These girdles could be worn during labor as well as a way to promote a safe delivery. Even when analyzing the shape of the cowrie shell, one could make the distinct connection of the shell’s shape to the shape of a pregnant woman’s belly.
Along with encouraging prosperous fertility among women, these shells could be utilized to provide protection for women and children from evil spirits. The dead even adore the cowrie shell, as they have been found worn by corpses in Ancient Egyptian and African tombs in the form of simple bracelets and necklaces. It is said that they can continue to protect the dead as their spirits leave the physical world.
(Image from https://everythingsoulful.com/symbolism-the-cowrie-shell/)
On a less spiritual note, cowrie shells could be used in a myriad of other ways, like to add a hint of beachy flair to an outfit. To increase their value in jewelry pieces, silver and gold can be added inside and around the shell for a pop of shimmer and shine. When paired with bohemian styles like fringe boots, woven anklets and nautical neckwear, these shells embody the free spirited nature of the ocean.
Whether wearing these shells as a means of protection or fertility, or simply to add easy breezy beach vibes to your look, wearing cowrie shells are an effortless way to reconnect with the ocean no matter how far off the coast you may be. Want to shop some of our best bohemian pieces? Head over to talkingfashion.net to peruse our stylish shell accessories!
References:
“Cowry Shell Necklace.” The Smithsonian: The National Museum of American History, http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1066631.
Prieto, Anayeli. “Cowrie Shells In Ancient Egypt: From Money To Motherhood.” StMU History Media, 28 Mar. 2017, https://www.stmuhistorymedia.org/crowie-shells-from-money-to-motherhood/.
“SYMBOLISM: THE COWRIE SHELL.” Everything Soulful , 22 Mar. 2016, https://everythingsoulful.com/symbolism-the-cowrie-shell/.
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New Year Style Resolution
New Year Style Resolution
By Paige McKirahan
As 2019 is now underway and everyone is adamantly compiling their list of resolutions for the new year, we invite you to create a style resolution list that will be sure to refresh your closet and reset your fashion outlook from January all the way until December! Our resolution list features something dear to us at talkingfashion, and we hope that you are inspired to add it to your list, too; buying and wearing more accessories and pieces that are sustainable, handmade, and vintage is one of our favorite practices and is an easy way to bring new life into your already fabulous collection! Not only does shopping sustainable and vintage have great benefits to you, the environment, and the designers, it also has a rich history that you can read about here on our blog!
This resolution is one that you can truly commit to and even incorporate into the other goals on your list! Shopping for sustainable fashion items can be done right here on our site as our vintage and bijoux items allow you to be sustainable, unique and chic in one swoop. Whether you want to wear more heels, incorporate varying colors into your wardrobe, or experiment with new accessories, don’t be fearful of change or outsider opinions. Always remember: wear what you love, everyday!
Have a fantastic 2019 peeps!
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History of Valentino
History of Valentino
By Paige McKirahan
There are few words that you think of when you hear Valentino, and most of them are associated with luxury. This haute couture label is one of the top fashion brands in the world and has been seen on industry magazines, runways, and red carpets around the globe. Everyone from the likes of Elizabeth Taylor to Naomi Campbell have been seen in these designs and with such a high profile presence in not only the fashion industry, but in the luxury industry as well, you would expect a history that lives up to fame. Valentino Garavani, the creator of the fashion house, made sure that in not only lived up to those expectations, but exceeded them.
(photo credits to wwd.com)
Garavani, an Italian native, was born in Voghera in 1932. He had an affinity for fashion starting at the beginning of his life, and eventually went on to study design in Paris at the beginning of 1950. He then was hired for his first design position with Jean Desses, and worked for them until 1967 when he obtained a position with Guy Laroche in his new atelier. After working there for two years and improving his taste and his technical skills, he returned to Italy and opened his own fashion house. At the end of 1957, he debuted his first haute couture collection and his refined lines and sophisticated aesthetic garnered great praise from publications like the Sunday Times in London.
Valentino with his collection for Guy Laroche in 1967
(photo credits to her.ie)
In the following three years, he quickly became the favorite of those in the “new Hollywood”, or Cincecitta, during great economic success in Italy. One of the first big names to wear a Valentino design was Elizabeth Taylor during her time filming Cleopatra in Rome. His collection for fall/ winter in 1961 boasted garments inspired by Jacqueline Kennedy, which only increased his growing global fame. His superstar status was secured after his 1962 show in Florence; the designs were so dazzling that he became the first Italian designer to have a French Vogue cover created in their honor.
Valentino 1961
(photo credits to pinterest.com)
His fall/ winter collection for 1963, which featured wild animal motifs, landed him in the pages of American Vogue, launching his popularity in the American market. The 1966 Valentino collection has become famous for its pop-art inspired pieces, which were aligned with the iconic movement during that decade. The 1960s proved to be quite prosperous for the brand as the designer’s pieces and accessories, especially his handbags sporting the luxurious gold “V”, were considered to be fundamental parts of a jet setting woman’s wardrobe. 1968 saw critical moments for the label; its spring/ summer line that year contributed to the dissipation of a haute couture crisis that involved people looking at less exclusive models. Following the show, shops opened up in Paris and Milan and later that year Valentino designed Jacqueline Kennedy’s wedding dress. These events made Garavani the most acclaimed designer in the industry at that and set the tone for the rest of his time with the brand.
(photo credits to pinterest.com)
The 1970s brought experimental changes; a boutique line was created alongside of the Valentino label itself, and both lines adopted an art deco aesthetic. The brand’s first namesake perfume was released in 1978, and it was followed by a line of blue jeans that made their debut at none other than Studio 54. Moving into the ‘80s, we see the rise of the famous Valentino red accompanied by classic black and whites; the silhouettes included a variety of draping, ruching, and dramatic details. The ‘90s saw a decade of celebrations for the brand’s 30 years in fashion through a series of films, books and exhibitions. Valentino himself sold the brand to Holding di Partecipazioni Industriali SpA (HdP) in 1998, but remained the creative director until his retirement in 2008; his last show was at the Musee Rodin in Paris and featured the most iconic set of supermodels from all of his decades in fashion. After Garavani’s retirement, Ferruccio Pozzoni and Alessandra Facchinetti took over his position and they were then succeeded by Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli shortly after, who still director the label today.
From Valentino's last show as creative director, 2008
(photo credits to loveofvalentino.blogspot.com)
Valentino has seen a wide collection of iconic accessories ranging from heels to bags. As I said before, the iconic “V” bag was a staple in womens closet and established the house as an essential brand. The Valentino Rockstud heel is quite possibly the most iconic piece to come out of the brand; these studded, strappy stilettos have been a favorite of street style aficionados and have inspired an entire line from the brand. This newfound studded fame reignited the brands popularity and has brought Valentino back to the forefront and into the closets of millions. Check out our favorite Valentino piece in our collection and gift yourself some classic red couture this holiday season!
