Shop update: The Cadoro Jewelry Collection

Cadoro utility charm necklace, 70s.

Many jewelry lovers and collectors of vintage pieces have a place in their heart for Cadoro. The brand's aesthetic was a bit Haute Hippie with a little mod earthy feel. The textures, colors, and scale make their pieces desired and wearable. The designers; actor Steve Brody and Dan Staneskieu started Cadoro in 1945. They traveled the globe in search of fine quality and unique components. I have handled enough Cadoro to know that yes, it was handcrafted. As a jewelry designer, I love seeing those little details and yes sometimes even mistakes.  Many pieces were very limited and today you are lucky to find some of the sought after examples.

Their signature marks are CADORO and CADORO with a copyright symbol. The company suffered the loss of Dan Staneskieu who died in the 1960s and the company ceased trading in 1970. Some say the official end extended into the 80s. This dates the jewelry and makes it limited. Many stars wore their jewelry and the brand was a fashion A list favorite. 

In the last few years, the jewelry archives in NYC have been opened for sale in limited quantities. The surviving designer held a stock of many limited, couture, and unique pieces, in what insiders called the "vault". One major department store-bought for their vintage section since the beginning.  The molds and some fittings are also in the talks-being possibly sold to a major design house-I'll leave it at that...  Many of these pieces are unused stock, runway or one of a kind. This archive is almost empty and such deadstock pieces will not be found.

I am lucky to have access to this archive and wanted to celebrate the brand with this shop update.  I am also a collector of the brand, so there will be pieces from my archive trickling in as well! To this day I am in search of a huge serpent like necklace I accidentally passed up-ah! It was huge....alas... The goal is to curate a couture and runway Cadoro selection on my SVC site as well.  I will be adding to this collection so check back often.

Enjoy this colorful fashion filled shop update: Check Sarara Vintage etsy and Sarara Couture for prices-if you can't find it just shoot me an email: sara@sararavintagecouture.com

 

 

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1950s Liquid Gold: Sammy Davis Vintage and Stylist.com

Sammy Davis as seen on the Stylist.com. Diane Dulgerian image, rights reserved.

When Sammy of Sammy Davis Vintage- an inspiring blog geared towards discussing all things vintage  asked me if I had a vintage gold sequin dress for a project she was doing, I had to think a moment.  This could be hard... vintage, fitted, gold, and sequin... My worry was how to keep Sammy smoking hot and classy.  Then it hit me, the 50s sequin dress tucked in my closet.   Sammy had been asked to work with magnum ice cream/AOL and stylist on a golden hues of summer fashion spot called Find the Perfect Hues of Gold for Summer.

This 1950s sequin dress would be featured on Sammy's blog post, sponsored by magnum ice cream-"liquid gold"/AOL Lifestyle Curator Network, as well as the stylist.com.   You can read Sammy's post and our discussion via the link above.

        

Why was it in my closet, that is a good question? The ironic part is that when I bought this from an estate, I loved the matte golden tone and the fact that it sort of changes colors, but I knew it was a dress that would require the right setting. Clearly, it has found it's moment as I imagined it when someone said to me "it's gorgeous but who and where can you wear it"- I thought New York baby- the New York gal would wear this and have a place to wear it.  So, it is funny that it got to shine in historic Central Park on a New York gal.  I am sure this piece will have many more moments to shine.  I wanted to post all the wonderful shots taken by Sammy's photographer: Diane Dulgerian here.  The cuffs are also unique pieces in our shop, once owned by a Las Vegas showgirl in the 60s-who amassed  an amazing collection of huge, sexy and chic costume/fine jewelry.  I have added some of her pieces, from a source who had access to her archive, to both my shop and my own collection. I love these pearlesque and metal power cuffs from the 70s and the 60s glass and metal large slave bracelets that I sold already.  She had necklaces that attached to the stomach, a sought after Donald Stannard piece, Verdura, and the list goes on.....
                          Enjoy our sexy chic summer in the city interpretation of golden fashion:

Diane Dulgerian, images -rights reserved. Sammy Davis in 70s Golden cuffs and our sequin dress.

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What I Am in Love with Now: A 1920s Egyptian Coat

            Sarara Vintage Couture Egyptian 1920s Coat, Styling Sarara Vintage. Photography Shary Connella

When I came upon this 1920s Egyptian made, embroidered and detailed, coat... I was in love. From an estate and part of an auction, the coat represents the Egyptian styles that appealed to foreigners at the time. Other such examples include Assuit shawls which were made into wonderful dresses and coats during this period.  Looking like something Zita Johann would have lounged in- I snatched it up. The only problem, it fits me. Now and again we store owners contemplate keeping a thing or two.  I am a firm believer in not just keeping the best for myself and sell what I love but this would be cruel and unusual punishment, I must say! 

Sarara Vintage Couture Egyptian 1920s Coat, Styling Sarara Vintage. Photography Shary Connella

So....this time I may break the rule.  I love the glass inserts, the 1920s cocoon cut of the coat (although it's missing the one big original button)-but the huge decorated cuffs and the colors are divine.  Yes, it actually has its original old tag which reads:

D. Chellaram, Cairo tag, image Sarara Vintage Couture.

 Back view. Egyptian 1920s Coat, Styling Sarara Vintage. Photography Shary Connella

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Brooke Shields in Sarara Vintage Couture 30s-40s Gown

I am back from the Manhattan Vintage Show and as usual I saw some to cry for vintage and met some new clients.  Now.....from time to time, I get to send on my finds to stylists working with actors or magazines, but this time I had the pleasure of working first hand with none other than fashion icon/actress Brooke Shields!

Sarara Vintage photograph. 1918-1920 Silk Caftan and Brooke Shields in 30s/40s crepe dress.

She stopped by to admire a wonderful 60s Pucci tank in classic chocolate tones but walked out with a 30s-40s gown that fit like it had been made for her.  And yes everyone, she is stunning at 40 (no makeup, florescent lighting..) but above all well spoken and very sweet.  So, yes the show has actors and famous magazine editors perusing the booths to admire the wears, but I got an icon-done and done.

Her older female companion admired the dress and I pulled it quickly because it hit me right then and there that this was going to be magic. This dress had painstaking elegance with tiny matte gold beads hand embroidered on it with cappuccino toned crystals.

We held our breath as she slipped it on "like butter". I have almost never seen something go on someone and literally be just right.  The two of them made a glam duo. It fit in all the right places then cascaded down to the ground.  This dress, as we commented together, would be great for holiday parties or even a red carpet- depending on the event.  And I swear a tear came to my eye to see her in it without any preparation although she mentioned she would email a pic of her all dolled up on the red carpet or at a party.

Worried I because I had never documented the dress, she graciously allowed me to photograph her in it right there.  I had just found the dress really and had absolutely no time to photograph it on the dress form yet.

What gave me the most satisfaction is that this gown was taken care of by someone who must have saved it carefully with the hope it could live on someday and honestly it was my pleasure to bring them together. I love to think this older woman, who must have worn this only once, carefully placed it in tissue never knowing it would go from old hollywood to the real deal.  I find satisfaction in giving these dramatic pieces life again. Especially, anything from the deco eras the 20s-early 40s.  I admit I gravitate towards these gowns and just found a light berry red long 40s dress embroidered on the front with gray beads that would be such a great holiday party dress-  Brooke call me:) My next victim I am stalking may be more 60s-70s Oscar or Pucci than deco but rest assured it will be a gown.

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A 1930s Dress and The Mummy 1932

1930s (40s)Plaid Silk Taffeta Gown. Sarara Vintage Image.

What could these two things have in common? Well, if you look to my September post; why I am in love with late 1920s gowns-I have clearly been enamored with the deco gown especially the late 1920s pieces.  My focus has been on first processing and researching the 20s gowns from the estate mentioned in my previous post. Those two have since gone to a private collector.  But, I still had one of her gowns left and after looking at examples and the garment construction it was clearly a 1930s gown in design-it is homespun so I am currently dating it to make sure its not 40s. There is no serged inside seams, just raw... But it has metal zipper to the back so this could indicate a later date or alteration.  It actually sat for about 3 weeks without being photographed.  Then, I watched the 1932 film by chance, The Mummy, starring Boris Karloff and as soon as our heroine, Zita Johann, appeared wearing the most divine long metallic thread gown I was mesmerized.

The Mummy. Universal Pictures Film Poster. 1932

These 1930s styles... oh the long gowns, the bodices, the construction, the prints and fabrics....  Now my dress is silk taffeta and has an incredible corset type material constructed in the hip area giving it structure.

Shimpton Couture gown, click on the link below. Image by Shrimpton Couture. 

A similar wonderful era gown is offered by Shrimpton Couture currently, which lends credence to their design history (see the dress above). Notice the similar lengths, fabric choice, bodice and pleating construction around the hips. These silk plaid fabric dresses would make for lovely additions to collections or party dresses, especial this season.

The Fashion of Zita, The Mummy 1932:
Now for a closer look at the costumes/wardrobe of The Mummy's female lead.  One can only say amazing!

The Mummy Film Still, Universal. Zita in Metallic 1930s Party Gown.

From the opening party gown to the suit dress with deco large geometric buttons, to her final Egyptian ensemble, one is hard pressed to pick a favorite.

Zita's suit dress, The Mummy 1932. Universals promo photograph.

Her clothing is everything one wants -old hollywood, glam, unique, chic and so 1930s!

Zita as Helen, The Mummy 1932. Universal promo Photograph.

Zita as the princess, Helen. 1932 The Mummy. Universal Photograph.

The Mummy, promo photograph of Zita Johann. 1932. Universal Studios.

Film stills of Zita in Embroidered Moroccan style lounge wear. Sarara Vintage. 

Similar to Zita's party dress. Amazing Gold Lame 1930s gown. Sold on Ebay by rp vintage. Images by rp vintage. 

       

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