The vintage appeal of the cherry print

Public Domain Cherries Image courtesy The Graphics Fairy

I'm currently somewhat obsessed with cherry prints, which have found their way into some of my latest projects.  They have a lovely vintage appeal, and add a touch of fun to an outfit.  Sadly, my appreciation of the fruit only goes as far as admiring its visual appearance - a childhood experience involving cherry cake at a neighbour's birthday party put me off eating cherries for life - but they have been used in print form to wonderful effect on all manner of clothing and accessories.



The cherry print has been used on clothing for centuries.  I came across this wonderful image of an 1898 dress by Jean-Philippe Worth, from the Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, featuring an early example of the cherry print.

Image courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

More recent examples of the cherry print include Marilyn Monroe's cherry print dress, worn in 'The Misfits' (1961), and this wonderful vintage advert for swimsuits.

Image courtesy of Cosmosonic Tumblr

Image courtesy of Mad Men Art Vintage Ad Art Collection

The vintage influence of the cherry print is everywhere once you start looking and these are just some of my favourites.

    
Retro 50s style Cherry Print Swimdress Swim set by MyVintage on Etsy.

'50s Halterneck Cherry Print Dress by OhMyHoneyShop on Etsy.

Super Cute Retro Red Bottlecap Necklace with Rockabilly Cherry Print Design by LittleMissMadeIt on Etsy.


 

The cherry print has inspired some of my latest projects, including this vintage-style corset plaque.  I painstakingly painted the cherries on with acrylics before varnishing, attaching ribbons and lace trims, and mounting on bookcloth-covered board.

I'm also working on a dress in a similar style.  Hopefully they'll be added to the shop in a few weeks.

Until next time, bye for now x

Unique paper sculptures inspired by vintage fashion

Hello...and welcome to my blog.  My Etsy shop 'The Paper Boudoir' was inspired by a lifelong love of paper, vintage fashion, historical costume, and in particular, the corset.  Why paper, and not fabric?  As much as I have tried my hand at many creative crafts, I have never had an affinity with fabric and dressmaking.  Having previously opened a shop on Etsy, selling my handmade books, my work frequently incorporated a vintage theme - often in the form of floral, vintage-style fabric, or a cut-out from a 1950s dress pattern embossed on the front cover.

The somewhat tenuous link between my vocation as a would-be bookbinder and paper sculptor originated when I spotted a book on creating sculptures from the pages of unwanted books. And there on the cover of this advertised book, was a picture of the bodice of a dress, made from paper. Somehow it captured my imagination, and having learned the basics of papier mache to construct a dress form, I realised the endless possibilities of this medium, and the chance to indulge my passion of vintage fashion, a passion which went way back to my childhood when I first discovered old MGM musicals in glorious technicolour and the movie stars of the 1940s and 50s.

Although I wore vintage clothing in my youth, these days, I have neither the figure or the confidence to get way with it.  However, I love and appreciate vintage clothing styles as though they were mini works of art, which is, I suppose, what I've attempted to create with my paper sculptures.  I hope my passion makes up for my lack of expertise in corsetry, vintage fashion or papier mache.  My sculptures aren't intended to be strictly authentic copies of certain fashions: I prefer to think of them as my own interpretations of favourite fashion pieces: little mementoes of my appreciation of fashions of the past, my own particular favourite eras including 18th century, 1930s and 1950s. 

My inspirations are many and various, but perhaps my greatest inspiration is my own mother, who sadly passed away just over 2 years ago.  Looking back through old photographs from the 1950s, I realised what a beautiful, stylish and sophisticated woman she was, with a love of clothes and a passion for style, which she managed to retain right up until the day she died.  In memory of my mum, I'm hoping to post regularly on this blog, looking at particular favourite eras, styles, inspirations and highlighting the work of people I admire.  I hope you'll join me.