Tuesday, December 22, 2009

A box of sequins

The last time I visited my grandmother's attic I uncovered a box. A very, very special box... Filled with magic. The kind of magic I always hoped existed in her attic, but was never quite sure was actually there. So unassumingly nestled into a crawl space. Covered by some unmemorable junk - shielding the little beauties from dusty attic particles unknown.

Meet me, circa August 2007.

wardrobe remix 8.28.07

. . .

And meet 5 very special traditional Polish costume sequin vests!



. . .

That vest I'm wearing was found in my parent's basement a handful of years ago. I've had my eye on ebay/my grandmother's attic to find more ever since. I was hoping for one - never mind FIVE !



My 7 year old self would probably be cringing inside right now. If only I could dig up the photos to prove it. Little me, big ears, hair in braids posing by the rhododendron bush with a gap tooth smile and outfitted with my ribbon hair wreath, white lacey collar blouse, puffy white skirt and of course - the vest. A few good years and a set of braces later - who would have thought I'd develop an unending love for every part of that costume.

. . .







. . .

I left the vests with my parents back in New England. To compensate for not bringing them back to San Francisco I went totally nuts with the camera. Like, baby's first birthday party nuts. So, I'll have to apologize now for the photo overload. I hope you'll understand but I just couldn't edit! Too many tiny details to look at!

IMG_0571

IMG_0586

IMG_0592

IMG_0623

IMG_0625

. . .

The under-working stitches are all covered by black satin, except for one... Which is lined in the most perfect chambray - and I think it's my favorite!! All the tiny details meant to be hidden away make me melt!

IMG_0606

IMG_0604

. . .

(This post is dedicated to Miss Ginny Branch Stelling - the sweetest gal who's favorite color is shiny and who leaves a trail of sequins wherever she goes)!
at

50 comments:

  1. AnonymousDecember 22, 2009 at 6:15 PM

    oh wow how beautiful! <3

    ReplyDelete
  2. erinDecember 22, 2009 at 6:15 PM

    such a great find! thank you for not editing.

    ReplyDelete
  3. MarinaDecember 22, 2009 at 6:22 PM

    I am so happy for you! I love discovering things in the Attic! And, these are just great pieces!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Rebecca JaneDecember 22, 2009 at 6:25 PM

    these are all so beautiful! What a fabulous attic find.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Alison HartfordDecember 22, 2009 at 6:26 PM

    Wow, I found one just like those at a thrift store last year. So beautiful. Mine has a little tag inside that says something like "Polish Traditional Dancing" and someone's name handwritten in. I love wearing it. And with five of them, you could start a traveling troupe!
    Love your blog!
    Alison
    alison-adorn.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Mandi JohnsonDecember 22, 2009 at 6:30 PM

    wow! I can imagine you would be absolutely thrilled. I wish my grandmothers had been pack rats... ah well.

    ReplyDelete
  7. "hi, i'm ginnybranch stelling and i love love."December 22, 2009 at 6:48 PM

    i just melted in a puddle. that is the best thing i have seen all day- i'm in loooove! you are too cute, miss francie pants!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Moorea SealDecember 22, 2009 at 7:05 PM

    wow those are incredible!

    ReplyDelete
  9. CocoDecember 22, 2009 at 7:39 PM

    These are amazing in every details! Beautiful!

    -Coco from Our Paper Moon

    ReplyDelete
  10. blukatsDecember 22, 2009 at 8:04 PM

    Those are beautiful and speak loudly about how wonderful ethnic clothing can be. What a great find, especially since it is from your grandmother.

    ReplyDelete
  11. PseudoangelaDecember 22, 2009 at 8:16 PM

    I'm actually mildly surprised at how much I loved those vests. I've got a vague idea of what a traditional Polish costume looks like in my head and it never occurred to me that they'd be adorned with such beautiful details. Thanks for sharing those!

    ReplyDelete
  12. LaraDecember 22, 2009 at 8:52 PM

    Beautiful! My husband and I are both Polish (we live in Chicago. If you are white, your almost always part Polish). I always loved the traditional attire bu my Polish side (and my husband's) have been here since the 1800's so it was lost in the melting pot called America. I love this post!

    ReplyDelete
  13. What we four sayDecember 22, 2009 at 9:54 PM

    Those are magical. I can't believe you had the will power to leave them behind, I would have stuffed them in my bra if need be! :) I seriously have dreams about finding things like that in Attics. It's become a real letdown upon waking up.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Kassondra DeBoerDecember 22, 2009 at 10:53 PM

    WOW! those are truly amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  15. KarenDecember 23, 2009 at 12:16 AM

    Oh how wonderful..thanks for showing all the details and handwork. I have never heard of Polish sequin vests, and I adore them!

    ReplyDelete
  16. AshleyDecember 23, 2009 at 12:20 AM

    Totally amazing vest! Your grandma's attic is such a treasure loft!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Amy P.December 23, 2009 at 12:26 AM

    Those are so beautifully detailed; I can see why they are your babies! :} They are just lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Annie, Time Enough for DrumsDecember 23, 2009 at 12:31 AM

    This is so much fun. I just happened on your blog and it's wonderful. You can check mine out at timenenoughfordrums.blogspot.com. Annie.

    ReplyDelete
  19. megannielsenDecember 23, 2009 at 2:46 AM

    Gosh those vests are amazing! It is funny how often we appreciate our heritage more as we get older!! And stuff we hated when we were kids suddenly seems so cool...

    ReplyDelete
  20. ADecember 23, 2009 at 2:54 AM

    Wow, very gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  21. KellieDecember 23, 2009 at 3:35 AM

    Aw, what an amazing find! :D They're incredible! I wish my grandma had things like this hidden away in her house!

    http://playingdressupwithkellie.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  22. YEYE STYLE BLOGDecember 23, 2009 at 7:45 AM

    Those little vest's are so amazing! I love the sequin and bead work on them.

    Merry Christmas!
    Joyeux Noël!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Catherine ShuDecember 23, 2009 at 9:09 AM

    These are amazing! I love how you included a picture of the beading's back... I always love seeing that because it traces the path of the needle worker's hand. These are so beautiful and magical... thanks for sharing!
    the renegade bean

    ReplyDelete
  24. EDecember 23, 2009 at 9:39 AM

    they are beautiful. they remind me of my hungarian grandma's embroidery.

    ReplyDelete
  25. subjunctive moodsDecember 23, 2009 at 10:40 AM

    Lovely and intricate! Vintage via family attics, I think, are the best kind of finds.

    ReplyDelete
  26. LexieDecember 23, 2009 at 1:15 PM

    soooooo gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  27. .angi.December 23, 2009 at 2:43 PM

    wow! are you going to sell any of them, because i am most interested in buying one!

    ReplyDelete
  28. ZODecember 23, 2009 at 3:22 PM

    I wish my babcia had one of these in her attic!

    ReplyDelete
  29. AshleyDecember 23, 2009 at 5:22 PM

    WOW! Those are so intricate and beautiful. You did an amazing job!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Taylor Kitto / The Little DeerDecember 23, 2009 at 6:59 PM

    wow all of these are really great!
    i love sequins so much.

    thelittledeers.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  31. the spectatorDecember 24, 2009 at 1:07 AM

    This is a very special find - to be treasured. I have a photo of my mother, who is Polish, wearing a similar vest. She was part of a traditional folkloric dancing group.

    ReplyDelete
  32. anonDecember 24, 2009 at 2:20 AM

    work in those days was so beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Jen HsiehDecember 24, 2009 at 3:35 AM

    the detailing and cut of those vests are stunning. i love how you modernized it with your outfit. :)

    ReplyDelete
  34. rebekkaDecember 24, 2009 at 10:47 AM

    The ribbon hair wreath is like...oh my gosh...the sweetest thing ever.

    ReplyDelete
  35. LilyDecember 25, 2009 at 12:54 AM

    From me to you.
    http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn13/lilyk0421/HappyHolidays.jpg

    ReplyDelete
  36. JessDecember 25, 2009 at 1:23 PM

    oohhh its gorgeous! happy holidays!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Panna LolaDecember 25, 2009 at 3:05 PM

    I've got the same sequin vest,but it's black and sequin it's silver:)the photo it's on my blog,My vest it's old.

    xxx Lola

    ReplyDelete
  38. Kelly CDecember 26, 2009 at 9:00 AM

    I imagine you crawling around in an attic with a well trained hound down, tracking down the treasures that have been so well hidden.

    www.thegreenknitter.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  39. MinkaDecember 26, 2009 at 6:32 PM

    I'm Polish and have similar vest. your blog is so special. I'm glad I found it

    ReplyDelete
  40. Valerie A. Heck EsmontDecember 28, 2009 at 12:00 AM

    I love the vests, thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  41. PixieBelleDecember 28, 2009 at 5:32 AM

    Those are absolutely wonderful. The detailed work and love gone into them is just lovely to see. Funny how as a child we don't always appreciate what's in front of us but it's great that as an adult you can grow that love and appreciation.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Gosia from PolandDecember 28, 2009 at 7:23 AM

    These folk costumes are still made in Poland.You may want to have a look at the site of one of the producers:http://www.perfekt.krakow.pl/costumes.

    (Don't worry I don't want to sell them to you.Just couldn't find any decent information on traditional Polish folk costumes in English - this one was the most informative.)

    The site is in English - have a look at Kraków costumes - your sequin vests are typical for the Kraków region - especially if yoy click on "Sukiennickie" costumes .

    ReplyDelete
  43. heleenDecember 28, 2009 at 8:30 AM

    Incredible! Please don't apologize for the pictures-overload, I enjoyed looking at each and everyone of them. How lucky you are to discover such gems!

    Ahhh, pretty pretty pretty.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Iulia RomanaDecember 28, 2009 at 12:29 PM

    Aww,such a beautiful outfit ! Love it.Going to follow !

    ReplyDelete
  45. Pennsylvania medical malpracticeDecember 28, 2009 at 2:55 PM

    Love the sequins. Everything is so intricately put together.

    ReplyDelete
  46. cinta / sepi / sayuDecember 28, 2009 at 6:58 PM

    oh how precious.

    ReplyDelete
  47. CaseyDecember 29, 2009 at 8:09 AM

    Oh wow--those are amazing! I don't blame you for going a bit wild with the camera (I would!)! ;) I just love studying and looking at embellished pieces like these--they're so interesting. Not to mention gorgeous to boot! :D

    ♥ Casey
    blog | elegantmusings.com

    ReplyDelete
  48. UnknownDecember 29, 2009 at 11:42 PM

    oooh girrrrl im kvetching!! ay yi yi !

    ReplyDelete
  49. khdzJanuary 17, 2010 at 12:57 PM

    what a fantastic find.
    if i found something like that in my attic (if i had one) i would spend all day taking pictures of them...

    ReplyDelete
  50. CynthiaJanuary 18, 2010 at 6:50 PM

    Wow! These vests are beautiful. So inspiring.

    ReplyDelete