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!



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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!

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. . .

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!

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(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)!

50 comments:

Anonymous said...

oh wow how beautiful! <3

erin said...

such a great find! thank you for not editing.

Marina said...

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

Rebecca Jane said...

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

Alison Hartford said...

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

Mandi Johnson said...

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

"hi, i'm ginnybranch stelling and i love love." said...

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!

Moorea Seal said...

wow those are incredible!

Coco said...

These are amazing in every details! Beautiful!

-Coco from Our Paper Moon

blukats said...

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

Pseudoangela said...

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!

Lara said...

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!

What we four say said...

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.

Kassondra DeBoer said...

WOW! those are truly amazing!

Karen said...

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

Ashley said...

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

Amy P. said...

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

Annie, Time Enough for Drums said...

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.

megannielsen said...

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...

A said...

Wow, very gorgeous!

Kellie said...

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/

YEYE STYLE BLOG said...

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

Merry Christmas!
Joyeux Noël!

Catherine Shu said...

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

E said...

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

subjunctive moods said...

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

Lexie said...

soooooo gorgeous!

.angi. said...

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

ZO said...

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

Ashley said...

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

Taylor Kitto / The Little Deer said...

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

thelittledeers.blogspot.com

the spectator said...

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.

anon said...

work in those days was so beautiful!

Jen Hsieh said...

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

rebekka said...

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

Lily said...

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

Jess said...

oohhh its gorgeous! happy holidays!

Panna Lola said...

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

Kelly C said...

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

Minka said...

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

Valerie A. Heck Esmont said...

I love the vests, thank you for sharing!

PixieBelle said...

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.

Gosia from Poland said...

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 .

heleen said...

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.

Iulia Romana said...

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

Pennsylvania medical malpractice said...

Love the sequins. Everything is so intricately put together.

cinta / sepi / sayu said...

oh how precious.

Casey said...

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

Unknown said...

oooh girrrrl im kvetching!! ay yi yi !

khdz said...

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...

Cynthia said...

Wow! These vests are beautiful. So inspiring.

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