BoHo Glam + Hippie Chic + Gypsy Spirit = The Eclectic You

The best elements of all of the styles blended together making the most of your individuality. This look embraces Casual ease with femininity. Materials showcased: Leather, lace, cashmere, rhinestones, beads, faux fur, lace & denim. It really is a timeless look for all ages of women who want to express their carefree personal style. The Ultimate Mix & Match.

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http://seaofgirasoles.blogspot.com/

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Mag TAK "CHICK MAGNET" magnetic Bohemian Czech iridescent peach Rhinestones, lavender flower under glass dome with a black Leather Back

BIJOUX MG Vintage Bohemian Czech Rhinestones, pale pink with Iridescent clear crystals. The perfect Cuff bracelet for a bit of Glam Sparkle.

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Czech Rhinestone watermelon bracelet. Statement Style

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Mag TAK "CHICK MAGNET" Bohemian blue & fushia rhinestones chamois leather back

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West German Upcycled Polished glass "Chick Magnet" Mag TAK. Scarf Pin, Hat Pin, Brooch.

Magnetic Bohemian Czech iridescent baby pink rhinestones, rose metallic swirl, pink leather back

Bohemian Czech Topaz & Gold Rhinestones, Aqua flower under glass dome center. Lace camisole with tobacco leather jacket.

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Boho Glam Hippie Chic Mag TAK "CHICK MAGNET" magnetic Pin Vintage Czech Rhinestones, Pink Leather Back. Up-cycled to be admired all over again.

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Faceted BoHo Glam iridescent Pink wired crystals, silk covered back scarf or hat brooch. Mag TAK™ Vintage Up cycled scarf brooch. Magnetic Made with powerful magnets, vintage silk covered button back.

Hello Gentlemen, Meet ETSY

If you have decided that shopping online is the way to go, you are halfway there. Instead of bouncing all over the place, just save yourself the time and head over to ETSY.com first. That is, if you prefer to not go the cookie cutter route and prefer a look that reflects your individual style.

Where else would you be able to shop all for of your personality layers in one place, from your ipad, in one shopping cart. If you are looking for the perfect statement piece for your den, shopping for pocket scarves to stock up on, or even a sweet gift for someone special ETSY is #homegrown business. So not only are you able to score on incredibly unique items, you are supporting folks that are in the business of doing their part to rescue as much great art from our past for you to enjoy in your future.

Celebrating the design and craftsmanship of the past

I have always had a place in my heart for antiques and vintage things. Not only for their unique design styles but for the history that they brought with them. The fact that something lasts that long is in itself a testament to the quality in which it was made and then there is the design. Even the most mundane, utilitarian things like a cash register was a piece of art with it's scroll designed silver details and enamel finishes. When we are on our hunts, it takes all I have not to ooo and aawww my way into a complete hoarder situation. So we push ourselves to focus on what make sense for our business model. Thus the Victorian Button. What a perfect little specimen of micro art. The designs are a perfect blend function and art. The making of these buttons incorporated the talent and skill of craftsmen like the jeweler, the silversmith, the painter and the glassblower. The materials used in the creation of these glorious buttons covered, cut steel, brass, wood, glass, enamel, etc.

Victorian buttons are the current focus in our Mag TAK product line. The Picture Button, the Perfume Button as well as the Victorian Black glass mourning button. The picture button (1870-1900) depicted scenes of fables, mythology, the mystery of the East and the theater. Amazing detailed micro art to be admired. The designs of the buttons usually had a framed look to highlight the image like a framed piece of art. Secondly the Perfume Button, one of the best romantic concepts ever invented. These buttons were designed with an inset piece of velvet or fabric to hold the perfume drop that was added to the button. A lovely lady would offer her scented button to her suitor or soldier so that they could sew  it under their collar and enjoy the beautiful scent of her while they were apart. The black glass mourning button was created as an affordable option to the Jet Black Glass as worn by Queen Victoria of England after the death of Prince Albert as a sign of mourning. "Wear A Bit Of History"!

An example of a Victorian picture button designed in a floral motif using brass and wood.

Floral design in Cut steel

Victorian black glass mourning button UPCYCLED as a magnetic Mag TAK. Beautiful delicate gold filled floral design, with a velvet covered back button.

the art and design of a pocket square

You see all of these great charts on really cool ways to style your pocket square. When you gather up enough textured scarves to work with, sure play around. But the reality is ....... you know it is most likely that you won't. So just get the basic fabrics and prints covered in the line up and you are covered. The fun part of sporting a Pocket square is to just add a dab of design and personality to what you are wearing. Little lapel pins that have an interesting history, a super sexy textured silk pocket scarf that the ladies just have to touch. So,  to the basics:

Straight Fold, stiffer fabric, like a crisp silk, a linen, lace, or cotton. Ironed into a nice fold.

The tip or the poof: I have found that if you gather up the tip or poof in your hand, wrap a rubber band around it, stuff it in your pocket, it helps it to keep it's shape and stays firm in your pocket.

This well dressed fellow has it all put together perfectly. Proportion, lapel detail,  a bit conservative on the Pocket Square, mostly likely he had a serious business meeting, you can always switch out that detail for after hours.

Magenta contrast stitched edges. Add this floral to a dark navy suit, or white linen jacket.

Thumbprint silk.....this fabric is amazing, top shelf sexy. the texture is like a yummy silky chocolate. Shown is a vintage silk fabric in a regal gold with really rich maroon and navy. When you use this type of fabric, there is no way to end up with a bad pocket poof. Sexy folding fabric.

Here is an example of the crisp silk. It has some body to it so it really lends itself to either a straight fold or the tips. Conversation starter, featuring vintage men's neckwear silk with a sketched theme of ducks in a marsh. Personality in your pocket.

Tech Dapper: a pop of color for your pocket and the perfect microfiber to keep your glasses and cell phone all nice and shiny all the time. Seriously, this microfiber is the top of the line. You can use it on your camera lens. read more of the tech details on the t2 TECH Square in the Etsy Store.

Bottom line: gather up a good variety, different textures and colors, and for God's sake don't go matchy, matchy with the tie. #Dealbreaker

Okay, yes a bit of contrast is good but wow, you gone too far Lad!

A look back at men's styling

Early 1930's. Sidney, Australia. Dashing gentleman getting Poppy pinned on Remembrance Day. Quite the mod tie worked in with a great vest and jacket.

1937 The Sydney Cup. Top hat and tails. Details: pocket watches and FOBs.

1986 Seville Club Tallahassee, Florida. Men's fashion show. Put together, tie tack and vest, on lookers donning the pocket square.

Est. 1903 at the Imperial Hotel. A group of dapper gents, looking very confident. All of the distinct styling details: Velvet collar, rounded collar with collar bar, bow tie, pocket square....these fellas have it goin' on!

1924 Fred Piper, who's father was a steam circus proprietor. Nice pocket square and tie match up Fred, well done sir!

In 1808 the inventor, Richard Trevithick, developed a new locomotive he called Catch Me Who Can. In the summer of 1808 Trevithick erected a circular railway or steam circus in Euston Square in London. During the months of July and August people paid a shilling a time to ride in a carriage pulled by Trevithick's locomotive. Trevithick had plenty of volunteers to ride on Catch Me Who Can that could travel at speeds of 12 mph (19 kph). However, the weight of the locomotive caused the rails to break and he was forced to bring the experiment to an end

Minnesota, Science teacher 1970. The train is officially of the style track. I think of these as the LOST years. Bad color, tie as wide as the Mississippi, plaid pants, mercy, mercy me.

Men's accessory history 101

Welcome to the very first blog from the Modern Renaissance Man. I thought I should start things off with a bit of a "tip of the hat" to the History behind some of the Classic Men's Accessories companies.

Hickok: S. Rae Hickok, founded in 1909 by buying a small jewelry plating business for $350. He led the company's expansion as a major manufacturer of wallets, belts, pants, suspenders, cuff links, tie clasps and other men's accessories. Mr. Hickok also developed prototypes of safety seat belts, which ultimately became standard automobile equipment and are credited with saving many lives. Because of his own early struggles as a business official, Mr. Hickok decided to help other fledgling executives by founding the Young Presidents Organization, which drew thousands of members worldwide. He was also a co-founder and honorary chairman of the World Presidents Organzation and a leader of the Young Entrepreneurs Organization.

Swank:  Swank, Inc. was started in 1897 in Attleboro, MA as the Attleboro Manufacturing Co., and specialized in making and selling women’s jewelry. Not long after the start of production of women’s jewelry,  however, a massive fire destroyed the factory as well as an entire city block of Attleboro. Some jewelry as well as some machinery was saved and the company moved its manufacturing to a nearby building, which remained the center of the company’s business for the next 100 years.

When the United States joined WWI, the company contributed by making metal dog tags for soldiers, as well as other emblems for the military. Around this time, the men’s jewelry line had really taken off, so the women’s jewelry lines were discontinued.

The company then focused all of their attention on producing men’s accessories like tie clips, pins, collar buttons and dress sets. The name Swank was used in one of the company advertisements as early as 1927, but the company did not form Swank Products, Inc. until 1936. In 1941, the company shortened the name again and they became what we now know as Swank, Inc.

Krementz: Collectors prize Krementz jewelry pieces for their beauty and for the incredible quality the company put into creating costume jewelry. The Krementz jewelry story began in the 1860’s, when George Krementz founded his company in Newark, New Jersey. Their original intent was to create men’s jewelry, such as collar buttons and cuff links. In 1886, they turned to the use of gold overlay to create their jewelry. They used rolled gold plate to create a high quality jewelry that was, although technically costume jewelry, by no means cheap. According to Krementz jewelry advertisements of the time, they used gold 30 times as thick as that used in the production of most costume jewelry. The intention was to create a high quality line of jewelry to be sold in department stores. By the 1930’s Krementz jewelry is being sold internationally. A salesman would take a yearly trip to many exotic destinations to sell the jewelry in countries such as India.

Anson: Olaf Anderson emigrated to the U.S.A. from Sweden in 1929 and founded, as president and treasurer, in 1938, the Anderson Tool & Die Co. of Providence, RI making tools and dies for the jewelry manufacturing business up until WWII (1941) when the machinery was converted into milling machines making war production work. After the war, in 1945, when the war contracts were completed, the company started manufacturing men’s jewelry that included a new type of a collar holder and a complete line of men’s jewelry, cuff links, identification bracelets, tie clips, stick pins, tie tacks, tie chains, collar holders, key devices and money clips comprised of sterling silver, gold and silver filled metal bases. The company changed its name in 1948 to Anson Inc. In 1967, along with the men’s jewelry lines, women’s jewelry of stick pins, brooches/pins and silver beads were added to the manufacturing output that used rhodium, bronze and pewter along with the sterling silver, gold and silver filled base metals. The Tiffany Company sold Anson jewelry in their department stores.