Last weekend as I waited for our house guests to arrive I snuck off for half an hour to browse a hospital thrift store. It is the same store where my daughter found her genuine leather Hermes belt.
Darling daughter has a real gift for finding treasure.
I enjoy looking at the vintage wares...
they each have a story and I like to think about who owned them and where they have been all these years.
This bright and cheerful scarf caught my attention out of the corner of my eye.
Vibrant, bold and beautiful colours spoke loudly and I couldn't help but turn my head.
It is in mint condition...made in England of 100% pure silk, has exquisite hand rolled edges and is signed by the designer Frankie Welch.
Worn here with my Lands' End cashmere cardigan which is several seasons old.
I think this is the 7th purchase this Fall.
For the first time in my life I am tracking what I buy and how much I spend.
Skinny Jeans, black dress pants, 2 Merino wool Tee's, a Barbour vest and the Chillox walking coat.
I'd never heard of Frankie Welch so being naturally curious I looked on the internet.
It turns out that she designed thousands of scarves and has designed many around the political arena and many have The White House architectural details in their designs.
She wanted to study with Frank Lloyd Wright but he refused her request saying that he did not teach women!
I do not recognize this building or if indeed it has any significance.
Perhaps it is a Virginia landmark.
I love the bright tones and how they perk up my basic greys and blacks.
Knotted twice ~ it's so simple.
I plan to pair this scarf with my red ballet flats.
~ ~ ~
"Your attitude is like a box of crayons that color your world.
Constantly color your picture gray, and your picture will always be bleak.
Try adding some bright colors to the picture by including humor, and your picture begins to lighten up."
~ Allen Klein ~
20 comments:
What a delightful discovery, and so pretty on you! I write down all purchases and evaluate them for value at the end of the year, sometimes midway. Like knowing what I'm spending. Turns out my guesstimate, in years past, was a little low :)
Hello Hostess- from your Birthday Twin- I have actually been to the Frankie Welch shop. That was a long time ago and I do not even know if they are still in business. It was in Old Town Alexandria Virginia in a darling building that looked like a house. They were known for their wonderful chic frocks for wearing on the DC social circuit. Your scarf is perfect for the season- orange! Especially in the winter (for me at least) much needed color up by the face.
Great find! How much was it? The irresistible thing about scarves is that even if two scarves have the exact same colours but in a different pattern/arrangement/design, the outcome of tying it around one's neck is very different and justifies buying and buying and buying! Enjoy it!
I love the colors as well. Great combination of blue, yellow and red. Great find!
The scarf is beautiful, with great autumn colours. What a brilliant bargain!
I love the details, especially the little house int he margin of the scarf.
I haven't bought anything yet, I'm going to clear out and see what I need today.
That scarf is beautiful Hostess! We do have so many great thrift shops here in Victoria - so many treasures to be found!
Hi Hostess, great scarf find! That building looks very Colonial Williamsburg (Virginia) to me. Frank Lloyd Wright may have been a great architect but he sounded completely insufferable and like a Very Annoying Person. My husband has read some bios on him (he's an architect too) and we love to laugh at what a jerk he was. Good to know Frankie just got on with it and designed some gorgeous scarves. Re tracking spending, I do that too, just to keep myself in check. Great post. I'm going to wear an H scarf today in honor of you. XO, Jill
What a great find! To add to what Jill says, Wright doesn't come off very well in Taras Grescoe's book Straphanger -- his dedication to the automobile and to systems built around it were entangled with some nastily elitist stuff and narrow vision of human geography typical of what landed us in the unsustainable suburban sprawls being abandoned across America. He obviously built beautiful homes, but in that book, at least, he comes off as narcissistic and arrogant!
Just recently found your site & wanted you to know how much I'm enjoying it. Hard to put into words but it's simply wonderful. I've gone back through the years & some of your posts almost made me cry.
I miss my house, my husband of 44 years, talked me into a condo & we've been in it for 12 years, just not the same. ENJOY your lovely, warm home.
All the best,
Linda
You must have a large wardrobe of silk scarves,how do you store them?Max Mara camel coat has a grip on my heart.....shall I/will I.
Hi,
I recognize the house on your scarf. It's the Duvall House on Cameron Street in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. It built in the 1700s and at one time was Frankie Welch's boutique. She was from Georgia and well connected socially. She sold high-end designer clothing, and her own designs, to Washington's elite.
Enjoy your find!
Here's a photo of the house (scroll down). It's only a partial view, but you can tell it's the same as on your scarf. Also some text about Frankie Welch and her designs.
http://jay.typepad.com/william_jay/2010/05/old-town-alexandria-historical-plaques-duvall-house.html
Say yes to a Max Mara coat...if I foud one at a price that I could justify it would be mine...The Hermes scarves are housed in their original boxes...the thrifted ones just get folded and have to share space...I will count my scarves and post the number. I think it is now more than 20 at the very most...it might be a shock, we'll see.
$4.00 less than a no fat decaf latte at Starbucks :-)
Are you a Pisces? March 3rd?
Please tell me more...
Women are stronger than many think...I love that my Mother always said "where there's a will ther's a way."
Happy H day Jill!
Have to get my mitts on that book...never heard of it and need to read it.
Thank you mater!
Hi Linda...I hope that you stop by and share your thoughts often.
If you have a blog please send me the link or email me...
Whoo Hoo! That is great! Thank you so much you are a gem Janet!
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