The Dresses of Peggy Hunt- Exquisite Details

I recently subscribed to the Colette Patterns blog-- I seem to be a sucker for anything sewing or fashion related.

The dress that first caught my eye.  Isn't the tromp l'oeil lace bow fabulous? I wish I knew the technique to make something like that!

On Wednesday, the blog featured pictures of dresses by Peggy Hunt which made me stop what I was doing and immediately go in search of more information about this dressmaker.


Peggy Hunt was born in 1892.  She began as a home sewer who enjoyed making clothes for her baby daughter, but her dresses were soon noticed by the owner of the department store where she worked.  Mr Haggerty, of Haggerty's Department Store, asked her to sell some of her designs in his store.  The rest, as they say, was history. (Biography via here.)

Peggy Hunt's trademarks were illusion necklines, appliques, and lots of  lace.

Peggy's granddaughter Jacqui lovingly keeps her grandmother and mother's (also a designer) memory alive by buying their dresses wherever she can find them, and by sharing the pictures of her collection via her Flickr photostream.

I love the pale pink of this dress along with the tulle skirt.  I can see this one at a red carpet ceremony!

I really think Peggy Hunt's use of sheer overlays is genius.  This top would also be beautiful as just a blouse.

This Peggy Hunt dress is one of my favorites.  I love how modern it looks-- like something you'd buy from Anthropologie!

Love these Dresses that Kate Wears

via Life in Pictures

Isn't that last blouse with the pearl beads absolutely incredible? Kate Moss by Mario Sorrenti

Vintage Berlin

Thanks so much for all the comment love I got on my last post-- you guys are so lovely! It's so nice to get positive feedback every now and again:) It's also nice to know that there are people out there who actually read what I write!

I know I posted about Berlin last time, but I'm not quite finished yet. I promise after this post, I'll stop living in the past and will write about what's going on in my current town, Dubai.

I'm a big fan of the "outfit post," although I haven't quite gotten the hang of it quite yet (see Liebemarlene, Strawberry Koi, Some Girls Wander..., Clever Nettle, Sally Jane Vintage, Casey's Elegant Musings, etc. for better examples). These girls have mastered the art of romantic settings (think train tracks, moss-covered trees, cemeteries, historic mansions), the lens flare, soft lighting... Truth be told, even if I could learn these techniques, I'm not usually wearing outfits that are really deserving of their own outfit post. I'm usually living out of a suitcase, which means my outfit/accessory/shoes choices are VERY limited.

Dress - Vintage, found in a Berlin vintage shop

Cardigan - borrowed from Corrie's closet
Tights - Hue
Boots - Madden Girl, bought at DSW last year
Scarf - (not pictured because it blew off in transit and is forever lost) Corrie's, CNC

I absolutely fell in love with the shops in Berlin. We got around on bicycle (something new to this American girl-- don't try that in our cities, unless you have a death wish!), which meant I had ample time to check out little shops-- and pull over and stop when time allowed! They have a plethora of shops just stocked to the brim with vintage dresses and shoes and what-not. I was in hog heaven, and without the prohibitive price tags, lack of suitcase space, and the flagging US dollar, I might have gone overboard!

Alas, I allowed myself only one item... and that was the creamy lace dress seen above (better picture at the top!). I had been looking for just such a dress for a while, and had even seen contenders at Modcloth and Ruche, but I'm glad I waited as this one is one-of-a-kind (it even appears to be homemade!). There was also something about wearing a dress while riding a bike that made me feel super cute:)

A parting picture of me and Corrie in the local neighborhood photobooth (seriously, it's on the corner outside Corrie's apartment-- shouldn't all neighborhoods have photobooths?!?) goofing off.

Okay, next time I'll tell you a little bit about life in Dubai. Promise.

XOXO,