Rayne Shoes: Wedgwood Heels & Flower Bouquets

Rayne's most famous shoe design is probably the wedgwood jasperware heels made originally in 1958. The original design was a vestal within a wreath and a small cameo on the front, in blue, cream and green variations.



For more images see Miss Matilda's excellent article. At the time Miss Matilda wrote this blog I was negotiating the purchase of a later 1978 pair in lilac. The 70s designs have a different lady on the heel and no cameos.







However the Wedgwood heels, though a technical masterpiece, weren't Rayne's first foray into china decoration.



These early 50s Springolators with matching bag combine porcelain flowers and huge rhinestones, but nevertheless still appear sophisticated rather than in your face.




Aynsley are the best known pottery for making china posies but I don't know who made these. If anyone has an idea please let me know.

Polka Dot Couture #8 Adrian

Myrna Loy wears Adrian in 'When Ladies Meet' 1933

The LLB (Lemon, Lime & Bitters)

This is a fairly modern but nevertheless excellent non-alcoholic cocktail originating in Australia (cheers mates).



Juice of 1/4 lime
lemonade
angostura or orange bitters.

This can be made by the jugful or in the glass. Squeeze the lime juice and put it into a highball glass, add icecubes and pour the lemonade on top. Add a few dashes of bitters on top and drink with a straw.

This is usually designated as a non-alcoholic drink, but be aware that bitters are alcoholic. The non-alcoholic label comes from the very small quantity of bitters in ratio to the other ingredients.

Red and navy, warm and cosy.

From Everywoman magazine January 1946.


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Well(y) Well(y) Well(y)

At last welly design comes of age with these great 20s style Spats Boots from
The Welly Shop



4 colours, great names, can you choose?

Sapphire & Steel 1981

All irregularities will be handled by the forces controlling each dimension

Sapphire and Steel was a science fiction series that ran from 1979 - 1982, featuring Joanna Lumley & David MacCallum. All the stories had a time travel twist and the main characters appeared to straighten things out.


Story 5: The Dinner Party, is a country house murder mystery set in the 1980s/30s


It involves a deadly virus, a jealous lover and multiple murders.



I want Joanna Lumley's hair.

Images copyright Carlton International Media Ltd

1940s Lamps and Shades

More 40s styles....


Ideal Home Magazine October 1947


Ideal Home Magazine October 1948


Ideal Home Magazine September 1949

Keep the home lamps burning

Around about this time of year I get the urge to decorate, it happens every year.
It doesn't always involve paper strippers and scaffolding though one day soon I might get round to the 3 acres of woodchip on the landing. This year, of necessity, it is a more modest project. Many of you who grew up in the 60s and 70s will remember the old whisky bottle lamps. I had a hand-me-down for several years and I loved it even more than the sub-Dresden Cinderella Coach lamp that I was also given.
(No psychoanalysis please).

So a couple of months ago I determined to make one and I was incredibly lucky to find an old bottle in a local charity shop only a couple of weeks after I had started looking.


Bottle 50p, lampshade £1.25 both from charity shops. Bottle converter - one I had but you can get one at Ebay

Sadly Vat 69 bottles are no longer this shape but Benedictine bottles are good and so are Drambuie, De Kuyper Creme de Menthe and Baileys, in fact there are a lot of liquer bottles in interesting shapes.


Lamps from Ideal Home October 1946


Lamp from Ideal Home April 1948

Latest Colour Excitement

I'm always hunting for a good new red lipstick ever since I finished my Lancome 'Orange Fauve' I think Vif would do it....


Click for big. New Red Ribbon Lipstick by Coty October 1949

Peeptoe Shoes

Peep toe shoes for formal town wear were introduced in the late 1930s and were
initially considered rather racy. Sandals for beach holidays and evening wear were acceptable long before the baring of toes and heels during the day was considered de rigeur.


This advert by Lilley & Skinner from November 1937 emphasises the evening wear aspect of open toe shoes.


Treadeasy shoes for day wear. The toe is barely cut at all. No point in painting your toenails in these.


Fancy cutting of the vamp often occured in the design of early peeptoe shoes.

In England new designs for peeptoes and slingbacks disappeared for the duration of the war. But relaxation of the austerity rules at the end of 1945, produced new designs with a vee shaped cutout.


Rayne shoes c1946 with leather covered wooden 'bow'.


Holmes shoes May 1947 classic combination of brogued uppers, peep toes and slingbacks.


The ubiquitous low wedge by Kays.


Formal day shoe for Autumn 1948


Summer shoes for August 1948 with a more 30s style toe.