Barg of the Week: Costume Design Books

Usually my Barg of the Week finds are second-hand bought, but from time to time I come across new items which are equally cheap-as-chips. This weeks feature is a strange case of the two combined.

So I was at the Victoria and Albert Museum on a college trip, some months after having been to see the Hollywood Costume exhibition (and The Lion King Musical!) with my mum. The costume exhibition (which was mind-blowing, might I add) had closed some weeks before, and hence the V&A shop was trying to clear the exhibition-specific merchandise. Here's what I came home with:

 These chunky, beautiful books retail at £50 (Dressed - A Century of Hollywood Costume Design) and £35 (Hollywood Costume). As I'm going to study Theatre Design at uni in September, and have a specific interest in costume for film, I had wanted these books ever since they hit the shelves...but not with those pricetags.

The one-off copies I purchased were ex display books, handled by thousands of people, creased and bent. This wasn't a problem to me...considering they were £5 and £10! Saving me a total of £70. Don't mind if I do V&A.

Quite frankly the content is invaluable. This double page spread features Liza Elliot (Ginger Rodgers) from Lady in the Dark (1994). The costume designer was Edith Head, a renowned legend in the industry.

Rose's iconic suit from Titanic (1997). Costume designer - Deborah L. Scott.

This is probably one of my favourite pages. This gorgeous dress, worn by Deborah Kerr in The King and I (1956), is undoubtedly a demonstration of the upmost skill.

And whilst we're on the subject of 1800s dress, here is the stunning Vivien Leigh as Scarlett in Gone with the Wind (a film I have a confusing love/hate relationship with). Walter Plunkett designed some incredible pieces for the movie.

And for a final peek inside these facsinating books, a double page spread on the lustrous gowns from The Mystic (1925). These elaborate pieces greatly remind me of how Alphonse Mucha's women are clothed. Aren't they divine?

For a grand total of £15 I really couldn't go wrong with these, and would recommend them to anyone with an interest in costume. Maybe I'll write a proper review someday, but for now, enjoy the eye candy!

Barg of the Week: Abandoned Banisters

Hey everyone!

I'm sorry for my absence over the past week, I've been extremely busy preparing for a massive house project which my entire family will be participating in this summer (details to be announced soon). As such my writing has been pushed back, but things are a bit calmer now, so I'm happy to bring you another interesting Barg of the Week:

So I was on my way back from town, after having made a trip to purchase some materials for a project. On my way to the car park, I was distracted by a large skip beside a pub, which was getting gutted out for refurbishment. For the most part when I peer into skips I just see unsalvageable junk - broken plasterboard, wallpaper strips, broken bricks - nothing too exciting.

But I was in for a surprise! This particular skip was piled high with what appeared to be the pieces of an old stair banister. Gorgeous turned wood spindles and grand end posts. It was tragic to see them cast out, destined for landfill. But no-one was around...could I just take them?

I waited for about 10 minutes, and finally two lads emerged from the building, carrying a grimy carpet. I sidled up to them, and asked with all the boldness I could muster if I could salvage the wood. The guys grinned, evidently amused that a young girl dressed in heels and a smart blazer would want an old staircase. But oh, I really did:

They even helped me load it all into the car, and stopped a passerby who thought he'd get in on the freebies from taking a handful of spindles. Sorry dude, I got there first! Skip etiquette and all that.

I've been thinking long and hard about different ways in which I could upcycle this lovely wood. Do you have any suggestions for me? I look forward to giving these interesting pieces of interior architecture a new lease of life.

Barg of the Week: Marmite Birds

Supposedly the deal with Marmite is that you either love it or hate it; there's no mediocrity as far as that spread is concerned.

It would seem that a set of rather unusual antiques I purchased at a charity shop have a similar impact on people:

I am personally a lover of these funky birds (which is pretty self-explanatory since I invested in them)

I'm not sure how old they are, but apparently they were donated by an antique dealer who was clearing out his house. My guess is 1970s, but I could be wrong.

There are two sets, one with blue birds and one with red birds. I'm really interested in east-asian culture, so these guys immediately appealed to me.

There're displayed in 3D frames, much like real taxidermy...although with super-fake, incredibly tacky plants. Is it wrong that I love those plastic flowers?

Close-up of the hand painted birds and Chinese writing on the frosted glass. The ribbon edging is a nice touch.

There are little doors on the back of the boxes, which open to reveal LIGHTBULBS. I kid you not.

There you have it.

Complete with a rather old skool plug. Maybe this would help to indicate the age of my birdies? Can any electrical genius help me out here?

Regardless, the plan is to touch up the paintwork, modernise the electrics and get these babies on the wall. For £5 (only £2.50 each, good grief), I couldn't go wrong.

The question is, do you love them or hate them?

Barg of the Week: Retro Shot Glasses

I like 70s patterns. And I like colour. And I also happen to like shot glasses. So I guess finding these was a win-win situation.

There are two different sets - the top row with the large floral print and the bottom row with the smaller design.

The top row are my faves. I especially love the bright blue one on the right.

Colour just fills me with joy, y'know what I mean? Who doesn't love colour! 

Even the white one (which isn't a 'real' colour) is eye candy if I ever did see it.

These are tasty, and they were all mine for £2.00. That's less than 20p a glass. You can see these featured on my Sexy Shop Counter post.

BARG OF THE WEEK: The Tiger in the Smoke

'Don't judge a book by its cover' - Edwin Rolfe and Lester Fuller

I'm all for this famous saying, but it has to be said that books with nice covers are very attractive. I was rummaging through a pile of old books at a community charity shop when I came across this one:

I love illustration, so the detailed cover immediately caught my eye. It was old and worn, just how a book should be in my opinion!

I later discovered that it was published in 1953. One of the things I love about second hand is wondering who used to own my new possessions; at such an age, I wonder how many hands this book has been passed through over the years?

A close-up of the cover art. It looks like the design is based on star signs - the Taurus cow, Capricorn ram, Pisces fish etc. I hadn't heard of the book before, but according to Wiki it's a murder mystery. I'll be interested to see if/how the illustration is relevant to the plot when I read it.

Underneath the dust jacket - gorgeous gold leaf type.

That old book smell. Need I say more?

My cheapest antique to date at a mere 50p! I look forward to reading it. 

Check back next Saturday for another Barg of the Week entry.