Introducing CAROLE TANENBAUM Vintage

Carole Tanenbaum, The Coveteur

We have big, big news! Sophie's Closet is now carrying beautiful vintage pieces from the Carole Tanenbaum Collection. For those of you just tuning into the world of vintage, Toronto-based Carole Tanenbaum is the reigning queen of vintage costume jewellery. Having collected exquisite trinkets for almost three decades, Carole Tanenbaum's collection has accumulated to over 20,000 pieces, about $3,000 which she keeps in her personal collection.


Carole Tanenbaum, The Coveteur

She provides jewellery for countless editorials for magazine like Vogue and Elle, for stylish TV shows like Sex and the City and Mad Men, and for red carpet celebrity appearances, from Sarah Jessica Parker (who owns over 400 pieces from the Carole Tanenbaum Collection), to Natalie Portman, and Michelle Obama.


Carole Tanenbaum, The Coveteur

One of our favourite websites, The Coveteur, recently did a profile on Carole's jewellery closet, and it's wow -- just wow! So much so, that on her recent trip to Toronto, Sophie couldn't resist picking up a few things.


Vintage TRIFARI Bracelet

First of which was this vintage Trifari bracelet, spotted on Olivia Palermo. Trifari, as you know, is one of our favourites for its art deco inspired designs.


Olivia Palermo


Vintage DIOR Earrings

And, she also handpicked some gorgeous earrings from Carole's extensive selection: Dior, Kenneth Jay Lane, Hattie Carnegie, Gripoix, and Larry Vrba.


Vintage KENNETH JAY LANE

Of course, Dior and Kenneth Jay Lane need no introduction. These two pieces are the both beautiful examples of the brands' workmanship.


Vintage HATTIE CARNEGIE Earrings

And, being a big Hattie Carnegie fan, Sophie also selected these incredible red and blue cabochon earrings from 1960. So elegant!


Vintage GRIPOIX Earrings

These colourful green chandelier earrings are by Gripoix, the legendary jewellery house that started way back in 1869. Famous for its poured glass (pate de verre), over the decades Gripoix has created jewellery for Chanel, Balenciaga, Balmain, Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent... you name it!


Vintage LARRY VRBA Earrings

Lastly, these sparkling darlings are by Larry Vrba, whose pieces are just exquisite. He began his career as a head designer for Miriam Haskell in the 70s, and in the 80s started his own line. Along with creating intricate baubles for his glamorous costumers, Vrba also creates custom pieces for the Broadway stage -- jewels so striking that they stand out even from the back row.

Exciting, right? Check out our entire vintage collection, including more pieces from Carole Tanenbaum, at sophiescloset.com.

Sophie's Closet Style Icon: OLIVIA PALERMO

Inside Olivia Palermo's Closet

Her legitimacy in the magazine industry may be debatable (did she really work for Elle Magazine?), but Olivia Palermo can definitely put together an outfit to die for. We admit that we fast forward through most of The City except, of course, when Olivia was on. We can watch her do just about anything for half an hour as long as she looks fabulous. Someone give this girl her own show!


Olivia's apartment

She shops anywhere and everywhere, from Zara and Topshop to Chanel and Hermes to New York City's eclectic vintage shops. Every serious fashionista collects vintage. And, this is what separated Olivia Palermo from all the other characters on The City (and The Hills). While everyone else seemed very pedestrian fashion-wise, Olivia was always refined and well-accessorized. This is not due to her superior financial situation, but rather to her incredible knowledge of costume jewellery and willingness to shop everywhere. "My aunt [Linda Donahue] is a costume jewellery expert, so I understand that it's just as valuable as real jewellery," she told Page Six.


Olivia wearing a mix of vintage and contemporary


Olivia shopping for vintage and wearing the CC SKYE's Pave Stud Bracelet (AED 1,100, $300 CAD)

She frequently visits stores like Topshop and Banana Republic for costume jewellery that resembles vintage. "When I have a replica of a vintage costume piece, I put it in the sun and let it age for a month, just to have it tarnish,” Olivia told Time Out New York. She also frequents New York City's vintage spots in search of statement pieces. Olivia masterfully mixes vintage with contemporary pieces. We love how she combined her CC Skye (her favourite!) "Starburst" bracelet with her rare vintage Trifari bracelet. Known for bright and colourful gems, Trifari dates back to 1918 and is highly coveted by vintage collectors like Olivia.


Olivia wearing vintage twin brooches (or clip-on earrings?)


Vintage Ruby Crystal Clip-on Earrings (AED 390, $122 CAD)

We love Olivia's attention to detail and how she utilizes every single opportunity to make a statement. The way she styled her dress collar with two twin vintage brooches is beyond brilliant. We have gorgeous vintage Trifari pieces that resemble Olivia's: a gorgeous bright gem gold bracelet and an incredible butterfly brooch and earring set.


Olivia wearing vintage TRIFARI and CC SKYE's "Startburst" bracelets (AED 540, $169 CAD)


Vintage TRIFARI bracelet (SOLD)


Vintage TRIFARI Butterfly Set (AED 2,750, $857 CAD)

Other pieces sought by vintage hunters are by Ciner and Hattie Carnegie. Ciner dates back to 1892, with pieces so intricately made that it is often mistaken for fine jewellery. For most fashion enthusiasts, Hattie Carnegie needs no introduction. This legendary fashion entrepreneur started out as a milliner and soon expanded her business to clothing and jewellery, garnering a loyal following by many style icons including the Duchess of Windsor. We just received an incredible Hattie Carnegie bracelet with green and red glass surrounded by rhinestones and faux pearls and matching earrings and the stunning green gem and rhinestone necklace and earring set by Ciner.


Vintage HATTIE CARNEGIE Cabochon Bracelet (AED 3,900, $1,215 CAD)


Vintage HATTIE CARNEGIE Pearl and Rhinestone Earrings (price on request)


Vintage CINER Marbled Emerald Set (AED 11,900 or $3,705 CAD)

But there are also beautiful vintage pieces to be found by 'no name' designers or simply designers that didn't put their names to their work. Olivia often visits Pippin Vintage Jewelry in New York City where she rummages through drawers full of glittering vintage baubles. She has perfected the fine art of mixing vintage with current, a girl after our own heart. And that is why Olivia Palermo is our style icon.

PS. We love her so much that we are going to have to do a Part 2!

SILVER SCREEN ICONS

These silver screen stars need no introduction. Half a century later, women, as well as designers, all over the world look to them for inspiration. As stunning as Sophia Loren, Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn were, so were the jewels they wore. Often adorned in fine jewels by Cartier and Tiffany's, most Hollywood stars also wore a lot of costume jewelry (first made popular by Coco Chanel in 1940s) by some, at the time popular, designers that we carry at Sophie's Closet like Sherman, Hattie Carnegie and Dafri. Although we are not sure what these incredible stars are wearing in these photographs, we think they could be pretty close matches to some of our pieces.


Sophia Loren


Vintage Extra Large Gold with Rhinestone Bow Brooch (AED 590)

How incredible is this extra large vintage bow brooch? Take a note from Sophia Loren and decorate your little black dress with it. You know how much we love bows!


Ava Gardner


DAFRI Large Sparkling Vintage Brooch, Toronto 1950s (AED 900)

If only we could get a hold of Ava Gardner's two-tone jacket, then our look would be complete! Dafri's vintage brooch is almost a dead ringer! Hailing from Toronto, Canada, Dafri was a very popular jewelry line in 1950s, worn by Toronto and New York socialites.


Grace Kelly


CHRISTIAN DIOR Vintage Button Earrings, circa 1980s, (AED 800)

Like Grace Kelly, Dior is timeless. Although, these earrings date from 1980s, the are very similar in shape to the ones worn by Grace Kelly. Round button earrings are the epitome of sophistication and understated elegance.


Elizabeth Taylor


SHERMAN Vintage Chandelier Earrings, collector pieces (AED 1900)

Everyone knows of Elizabeth Taylor's love of jewelry: this woman owns the world's biggest diamond! Taylor was sultry and playful: the type of woman that prefers chandelier earrings. We have acquired beautiful sparkly Sherman earrings that we are sure Ms Taylor would love. Also hailing from Canada, Gustave Sherman was one of the first jewelry makers to use Swarovski crystals in lieu of diamonds, making glamorous jewels accessible to everyday women in 1950s and 1960s.


Audrey Hepburn


HATTIE CARNEGIE Pearl Rhinestone Earrings, Circa 1950s (AED 690, SOLD)

We saved the best for last: the legendary style icon, Audrey Hepburn. Seen here wearing bubbly circle clip-ons with a large stone set in an intricate frame. We have recently sold these Hattie Carnegie vintage earrings from 1950s that resemble Audrey's. Hattie Carnegie owned a successful shop in New York's Upper East Side. She was trained a milliner, but quickly found a knack for clothing and jewelry design. Her store was patroned by many Hollywood stars and even the "most elegant woman in the world" at the time, Duchess of Windsor.


Audrey Hepburn


Extra Large Vintage Pearl Centre Earrings, 2x2 inches (AED 350)

We have sold the Hattie Carnegie earrings but, thankfully, Audrey was a big fan of pearls. We have extra large pearl and gold earrings that would look great with one of Audrey's famous chignons.

Inspired? Visit www.shopatsophiescloset.com to view our complete vintage selection.