Gripoix Glass Jewelry – Getting a Grip on an Identity Crisis

By Pamela Wiggins Siegel As a lover of adornment, I have a few pet peeves. One big one is misidentifying jewelry components as Gripoix glass. Gripoix (pronounced gre-pwuh) is a term misused repeatedly. And when I say repeatedly, I can’t add enough overs to over and over to convey the problem. This is likely a […]

Collectors Looking Good in Archival Fashion

A rising interest in fashion sustainability and the increase in pandemic-fueled online shopping for second-hand luxury goods can be credited to more collectors thrifting for vintage designer pieces and an emerging trend: archival fashion. Archival fashion pertains to pivotal pieces in fashion history that have helped solidify influential designers’ careers and are highly sought after […]

Fashion from Dior to … the Scott Paper Company?

Collecting vintage fashion is a fun way to own both a piece of history and a finely crafted piece of art. A recent sale at Augusta Auctions in Vermont featured 250 lots of vintage fashions. Although some fashion collectors like to wear their finds, most of the items in this sale were display-worthy pieces from […]

On the Road — Hillwood Estate & Museum, Washington, D.C. 

We traveled to Washington, D.C., for a visit and spent an afternoon at Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens. Hillwood was the home of Marjorie Merriweather Post (1887–1973), heir to the Post Cereal Co. empire, businesswoman, socialite and philanthropist. Post bought the house and property in 1955. It sits on the edge of Rock Creek Park, […]

Shining Stars of Costume Jewelry

Costume jewelry has been a staple in the worlds of fashion and collecting for more than a century. Elegant necklaces, pins, bracelets and earrings were made to mimic fine jewelry and increased the accessibility of jewelry to all, regardless of income. A recent sale at Ripley Auctions in Indianapolis featured 330 lots of costume jewelry. […]

Kovels’ Top 11 Picks for Fun and Exclusive Handbags!

This week we celebrate National Handbag Day with a wide-eyed look at some of the top exclusive and expensive designer purses on record. The term “purse” originally referred to a small bag for holding coins. We’ve certainly come a long way from that! The word handbag began appearing in the early 1900s. Now, handbags, purses and […]