Dress clips

Kitkat · Nov 16, 2011

I've been looking at 1940s dress clips on etsy, to add some sparkle to a day dress for dancing. They seem to have some pretty vicious spikes on the clips. Does anyone use them? Is this something that will damage dress fabric? Or do they just look bad in scary close up?!

Bluebird Marsha · Nov 16, 2011

I do on occasion use dress clips, and I am careful about what I wear them on. The "viciousness" of the clips can vary, but I would be hesitant about putting them on a fragile or lightweight fabric. They are spikey, and the heavier ones could do some real damage. If your dress is too lightweight, you might want to try putting several smaller brooches on. This isn't the best picture, but I think it's a nice idea on how to sparkle up a dress.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/francescapenchant/3249009819/

Lily Powers · Nov 16, 2011

Did someone say, "dress clips?" I love them, have collected about 40 - both rhinestone and bakelite, all sizes and shapes - and wear them frequently. You don't have to limit them to garments, either. You can wear them in your hair or clipped on a beret. Be careful putting them on and taking them off of your lighter weight fabrics or sweaters and you should be ok.

Also, some of them may have clips that don't really attach to the fabric (because the clip is loose, not because it has the 2 prongs, which means it's a fur clip). If you get a loose one, safety pin it through the back to your garment so it won't slip off. I almost lost a dress clip once while riding the roller coaster. I didn't think I'd be shaken around like an ice cube in a martini blender but I was, and that dress clip was going to fly off, but the little safety pin kept it on my sweater.

Have fun collecting them. Here's the one that survived the roller coaster.
(Aaack! Sorry for the large photos!)

Louise Anne · Nov 16, 2011

Dress clips can be put on bags also, that tends to be the more monern aproach to them.

Heather · Nov 16, 2011

I'm always drawn to dress clips I see in old movies. Clueless about how to incorporate them into my wardrobe so thanks for starting this thread. I shall be taking notes!

Lily Powers · Nov 16, 2011

Heather said:
I'm always drawn to dress clips I see in old movies. Clueless about how to incorporate them into my wardrobe so thanks for starting this thread. I shall be taking notes!

I was drawn to them too (still am, and feel no shame at pausing the movie so I can linger on them) and didn't know what they were for the longest time. I'd use clip-on earrings till I found out there was actually something called a dress clip, and thus began my lust of acquiring them. I thought I'd only get one or two, but I'm a sucker for the shield shape, and well... I was hooked.

swinggal · Nov 19, 2011

I have about 6 pairs of 1930s ones. I usually wear them on the collars of vintage evening gowns or on vintage style cardigans or shrugs to give them a classier look. Most of mine are silver metal with rhinestones inset but I do have a marcasite pair as well. My fav is one that is a bout 10 cm long but I only one of the pair. But I use it as a brooch quite often on in the middle of a v-neck gown.

swinggal · Nov 19, 2011

Kitkat said:
I've been looking at 1940s dress clips on etsy, to add some sparkle to a day dress for dancing. They seem to have some pretty vicious spikes on the clips. Does anyone use them? Is this something that will damage dress fabric? Or do they just look bad in scary close up?!

The spikes are to keep the securely in place KitKat. All the clips I have, have them.I use them on most of my vintage clothing as well as wool, but I don't tend to use them on things like silks, chiffons etc.

ormosporter · Nov 20, 2011

Paul said:
Dress clips can be put on bags also, that tends to be the more monern aproach to them.

yes,i agree.

Louise Anne · Nov 20, 2011

I read on a web site that dress clips were worn to alter the neck line of a dress to make it look like you had the new sesons dress by pinning or holding the fabric , it was a budget way of altering the style of your dress if you only had one or two " Sunday best dresses"
how that is done and is it practical even in the 20's/30 is another question altogether.
There are a lot of them about in good condition and dealers today almost give them away.I sure it would soon have become a pointer by wearing one what you were could not afford a new dress back then.
That's what I read!
That what i was taol

swinggal · Nov 20, 2011

Yes, I have used mine to alter the neck shape of dresses too by stretching the corners out a little. Definatley seen that done in lots of old pics as well.

swinggal · Dec 14, 2011

Just wrote and article on Swing fashionista about dress clips

http://www.swingfashionista.com/2011/12/dress-clips-the-forgotten-accessory/

LinaSofia · Dec 29, 2011

I love dress clips! Some great clips in your post swinggal! I notice you have one of my photos of my dress clip there! It's the silver and marcasite one with the complimentary frame so they can be used as a brooch as well.
Sorry for the huge pictures, but here's how I wore them recently on a 40s dress.

Miss sofia · Dec 29, 2011

Lovely article Swing gal and lovely outfit Lina. I did have a drool at your pic on your blog.

I am waiting until payday so i can purchase a lovely clear celluloid and paste dress clip. I am currently working with a lady who has some stunning dress clips for sale in her cabinet, but sadly most are out of my price range.

I have found them to be great as hair clips too, if they have the little teeth bits on the back. I wear them quite often and they don't budge.

Miss Stella · Dec 29, 2011

OMG.
When I inherited one of my grandmothers' jewelry boxes, there were a pair of these in there....I thought they were some wicked earrings!
And, YES, I have worn them as such!!!
So when I read this thread....first I laughed at myself and then I was so happy to find out that they weren't someones idea of inducing pain on a woman (as if girdles can't be bad enough!)

bunnyb.gal · Jan 20, 2012

I'm hankering after some dress clips, and I keep seeing ones I like but with paste &/or marcasite stones missing. Does anyone know if these could be replaced and have any of you ever done it?

Oh, and another question, how does one judge the quality of these? Is pot metal okay, is marcasite better than paste or just different. What makers are coveted more than others?

Heather · Jan 20, 2012

I had a stone fall out of one of my vintage costume pins. I took it to a local jeweler and they fixed it with no issues. And it was cheap! It was the pasted in type and they were clear stones. Not sure how it would be for prong set or colored stones.

swinggal · Jan 21, 2012

Miss Stella said:
OMG.
When I inherited one of my grandmothers' jewelry boxes, there were a pair of these in there....I thought they were some wicked earrings!
And, YES, I have worn them as such!!!
So when I read this thread....first I laughed at myself and then I was so happy to find out that they weren't someones idea of inducing pain on a woman (as if girdles can't be bad enough!)

Take a pic and show us. Do they have the spikes in the back clips to keep the in place? if not, they could be clip-on earrings ;P

Miss Stella · Jan 22, 2012

I guess I haven't posted enough here to be allowed pictures yet but I did post them on my blog...
http://instellascloset.blogspot.com/2012/01/some-vintage-treasures.html
It was the back of the clips that gave me the news that they weren't earrings...they match the clips in the original photo on this thread

swinggal · Jan 22, 2012

Wow! They must hurt your ears!! Ouch!

My latest on 1930s hair

http://www.swingfashionista.com/2012/01/1930s-hair-styles/

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