Boudoiry Peep-Toe Pretties!

As with the word 'grannyfying' (or should it be spelt 'grannifying'? see post below), another word that entered my vocabulary a few years ago was 'boudoiry'! (Or 'boudoirie'?) I was at a flea market with a friend of mine when the word just slipped out as I caught site of an opulent coppery orange, richly ruched velvet 1920's cushion. My friend fell about laughing at the time, but since then, it has become a buzz-word for us when we discover those feminine, sensuous and luxuriously frivolous items at the fairs...you know the kind of thing?...

It's a look that I am often drawn to in vintage and antique items, or is one that I produce in my creative pieces, often without me realising it. It once hit me when I had my stall arranged at the Shepton Mallet Antique Fair. The neighbouring stall holder (a man) looked up and down my stand and declared it to look like a 'tart's boudoir'! So, feeling rather defensive I said with a smile, 'Perfect, that was exactly the look I was going for!' ;-))

This week I wanted to create a few one-of-a-kind items for my table at the V&H fair. And once again, my subliminal boudoiry tendencies have emerged through my latest piece! :)

I took a pair of aqua satin and suede high heeled shoes, with a distinctly 1940's look to them, and started to embellish. The innersoles were lined in a gorgeous C19th French cotton toile de jouy printed with pink roses on a dramatic black background.

I added a vintage pastel pink braid to the edges and a black lace bow to the suede heel backs. The stiletto heels themselves were dusted with German glitter in a vintage pink colouring. I adorned the satin peep toe fronts with matching satin ribbon bows and stitched twinkling vintage diamante buttons to the centers. More back lace adds a sophisticated touch, and some soft white feathers from an old hat provide a cute feminine flourish!

They wouldn't really be suitable to wear now, but could be a glamorous boudoiry display piece for a pretty dressing table top or a frivolous and fun accessory for a dressing room shelf!

Teetering off for now (ha!),

Niki x