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HELPERS HOUSE OF COUTURE

August 9, 2016 99 Comments

 

Elizabeth & JOY

HAVE YOU EVER MET SOMEONE AND KNOWN IMMEDIATELY YOU HAVE CONNECTED?

THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED WHEN I WENT TO THE BLOOMINGDALE’S POP-UP SHOP IN THE OLD DIOR BOUTIQUE in San Francisco.

This is where I met JOY VENTURINI BIANCHI 77 years of age and still WORKING HARDER THAN MOST!

She has dedicated HER life to HELPING the DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED.

What a GIFT SHE HAS BEEN FOR THESE PEOPLE .

She has run a THRIFT SHOP in GHIRARDELLI SQUARE for the LAST 50 YEARS!

People from ALL over THE WORLD donate to SUPPORT HER CAUSE.

IMG_1072

JOY

in one of HER favorite PRINTS

ZEBRA!

 

Then she has A HOUSE.

CHALK FULL OF DESIGNER GOODS…………..TWO STORIES FULL.

Let me tell YOU on SUNDAY morning; I thought I had WALKED into a PIRATES TREASURE!!!

I do not know what I was expecting as the POP- UP shop in SAN FRANCISCO was BETTER then one could IMAGINE so I should have known to EXPECT THE BEST.I can HONESTLY say my MOUTH dropped to my knees…….I did not STOP LOOKING ALL DAY!

I was there for SEVEN HOURS!

Lets GO SHOPPING!!!!!!!!!!

JEWELS

TONS of VINTAGE JEWELS……

JUST waiting to find a GOOD HOME.

 

TIARA's and Collars

TIARA’s and COLLARS ABOUND.

A great place to shop for wedding earrings and ACCESSORIES!

MY REFLECTION

HATS………GALORE.

 

BOLERO

BOLERO jacket that looked like a HYDRANGEA!

I LOVED THIS…

UPSTAIRS!

Each ROOM was SO TASTEFULLY displayed.

NECK BIT

If YOU have NECKLACE FEVER like ME you would be SWOONING……….

CHANEL SLEEVE

CHANEL SLEEVE DETAIL.

There is an entire ROOM DEVOTED to CHANEL……..

MEN's ROOM

For the MEN in your LIFE!

There were a couple of SMOKING JACKETS I forgot to try on!

I adore MEN’s SMOKING JACKETS to wear with JEANS.

IT JUST ADDS SO MUCH to a PLAIN outfit!

UPSTAIRS ROOMSOn the LEFT is the room with MEN’S clothing.

On the RIGHT is the CHANEL ROOM.

SHOES on the STAIRCASE

SHOES lined the staircase……

I tried the black one’s on here but ALAS they were TOO big a SIZE 10 I do believe.

I am ALWAYS looking for a GREAT FLAT EVEING SHOE!

Not that I go anywhere to wear them but ONE never knows.

JO~JO and JOY

This is JO-JO………I hope I am spelling his name correctly!

He is a HELPERS helping hand.

I ADORED his denim shirt……..

Had we been on the same floor I would have found out MORE about it!

He was upstairs and I was DOWNSTAIRS

with

THE JEWELRY!!!

GOWNS........

JOY

advising on a new piece that had just come in.

SEE that room behind HER?

Price tags from $10.00 to $100.00.

Then there was the BREAKFAST NOOK with dishes, silver and stemware.

HEAVEN !!

MY DOMAIN!

THE JEWELRY ROOM.

DO you understand WHY I was SO HAPPY!?

ANTIQUE bags......

ANTIQUE bags also adorned MY ROOM.

The petite bag had a ring on a chain for one to hold on her finger.

What did they put in there?

A dance card is what I have come up with but I think that was even TOO BIG.

NECK BITS

ANY of this SPEAKING TO YOU??

BELTS!

BELTS………. this purple stone could even be worn as a NECKLACE!

SNAKE NECLACE

CARTIER Inspiration here.

There was a time when these reptiles were in FASHION.

What an EXQUISITE piece.

Bits and BOBS

WAVES of WONDERMENT!

LUSTING AFTER THIS!

The Black and Yellow is a BAKELITE bit from the 1960’s.

I tried it on THREE TIMES.

Let’s just say it LOOKED SWELL with my ANGELA CAPUTI Tortoise.

DRESSES with STYLE

The GREEN was either VALENTINO or OSCAR de LA RENTA.

A SMALL SIZE

I thought immediately of my dear friend JENNY!

This paired with BLACK VELVET LEGGINGS for the HOLIDAYS!!!

A HEAD TURNER.

HATS!!!!!

HATS………….

BEAUTIFUL HATS.

THEY TOO were IN MY ROOM!

RUSSIAN GODDESS

I couldNOT resist.

A SCHAPPARELLI HAT

SO SIMPLE but OH so CHIC!

SCHIAPARELLI HAT

A REAL

SCHIAPARELLI.

YSL HAT RUNWAY

YSL

This my FRIENDS belonged to a GRAND DAME ESTATE.

I loved that some of HER tags said, “GRAND DAME ESTATE.”

I found out that there is MORE then ONE GRAND DAME who donates to

HELPER’s HOUSE of COUTURE.

YSL HAT

This HAT actually came from the YSL RUNWAY SHOW!

I actually SAT behind this GRAND DAME who DONATED at the FALL ANTIQUE SHOW!!

MY DEPARTMENT

This gives you an IDEA.

I had to sit on the GROUND and STUDY

MY SHELVES!

ADVANCED STYLE BOOK

JOY VENTURINI BIANCHI

Has been FEATURED in ARI SETH COHEN’s new book.

ADVANCED STYLE Older & Wiser.

A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN WHO HAS GIVEN A WHOLE LOT OF HERSELF OVER THE YEARS.

I hope you will comment and CONGRATULATE HER.

Her shop in GHIRARDELLI is celebrating 50 years.

PLEASE

see invitation below

CLICK

BELOW

Helpers08082016

AND

YES, to answer your BURNING QUESTIONS I did BUY something!

THE BOOTS

Dodie Rosekrans ankle boots.

They are a half size too small but I can get that narrow foot into them if need be.

BUT

as I told JOY

I think I will find the perfect glass CLOCHE and display them in my LIVING ROOM.

THESE SHOES were owned BY A GRANDE DAME OF SAN FRANCISCO, who did SO MUCH for SO MANY!

I WILL CHERISH THEM

as a piece of history until I perish.

BESIDES

they JUST GO with MY STUFF!

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99 Comments

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  • Leslie Harris
    · Reply

    August 26, 2016 at 2:14 PM

    I have one word after scrolling through all these amazing pictures. Wow. And that’s an understatement. There was so much to love and touch and look at—I can totally understand how you were there for hours. And sounds like you found another friend whom you share a natural kinship. You’ve been such a busy traveler lately!–I love following you on IG. Will I see you this weekend in Salinas?
    xo
    Leslie

    • contessa
      · Reply

      August 26, 2016 at 2:56 PM

      THAT WAS CANCELLED!!!!
      THE BLOGGER LUNCHEON to the best of my KNOWLEDGE!I have put a call into CINDY!
      XX

  • Lidy@FrenchGardenHouse
    · Reply

    August 14, 2016 at 9:14 AM

    Oh.my.goodness!!! What a treasure trove…le sigh. Gorgeous, and a great post about a great lady. Inspirational to all of us! Thank you so much for visiting me and leaving a comment, I think we are kindred spirits. xo Lidy

    • contessa
      · Reply

      August 23, 2016 at 12:53 PM

      WE ARE!
      Sorry, for the delay I have been AWAY!
      More TALES in the making!!
      XX

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