An unusually large bow shaped hair comb from the atelier of Alexandre de Paris

CONDITION: good vintage condition with acceptable wear

SIZE: 2½ ins h x 4½ ins w (6 x 11 cm)

APPROXIMATE DATE: 1980s

MATERIALS: plastic

DESCRIPTION:

Here is a large and striking hair barrette made by the iconic Parisian house Alexandre de Paris. It is made in cream coloured celluloid and themed as a bow. The barrette closes with the modern French spring clip which is in good working order.

This example dates from the 1980s when hair was teased and ratted out, and this ‘big’ hair cried out to be balanced by glitzy jewellery. Hair accessories of the period were certainly neither small nor delicate! The final picture is taken from a series of contemporary fashion photos which illustrate the fashionable hair dressing and the hair accessories of the 1980s period.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Alexandre de Paris, hair stylist, (1922 – 2008) was among the first “hauts coiffeurs” who elevated hairdressing to an art form. In a career of more than 50 years he styled models for the great fashion houses and tended devotedly to an impressive collection of celebrity clients, including Elizabeth Taylor the Duchess of Windsor, Grace Kelly and Jackie Kennedy.

In 1971 Alexandre created a collection of luxury hair accessories starting with bows, clips and headbands and later including hair combs, and costume jewellery. Many hours go into the manufacture of these hand made creations. Each item is produced separately and assembled and finished by hand with great precision.

After languishing somewhat during the 1970s plastic jewellery again became fashionable in the 80s. The costume jewellery industry flourished in the 1980s, and women experienced a new freedom and confidence to wear frankly fake fashion jewellery. In fact, the bigger and glitzier the better! In the USA glamour came in the far reaching influence of Television shows like Dallas and Dynasty, which were watched by millions of viewers around the world. The shows epitomized an era of glamour and decadence that later became the hallmark of the American primetime soap operas of the 1980s. The fashion hallmarks of the decade were big shoulders, big hair and co-ordinating costume jewellery.