More about Dress Clips...

An earlier blog introduced dress clips. Many of the clips use rhinestones (also called “paste”) and are set in “pot metal,” which has an interesting genesis.  Before World War II, manufacturers would use their remaining pieces of scrap metal by melting them down together in a large “pot” to sell to costume jewelry makers.  Once World War II erupted, however, all that metal was desperately needed to make munitions (ammunition, equipment, etc) so it was no longer available for jewelry making.  Ironically, during that period it was not uncommon to see Sterling silver used in costume jewelry, since it was easier to get. 

Below are some photos of dress clips worn in the 1920s-1940s, followed by a few photos from their resurgence in recent years. Finally, a few examples of our dress clips repurposed in necklaces.

Myrna Loy

Bette Davis

Joan Crawford

Sarah Jessica Parker, resurrecting the dress clip in the 21st century. 

Using a “duette”or pair of matching clips on a neckline. 

Dress clip as hair clip.