Pretty as a Picture: H Prints

If you are the kind of girl who hoards fashion magazines, or spends hours on your toilette, take a deep breath before looking at H Prints. H Prints is a great French site which selects the best pages from vintage fashion magazines and sells them to you, such as the 1944 Schiaparelli advert shown above. It's as simple as that. They're not reproductions - they are the real page, removed from the magazine, categorised and ready to purchase. If you're looking for the finishing touch to your bedroom, frame one of these for instant style.

With almost 19,000 items available through the site, you can lose many delightful hours browsing. For a little bit of help, they've organised the pages available by product, dress makers or magazine. Though I'm a sucker for the 40s and 50s stuff, the range of material goes a bit earlier too and and also includes some classic adverts of the 70s and 80s.

The product category contains everything from perfumes to food to lingerie. Taken from their travel selection is this great advert for Monte Carlo. It dates from 1946 and costs $18. Though the site is French, the English language version gives the price in US Dollars, so that works out at about £11.50.

This Elizabeth Arden advert is taken from the cosmetics section. The simple outline of the woman is just stunning. The advert artwork was done by Rene Gruau (whose was work recently on exhibition at Somerset House). Prices vary from image to image and this one must be slightly more desirable as it's priced at $32.

There's photography too. Take a look at the designer's section and you'll get some of the French couture house's most wonderful creations. This is Balenciaga (priced at $14) but there's also Dior, Chanel, Hermes... I could go on but suffice to say whatever your fashion or illustration preference, you're sure to find something on this site that will delight and inspire. If only designer shopping was so accessible and affordable. Sigh.