the hour, series two

My period drama-loving self is well sated lately!  Downton Abbey is back on PBS, and the second season of The Hour is finally available from Netflix.  (For those who are unfamiliar with it, The Hour is a BBC drama, set in the 1950s at an evening news program.  I've posted about it previously, here and here.)  I've watched the first three episodes of the second season, and it's pure eye candy.  (It's well written, too--not just pretty to look at.  However, I've seen glimpses of reviews that describe the second season as "ridiculous."  That may be true, but I'm enjoying it so far.)  

It might just be my imagination, but the second season seems even prettier to look at than the first season.  Not that the settings are anything special.  So far scenes mostly take place in the BBC's offices and studio, which seem to be half Deco-era posh and half rundown school building.  However, the photography is gorgeous--lots of noir shadow combined with gorgeous color.

So a warning: this post is very pic heavy.  And I've tried not to include anything that would be spoiler-y, for those who haven't seen it.

Amazing emerald satin cocktail dress on Bel.

I like it even more with the little bolero jacket.

Bel's style hasn't changed.  She still wears bold, jeweltone suits and dresses to work, accented with that pretty little pennant necklace or a single large brooch.

I love these frames!

Marnie, looking impeccable as always.

Oh.  Whoops.

Marnie's wardrobe is mostly candy-sweet pastels...but appearances can be deceiving.  Marnie grows a nice backbone this season.

I love the wallpaper in Marnie and Hector's home, especially the bedroom wallpaper.

Sissy once again wears some of my favorite outfits.  It's really hard to get a screencap of her, by the way--she's always darting from place to place!

Lix in her uniform of blouse and slacks, with prerequisite glass of Scotch.  I'd say it works for her!  You can see that Katharine Hepburn was one of the wardrobe department's inspirations for Lix.

These ladies of the, erm, street, are better dressed than most young women I see in the grocery store nowadays.

Just a few more examples of the gorgeous photography.

Peter Capaldi has joined the cast.  I love him.

And I love this shot.

Bearded Freddie.  Just because.

Hector.  I do have a bit of a thing for Dominic West, though he always plays such difficult to love characters.  (Hector is pretty much Jimmy McNulty, only as a British TV anchor in the 1950s.)  I like this hat and suit quite a lot.  And you can just glimpse Sissy in another of her cute outfits, in the elevator behind him!

xo

K

summer wrap up

This article from the June 13, 1955 issue of Life magazine (you can see the article online here) is about wraps, shawls and bolero jackets that ward off the chill of summer air conditioning.  When I worked in an air conditioned office, I always had a cardigan with me; otherwise I would freeze to death at my desk.  I suppose the modern day equivalent of these might be the pashmina, but I really prefer the cover-ups shown here.  And they work just as great at helping transition your summer dresses into autumn wear!  The two modeled on the left side are made to fold up small enough to fit in your purse when not being worn.  And the best of all of them, I think, is the striped shawl on the right, which was made by Claire McCardell "to inspire do-it-yourselfers."

Here are a few lovely cropped jackets, sweaters, and boleros I discovered for sale on Etsy.

1940s reversible lace-trimmed bolero (the other side is solid black, but wouldn't you have a hard time not always wearing it on the cute folklore print side?) / DeseoVintage

PDF pattern for a 1950s knitted shrug / KinsieWoolShop

1960s Jonathan Logan shrug with rhinestone embellished flower appliques / LittleHavanaVintage

1950s cropped jacket with a big collar / Planetclairevintage

I really love this.  1960s Vera Neumann lemon print linen jacket / CustardHeartVintage

1930s white eyelet bolero / wildfellhallvintage

And a pair from my own shop:

1960s cropped, fitted tapestry jacket or blouse

1950s cropped gingham jacket

xo

k

back to school, august 1957

This time of year always feels like something new is starting.  You may not be going back to school, or helping someone else get ready to go back.  But you can still sense and enjoy the change of season; you might buy new clothes or redecorate your home.  (Though buying new clothes was never a big thrill when I was young, getting new school supplies was, for some reason.)  These ads (all from August 1957 issues of Life magazine, which you can peruse in full here, here, here and here) are full of that back to school excitement, advertising all things required, from plaid and wool to...asphalt roads?

Ivy League stripes for "real boys."

This whole ad is awesome.  I showed it to Andy and said he should build a wardrobe on this.  Especially loving the duffle coats and the desert boots on the fella in the left corner.

I like how Sears covers both the men's and women's looks in this ad, and the added pieces and accessories shown on the right.  (The color for autumn 1957 is "Amber Haze"!)  Her skirt is fantastic.  And look at the men's accessories, etc. on the right--desert boots again!  They must have been a hot item that season.

Cutest graphic!

Well, it won't be tough to guess--that plaid dress is calling to me.  Mom--make it for me, pleeeeease?  Just kidding.

How cute is the little coed lamb logo?

I guess asphalt was kind of a new thing in 1957.  The kids in the back of the bus have kind of a desperate look about them...like they want to escape.

This "chubby lass" isn't really fond of the moniker "Chubbettes"...but it's a cute dress!

Cute wool fashions, cute lambs, and cute lamb logo again--this time in a back-to-school beret and scarf!

Lots of summer into fall transition looks from Blue Bell.  Loving the shorts and blouse on the girl in the forefront, and the contrasting plaid cuffs on pants on the right.  (I have a pair of deadstock Blue Bell jeans in the shop right now, by the by!)

xo

k

mid century detroit glam

My heart did a little flippity-flop when I saw this amazing 1956 fashion spread in Women's Home Companion, where the setting was the newly-opened General Motors Technical Center in Warren, Michigan.  The center was designed by Eero Saarinen, and is the perfect place to photograph gorgeous dresses, from designers like Claire McCardell, Elizabeth Arden, Christian Dior, and Oleg Cassini.

On the left is a dotted swiss gown from Claire McCardell; model was photographed near the lobby staircase of the Styling section.  On the right, model wears a pink organza dress by Elizabeth Arden, and is photographed on top of the experimental Firebird I.

Left, a print taffeta dress and matching organza coat by Elizabeth Arden, and a pink chiffon dress by Christian Dior, photographed against the Harry Bertoia-designed steel divider screen in the Center's main restaurant.  On the right, a white, green, and blue gown by Elizabeth Arden, photographed in the pipe room of the power plant.

A black silk dress by Hannah Troy on the floating staircase of the Research building.  And a Cluny lace dress by Larry Aldrich, photographed in the Styling section--against a fabulous array of Herman Miller bucket chairs in primary colors!

A stunning Pauline Trigère silk coat trimmed with chiffon, photographed by the turquoise glazed brick wall of the Process Development building.  Oleg Cassini dresses photogaphed on the Captain's Walk of the Research building.

The article also showcased "filmy" dresses you could make at home from patterns.

I particularly love this striped blue sundress photographed against the bright yellow glazed brick wall.

Coral cotton voile separates, photographed against the giant steel dome that is used as an auditorium or as a showroom for new car models.

Click here or here to see more information about and photos of the Tech Center.  I especially love the "teacup" desk for the receptionist in the Design building!

xo

K