your 1955 wish list

Christmas is just a week away!  Here are some items that might have been on your wishlist if you were an adult in 1955, based on ads in the December 5, 1955 issue of Life magazine. 

Sexy Seamprule lingerie for her (?) for Christmas.  I'd just like to point out that these two sassy gals are clearly not kissing Santa Claus.

That black anniversary bottle of Jim Beam goes awesomely with your modern furniture!  I only included one here, but there were tons of booze ads in this issue of Life.

A candy case collection of Swank cuff links for him.  I like the "Wild Horn" style in the upper right corner, though your current day hipster might also dig the "Unicorn" style in the second row!

*Sigh.*  Yes, we ladies just love useful homemaker gifts.  I have to say, though--I actually really dig the packaging on these Cannon towels.  

Soft blues, pinks, yellows, and greens were obviously hot colors in 1955.  I'll have a Royal in each color, one for every room of the house.

I don't know that I would be so thrilled in 1955 to receive a set of Pyrex refrigerator dishes for Christmas...but I wouldn't mind an extra set under the tree this year!  (They really do kick Tupperware butt, in my opinion.)

Pretty little Houbigant perfume sets...too bad every last one is so pink.

Just like 2012--electronics are the big bucks gift!  I'll take that hifi, thanks.

xo

K

i spy: november

With my trip to NYC at the beginning of the month, I've managed to be more than a little late with my montly collection of favorite inspirations...but I finally got to it!  By the way, I didn't notice until after I'd chosen the images that the Zefran ad and the photo of the 1930s Parisian gals in pants echoed each other.  I love these images of women raising their arms (and umbrellas!) in joyous...victory?  Celebration?  Whatever the case, I'd be doing the same if I was wearing one of those great plaid dresses or smart pairs of pants. 

Follow me on Tumblr or Pinterest to see more of this kind of thing on a daily basis.

1 / Edinburgh, 1942 by Bill Brandt / onlyoldphotography

2 / Cottage on an island near Nora, Sweden / cabinporn

3 / fabulous 1960 Zefran/Milliken Woolens ad / My Vintage Vogue

4 / "the first Parisian trousers," Place de la Concorde, Paris, 1935 / fantomas en cavale

5 / a Catskills log cabin / DesignTripper

xo

k

shop preview

Here's a preview of what's coming to the shop over the next few days!  Enjoy.

1950s black taffeta and velvet burlesque dress set, by Nathalie of California (in the shop now!).

1970s brown fair isle sweater, by Garland.

1960s Pendleton blue wool shift dress with pockets.

1950s brown wool Pendleton skirt.

1950s blue bubbles voile dress with bows on the bodice.

Eddie Bauer fleece-lined twill vest.

Mod 1960s single stripe brown dress, by Butte Knit.

1970s tribal pattern bell sleeve cardigan.

1960s black teardrop lace wiggle dress.

xo

K

nyc

My last visit to NYC (where I lived for 11 years, and where many of my dearest friends still reside) was in January 2011.  When I found out we would have some items in the Etsy Holiday Shop, it seemed like a good time to take a long overdue trip to the city.  Here are some snaps I took during our quick weekend visit.

Holiday lights in Astoria.

Love the edifice of this apartment building!

Breakfast on vacation means macarons and coffee at Mille-feuille.

Andy between the Dior and Etsy shops.

I thought the Etsy shop was really nicely done.  It looked pretty much exactly how I would imagine an Etsy brick and mortar store would look.

They were holding a holiday ornament workshop when we were there.

Some pretty jewels from jeanjeanvintage and a cute handmade ring holder!

The rack of vintage.  There wasn't a ton of it; we were there on one of the last few days the shop was open and were told much of it had sold.

Small Earth Vintage shoes on the right.

The tags they used on the vintage.  I love that: "Vintage by Karen of Grand Rapids, MI."

We escaped the cold drizzle with lunch at Randolph Beer--pickles, brussels sprouts and smoky corn!  And beer.  (I knew there would be lots of cocktails later, so I thought I should let Andy get some good beers.)  It was funny for us to see beer from Grand Rapids' own Founders Brewing in NYC, and it was hard not to laugh while the bartender tried to sell us on it.  

But forget about the beer.  Cocktails!  That kind of dark and blurry photo above is from Andy's Blackberry (I pretty much concentrated on drinking and talking once we started with the cocktails), and was taken at Amor y Amargo in the East Village, which has a fantastic bitters-based cocktail menu and informative drink makers.  I also loved the Darling Clementine cocktail (like drinking a pomander: gin, clementine juice, and cloves) and fried pickles at Sweet Afton in Astoria.  But my favorite was Long Island City's Dutch Kills--amazing drinks and perfect speakeasy ambiance.

If this vintage shop window is any indication, NYC hipsters are hugely into the Ugly Christmas Sweater thing.  It's a bit weird to see the not-very-vintage ugly sweaters bookended by a couple really nice cowichans, but hey, what are you gonna do?

Anyway, it was a short and densely-packed trip, and was completely fantastic.  I love NYC, and visiting always feels like coming home.

xo

k

cocktail: applejack old fashioned

I'm not a big fruit person, but I do love apples--their scent, texture (nice crisp ones only please), and flavor (the Pink Lady is my favorite, but I like most varieties that have a good tart/sweet balance).  Unfortunately, this was an awful year for apples and apple farmers in western Michigan.  Unseasonable 90 degree temperatures in March, followed by a very late April frost, killed off most of the local apple production.  Maybe it was the dearth of local apples and cider that drove me to finally add a bottle of applejack to my home bar.

Laird's Applejack is the oldest commercially distilled American spirit.  In the American colonies, the usual sources of whiskey--corn, rye, and barley--were not available.  But apples were.  These were made into cider, that was then distilled into applejack.  Laird & Company started making applejack in New Jersey in 1698, and you can still buy a bottle of Laird's today.  It's not very expensive, and it's the ingredient in a number of classic cocktails.  It has a slight sweetness and, yes, a delicious apple flavor.  (You can read much more about Laird & Company and the history of applejack in this New York Times article from 2005.)

I've mixed up a couple different applejack-y cocktails (it makes a nice hot toddy), but my favorite by far has been this very simple Applejack Old Fashioned (recipe found here).  Here's what you do:

In a rocks glass, stir the following together:

*2 oz Laird's Applejack

*2 dashes bitters (Fee Brothers Whiskey Barrel Aged preferred; I used Fee Brothers Old Fashioned, and Angostura would work, also)

*1 tsp (or to taste--I like a bit less) maple syrup

After stirring, drop in a large ice cube or two, stir a bit more, and enjoy!  This is a strong drink, but it has a very drinkable sweetness to it.

cheers!

xo

K

all the good winter things

A short shop preview for a short week...we're taking off Thursday through next Monday to visit friends (and the Etsy Holiday Shop!) in NYC.  It may be a small preview, but it's still chock full of all the good winter things: plaid, velvet, taffeta, wool.

Have a look at what is coming to the shop this week.

1960s Irish wool cape with wooden buttons, by Merrywear.

1950s blush pink embroidered tulle party dress.

1970s striped wool polo sweater, by Pandora Scotchkin.

1960s brown velvet mini skirt.

1950s pale blue and turquoise taffeta party dress.

Vintage Shetland wool argyle button up vest made in Scotland by McGeorge of Dumfries.

1970s plum velvet blazer, by Adolph Schuman for Lilli Ann.

1950s red plaid wool Pendleton skirt.

xo

K

lumberjack by day, james bond by night

The ideal man.  He chops wood for your fire, and can mix a martini.  He looks great in both plaid wool and a sharp sharkskin suit.  Yes, it's time for another man-centric shop preview.  All these items to suavely stride their way into the shop soon!  (And if you're a guy, or shopping for the guy in your life, you can view what's currently available in the vintage menswear section.)

1950s Pendleton red shadow plaid shirt.

1970s Pendleton authentic Menzies black and white tartan plaid oxford shirt.

1970s Pendleton authentic Prince Charles Edward Stewart tartan plaid shirt.

1970s Pendleton red plaid wool robe.

1960s blue sharkskin suit, by Rocklyn Clothes.

Black and white houndstooth clip on bow tie, by Ormond.

Red print clip on bow tie, by Best Clip.

xo

K