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

cruel summer

Ah, summer!  So beautiful, and yet, so...hot.  And sticky.  And slow.  Summers are always slow for us.  Not the good slow as in, take a breath, enjoy life, go on vacation.  Slow as in, retail sales seem to grind to a halt.  Usually, Andy takes on other extra work in the summer to help make up for this.  But this summer, he has been working his tail off to launch his new career in real estate.

This has meant we've stuck pretty close to home.  Our long overdue visit to friends in NYC?  On hold.  Trips up north, and a visit to my parents in Colorado?  No can do.

But it hasn't been all bad.  Though most of this summer has been hotter than usual, August has given us a bit of a break.  We've been able to turn off the air conditioning and even use the oven once in awhile.  So I made this tower of smitten kitchen salted chocolate chip oatmeal cookies.

Backyard badminton has been excellent.

Hydrating with pink gin and tonics.

Enjoying beautiful late afternoon sunlight.

Naps with a snuggly old terrier.

And reading and drinking beer in a bubble bath.

I mean, seriously.  I really can't complain.  It's a very good life.  I hope your summer--whether jet-setting or staycationing (ugh)--has been delightful!

xo

k

shop preview: into autumn

Long sleeves, russet browns, leather, the shades of turning leaves, corduroy, dresses with matching jackets, a cardigan in jeweltone yarn...autumn must be coming!  As will all of these great items, to the shop, over the next week.

1960s bohemian autumn patchwork dress with empire waist and rick rack trim.

Brooks brown leather cafe racer leather motorcycle jacket.

1960s mod colorful chevron shards dress.

1960s psychedelic print blouse, by Avant Garde.

1950s blue checked dress and jacket set, Forever Young by Puritan.

1950s olive green corduroy full skirt.

1960s ivory lace dress with rhinestone buttons, by Parkshire Original.

Colorful chevron yarn cardigan.

1950s navy blue cotton shirtwaist dress with pintucks.

1950s white cotton blouse.

1960s autumn flowers shift dress, Cobbies by Cos Cob.

1950s autumn foliage wool plaid pleated skirt.

xo

K

À bout de souffle / Breathless

I know I'm way behind the times, but I finally saw Jean-Luc Godard's 1960 French new wave classic, Breathless (À bout de souffle).  I took a bunch of screenshots, and I think the one above shows Jean Seberg in the most iconic outfit from the film: striped shirt, pleated skirt, sunglasses.  She is also wearing loafers (or flat shoes) with ankle socks, and is carrying the cutest little white drawstring satchel (blurry here).

I liked the movie.  I wouldn't say I loved it.  But I enjoyed the music, and the style of filming.  I thought Jean-Paul Belmondo was charming, despite the fact that he was, y'know, a cop killer.  Jean Seberg's character was sort of meh, I thought...but her look!  So chic.  The pixie hair, the shades, and the outfits!  All amazing.

Even her selling-newspapers-on-the-street outfit is great looking.  Love the New York Herald Tribune top and cigarette pants.

You can see the cute little satchel better in this shot.

I'm assuming that's a Burberry trench with plaid lining.

Beautiful Paris.

Nearly everything Seberg wears in Breathless is striped, down to her bathrobe (worn most fetchingly by Belmondo here).

And then there is this incredible striped dress worn with white gloves (better photos below).

Love this shot.

A better view of Seberg's dress. Between the collar and the stripes, I'm dead.

I thought this sartorial exchange about Belmondo's outfit was pretty funny.

I love how Seberg is looking at the guy here, like, "what's the big whoop?"

xo

K

shop accessories preview

Shoes, boots, and lots of colorful scarves--including a really cool collegiate one--coming to the shop soon!

1950s clear plastic peekaboo peeptoe heels.

Vintage Doc Martens brogues.

1980s perforated bone leather peeptoe pumps.

1980s slouchy pirate boots.

1960s metallic silver pumps, by Socialites.

1950s black faux crock handbag with wallet and coin purse.

1940s rayon collegiate scarf.

1960s Vera Neumann red and black silk scarf.

Mid century silk phases of the moon scarf.

1950s pink feathers and olive green leaves silk scarf.

Silk macro plaid scarf, by Roberto Fabbriziani.

Abstract geometry sheer chiffon scarf.

1950s rayon and silk medieval patchwork scarf.

Deadstock 1950s rayon and silk equestrian scarf.

xo

K