shoe store, 1950

We recently came across these photos while buying dresses from an old house that was being cleaned out.  Someone in the family had worked at this shoe store in Grand Rapids, which I believe was Hoekstra Shoes (John Hoekstra and Bert Hoekstra are identified as the men in the second photo, which is also dated 1950.)

I love that this woman's purchase is wrapped in paper and string.  Also, something about the lighting in this photo makes the sales person (who is identified as Wm. Herr on the back of the photo) look rather angelic, doesn't it?  He's a Shoe Angel!

Don't you wish you could walk in there and buy those adorable sandals?

I know Ball-Band as a maker of Converse-like canvas and rubber sneakers.  Apparently they also made really cute women's casual sandals and shoes.

Here they are in gorgeous technicolor, thanks to this 1951 ad I found at myvintagevogue.

xo

K

what i wore - Nosferatu

Last Saturday, Andy took me to see F.W. Murnau's 1922 silent film classic, Nosferatu, which was shown at our local arts theater along with live music by the Andrew Alden Ensemble.  I last saw Nosferatu about 20 years ago, so it felt new to me, seeing it again, and this time along with a four-piece ensemble.  The music was composed by Alden, and was wonderful.  I recommend seeing them if they come to your town; they're on tour right now, and perform live soundtracks for other films, like The Phantom of the Opera and Night of the Living Dead.  (The jerk next to me taking photos with his phone and guffawing throughout the film didn't add to the experience, but anyway.  Dear Humanity:  Please put your phones away sometimes.  Thank you.  Love, Me.)

Anyway.  Above is the outfit I wore.  You'll note it's not on me.  Oh well.  It was dark out, I needed a haircut, I don't love having my photo taken...but this is one of my very favorite dresses, so I had to document it.

  

It's by Butte Knits, and is really warm and cozy.  Plus: rhinestones and Peter Pan collar.  What's not to love?

I wore my favorite (much scuffed) metallic pewter Frye t-straps, and carried this cute little 1950s evening bag by Andè.

I wish the hardware on the bag was silver and not gold, alas.  But I still love the heavy, rhinestone-bedecked clasp.

I did finally (yesterday) get a much overdue haircut...and my hair is now the perfect lilac-purple.  Pictures forthcoming.

xo

K

a little bit more of the hour

I finally finished watching all of the second season of The Hour.  It took me awhile because I didn't want it to end.  I really enjoyed it, and I hope there will be a third season!  Here are a few more screenshots I took for fashion's sake.  (My previous post about The Hour is here.)

Sissy pairing that cute bow blouse with two different skirts and belts.

I loved this olive and black sweater and skirt worn by Marnie, but couldn't get a good shot of it.

Bel's face here--ha!  I loved what I saw of this sweater, which I think she was wearing with a pair of black pants.  I think this is as casual as we see Bel...other than in her skivvies when she's changing!

Love the button placket on this dress.

Gorgeous dress on Sissy.

xo

K

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

college experimenting

They say college is a time for experimenting...with fashion!  The following spreads from Life magazine show some of the fashion fads--sometimes silly, sometimes not--that were popular with young women on college campuses through the years.

1938 was all about tweedy jackets and sensible shoes for girls in the east on all-female campuses (and by implication, sexy dresses to draw in beaus for the man-hunters out west).  "Dog collar" watches with matching "dog leash" belts are popular, as are coin bracelets.  And if you wanted to be really unconventional, you wore two strands of pearls instead of just one!  The blouse--or "Sig Shirt"--on the right has the wearer's friends' names embroidered all over it.

The hot college trend in 1940 is men's clothing.  Actual men's clothing, not "sissified versions" of it (that's a quote.  It actually says that.).  I'm on board with all of this--it all looks great!  Well, except for the two-piece socks and boxing-gloves-as-mittens on the right.

Inspirations for the college fashions of 1949 came from the flappers of the 1920s...and the little boys of the 1900s!

1950.  The article says it's all about plaid, but I think it's just all over the place.  How cute is the gal on the left?  She is wearing a sherriff's badge.  I think the flyaway jumper and tattersall check lounge suit (with matching booties) on the right are just plain weird, but I am completely down with the Claire McCardell striped rain boots that match the striped rain jacket.  "Bizarre bags" are popular, and include: an oversize carpet bag (awesome!), a plastic powder horn (?!), a cowhide lunchbox (!!), and a plaid shopping bag (not really so bizarre if you ask me).

1957 is about color.  "The very nervy girl will try stockings, shoes and dress for a single streak of color effect."  I think the very nervy girl will wear that insane hat on the right.  The outfit on the gal hanging off the jungle gym looks very much like something I would wear.

xo

K

august 1957 in ads

So last month I covered 1964 in ads, and it was so much fun (for me, anyway) that I had to do it again.  I chose August 1957.  The ads are from Life magazines, which are available online, and there were so many good ones that I had to split it up into two parts.  The first part focused on back to school ads, and you can see that post here.  This one...well, let's just say there are an awful lot of beer ads.

Enjoy.  (I did!)

(You might notice I've re-done the blog banner again.  I think the other was too vertically challenging.  I'll probably change it up six more times.)

Bedroom eyes and haystacks.  I get what you're trying to do here, Du Pont.  (And I like that scarf collar cardigan!)

I always love seeing ads for things I've sold in the shop.  I've sold a few pairs of Williams brand flats.  They're always really cute...and isn't her skirt great?

Yeah, sister.  If he's happy, you're happy, so if you know what's good for you, you'll let him smoke that nasty thing.

Like Oktoberfest.  Only really schlitzy.

I have to say, this does look really appealing.  I can't find anything to snark about here.

What's with the songs and these beer ads?  I bet Red Cap wasn't all that unusual, either, no matter what the song says.  I bet it tasted just like Hamm's and Schlitz.  What I do find unusual is the guy with the accordion.  Was that a thing at cookouts in the 1950s?  If so...awesome.  I do love the Red Cap label.

Hey, neat!  A beer ad directed at women.  Unless it's directed at dudes who like ladies in swim caps.  Whatever.  The ad copy is about quenching your thirst, and she's obviously had a workout.  Or is already a little bit drunk, maybe.

Cute shoes!  But the ad is confusing me.  (What's new.)  Why wouldn't a mother and daughter wear the same style shoe?  I mean, I've seen those Real Housewives shows.  Stripper heels know no age.  Why would the cute flats of the 1950s be different?

Yum.  I love burgers.  And A1 Sauce.  Also love the hookup of PBR and A1 in this ad.  Beer and food go together, might as well advertise together.  Oh wait--what's that copy say?  "When it's a meal mainly for men"--oh--"here's a top notcher combination."  Crap.  Guess I'll take my lame low notcher lady ass over to Eva Longoria's steakhouse for women, which appeals to my femaleness with such obviously lady-centric things as "smaller plates and portions," "a runway for fashion shows," "Cirque du Soleil-type performers," and most of all "cryogenic fog and rain curtains."  Gosh, I hope the rain is pink.  Actually, since I'm a lady and it's 1957 I'll just have a leaf of iceberg lettuce with some cottage cheese and a pineapple slice.  Thank you.

"WONDERFULLY...your gin drinks COME TO LIFE", grow to the size of water towers and take over the universe!  Why aren't these guys running and screaming?  Dudes.  There's a GIANT bottle of Seagram's and two mega cocktails right behind you.  And they're ALIVE!

Salem menthols.  Like a fresh mountain breeze.  During a forest fire.  Near a tar pit.  That they're attempting to put out with Listerine.

Can't say nothing bad about HoJo's.  And I'll just say here that I really enjoyed the Mad Men episode set there.

Oh, cute!  It's nice they're letting her drink some beer.  Although, really, she's just holding it aloft.  And it seems like he's kind of more into his beer than her.  Maybe things aren't so perfect under the surface.  Maybe she's handing that beer off to someone else.  Maybe she's about to pour it over his big dumb head.

I really like that lamp hanging over the dresser.  (Sorry to be all Brick Tamland "I love lamp"; I don't have anything else to say about this.  I only left it in because it was the only furniture ad that grabbed my eye, which is sad, because it is, like, 1957, right?)

Not as odd as the noir-ish Dan River Fabrics ad from this post...the ladies clothing shown here is great.  I especially love that wacky striped pants/hoodie number.

It's bean-time.  End.  Of.  Story.

Hey look!  It's the original nerd-spectacled, vinyl-loving hipsters!  (Oh, and also another disinterested boy.)

More.  Giant.  Booze.  I think all the sad ladies of the 1950s are swimming around in these huge dranky-dranks.

Geez.  Black Label is so low rent they can't even come up with a song.  Just a lousy four-word rhyme.

xo

K

glimpses of 1956

I get so annoyed with the ads in fashion magazines today.  That's when I even look at fashion magazines...which is very rarely.  So why is it I love the ads in old magazines?  Here are several glimpses of 1956--through its ads.

xo

K