an idyllic summer

I was recently searching the Google-hosted Life photo archive (which I have to admit I find very confusing to use) for images about summer and came across this collection of beautiful and evocative photos.  I say "collection," but on the site, these are actually called "related images," and since no information about any of them is given whatsoever, I don't actually know that they are all part of the same collection, although some of the same people appear multiple times in the photos.

My guess is that these are from the 1930s, and taken in Europe.  The settings are mostly a seaside beach (beaches?), with some taken in other pastoral locations.  What they all have in common is a feeling of summer joie de vivre, from calisthenics on the beach, to midday naps in the sun, to moments of quiet peace and contemplation.  

Enjoy the photos--there are lots of them--and I hope you're also enjoying your summer.

vintage dogs

I know there are a lot of cat ladies out there in vintage world.  Well, this post is for the rest of us (though there is a cat here!).

movie star dog / here

French circus dogs (& a cat!) / here

from the WNYC archives, Rolf, the mandolin playing terrier / here

my grandfather, Dan, and Mupsy, 1908

Victorian dog in top hat, smoking a pipe, from the collection of Libby Hall / here

from the collection of Libby Hall / here

love the french bulldog's collar, and that terrier on her lap! / Libby Hall Collection

You can see more on my Pinterest vintage dog board.

xo

K

vintage Halloween

I love vintage Halloween photos.  I found some good ones from when my dad was little in the family photos and have been waiting until now to share them.

This was marked "Glenn's party Oct. '50" on the back.  My dad is the kid in the "Kill the Umpire" outfit--lower left corner.  What an insane mask.  If some kid carried around that sign and wore that mask today he'd probably be sent immediately to therapy.  (For the record, my dad is relatively sane, and probably the nicest guy you'll ever meet.)  The skeleton costume is awesome...and how freaking creepy is the mask?  I think the poor kid next to Skeletor dressed as a pierrot is little pissed, frankly.

Here are the adults.  Not surprising for the time, I'm seeing a little bit of ethnic insensitivity sprinkled amongst the costumes.  I'm liking the bottles of beer, though, and the banjo as accessory.  This photo and the following three are from October 1949, and I'm guessing this is a party in my grandparents' basement.

My grandma as a cowgirl.  Her outfit is awfully cute--I just wish she wasn't wearing that creepy mask.  Looks like the other gals didn't quite get into the Halloween spirit, but they sure are wearing great dresses!

See the cutest kid the photo?  The hobo in the bow tie?  That's my dad!  And holy smokes--there's a kid with the devil on his costume in the back, on the left.  I'm pretty sure they don't let kids dress like Satan for Halloween anymore.

Is that kid on the left dressed as a Civil War soldier?  Whoa.  I'm loving the decorations--the witch's hat and the pipe cleaner skeletons!  And I'm pretty sure there are actual cornstalks in the background.  Well done, Grandma Edna!

I hope you all have a very happy and creepy Halloween!  My big Halloween plan is a long overdue viewing of the original The Wicker Man.

Don't forget to enter in our 3rd Etsy-versary Giveaway here.  And enjoy 15% off all purchases at the Etsy shop with code HAPPY3 now through Monday!

xo

K

washington d.c. school trip, 1962

This was a real gem of a find in my family photos: my mom's 1962 high school class trip to Washington D.C. It is showcase of early 60s goodness: fluffy hair (I sense lots of sleeping in rollers!), cat's eye glasses, wonderful coats, and cute print blouses.

I'm pretty sure I squealed when I spotted my mom in this photo.  She's the one in the sassy leopard print blouse!  If only she were standing right next to the nun--that would be amazing.  I'm loving her righthand neighbor's dark coat (and wish I could get a better view of the print on her blouse), and her lefthand neighbor's cable knit cardigan.  Also: girl in lower righthand corner, white blouse, dark cardigan?  I can relate to your expression.

These gals know how to sit in the grass in skirts and not look indecent.  One guess who my favorite is in this photo!  Yes, it's Miss Plaid Coat and Specs in the center.  Footwear appears to be mainly pointy-toe flats--sensible and chic--though I think I might spy a pair of Keds.  I'm also loving the contrasting fabric on the collar and lining of the jacket on the far right, and that bracelet (charm?) on the wrist of the young lady to the left of Miss Plaid.

These jackets!  I'm not sure if I love the giant collars or the no collar with a little bow more.

Loving the contrast of houndstooth coat and polka dot blouse.  Want that coat.  And happy to see a typical-of-the-era shirtwaist dress with Peter Pan collar and roll up sleeves in nature, as it were, as I've sold so many of these.

Oh my.  There is some hair in this photo.  


But I really do love the mosaic print blouse, as well as the floral print cardigan on the gal on the right.  And in the front row--stripes, plaid, and a ruffly-collared blouse with cardigan!  

And not to sound like a grumpy oldster (which I suppose I am), but even with their nearly-bouffant 'dos, these women knock the style socks off the muffin-topped skinny jeans and Ed Hardy t-shirt-wearing teens of today.  Am I being too harsh?  I know not all teens dress this way (I didn't dress the way most other teens of my era did, either.)  Please feel free to chastise me in the comments.

xo

K

good old summertime

PawPaw (my grandfather) and my dad fishing, 1950s.

Happy Independence Day to all the Americans celebrating!  My grandfather (above) would have been 111 years old today.    

Here's a little vintage summer fashion parade, courtesy my old family photos.

(And don't forget, the summer sale continues through midnight tonight with 20% off everything in the Etsy shop!)

My grandmother Edna, 1950s.

My grandmother Marian and my mom, late 1940s.

My mom (holding puppy) and lots of cousins, early 1950s.

Grandma Edna with my Dad, practicing sun protection, early 1940s.

My Tante (great aunt) Bernice and great uncle Charlie (rocking the Hawaiian shirt), holding babies Chuck and Ann, early 1950s.

Summer dudes.  My grandfather (with pipe and boater) and a couple uncles, 1940s.

Summer gals.  Grandma Edna holding my dad.  1940s.

Edna in the water, circa 1930s.  I sincerely hope that dress wasn't rayon crepe!

Double exposure photo with my dad (striped t-shirt) and my grandfather in it twice--in his swim trunks and his street clothes!

xo

K

jazz age young americans

Some 1920s goodness from my treasure trove of family photos--hope you enjoy!

I love this photo.  Unidentified couple, found in my family photos.  Very F. Scott and Zelda!

My paternal grandfather, Dan, circa 1925.  That hair!

This is my grandfather in his church group production of Man of the Hour, in 1925.

My grandfather--prominent hair and ears--is on the right.  I'm loving the two fellows with the eye makeup on the top left side--such thespians!  Everyone is so well-dressed.

Dan (far left) as a member of the wedding (unsure whose).  I am in love with the tea-length dresses on the women, and the amazing hats.

My adorable paternal grandmother, Edna, in a posed photo, circa 1920s.

I have a bunch of great photos of Edna from the 1920s, and I'm going to save some for a later post.  But for now, I give you three photos of Edna in knickers!  I love these photos.  This first might be my favorite: knickers, a bow tie, and striped stockings!

This photo was marked "Edna and Leon, 1925."  We're not sure who Leon was--maybe a boyfriend?  Love that they're posing on the train tracks.  Um, and that both are wearing knickers!

Edna on the left, and my dad thinks that's one of Edna's sisters (likely Marty) on the right.  I am loving Marty's headband and scarf.

This is a rare early photo of my maternal grandmother Marian, circa 1929 or 1930, in her elementary school graduation photo.  Doesn't she look mature for 13 or 14?  I certainly did not look nearly so self-possessed or lovely at that age.  (I was gawky, uber-freckley, and wearing a Gunne Sax outfit at my grade school graduation.)   This photo is very special to me, as I never got to meet Marian, who died before I was born.

I'll be sharing more 1920s family photos in a future post.  Maybe it's just the sheen of nostalgia, but it seems to me as though everyone dressed better (the shoes alone!), and looked prettier and more handsome--despite having much less money and smaller wardrobes--than we do.

xo

K