The Clothing of Older American Women, 1900-now
Celebrated Los Angeles artist Betye Saar died recently just before her 100th birthday. In addition to her work as an assemblage artist, she also had a long career as a costume designer and maker of original clothes. This aspect of Continue reading
Here s another twist on the cheerful granny used as an advertising tool. As in other ads I ve found, the grandmother is depicted inside the home. However, this ad in Ebony magazine shows an extended African American family at a holiday Continue reading
This put-together older woman looks like she heading to a fancy affair. She has the necessary elements of a dressed-up 1950s style, including a hat and gloves. For an extra dash of elegance, she added her fur scarf. I’m dating Continue reading
Headscarves were a popular accessory for women in the World War Two era. I’ve read a few different explanations. Women at work in factories, ala Rosie the Riveter, needed to keep their hair out of the way of machinery. Since Continue reading
Burda is a famous name in the sewing world. For over seventy-five years, the company has published a monthly fashion magazine with sewing patterns included. It was begun by Aenna Burda, wife of a German publishing magnate, in 1950. By Continue reading
This picture showed up unbidden in my Facebook feed and unlike the many unsolicited ads that come my way, I was happy to see it. I knew nothing about the brave Revolutionary War heroine, Sybil Ludington. Her ride through Putnam Continue reading
A friend was recently invited to a pre-wedding event in the dining room of a local country club. The invitation included an extensive dress code, something I had never heard of before. Here it is in its boldfaced entirety: DRESS Continue reading
Excuse this detour to another topic in the 19th century. I m currently doing research into views of spinsterhood in the early twentieth century, background for a project on the dashing spinster Tish. One of the most outspoken on the topic Continue reading
Sometimes I think that people can be easily divided into simple categories, like those who like the morning and those who prefer the night. Fashion offers many such stark divisions, such as the rift between those who favor flowing styles Continue reading
Sunporches—a glassed in or screened in patio—are something I associate with the South. When I lived briefly in Florida as a child, the family TV was on the sunporch. My in-laws in North Carolina had one that wrapped halfway around Continue reading