Tag Archives: colors

Celebrating their 90th Birthdays, 1949

Posted on January 8, 2023 by Lynn

This celebratory photo marks the ninetieth birthdays of Effie Appleby and Amy Bigelow. Both were members of the Women’s Guild of the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Madison, Wisconsin, which threw a party in their honor. The photo description explains that … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Mrs. Gibson in a Corset, 1911

Posted on December 27, 2022 by Lynn

Looking at this picture, it is easy to see why women were so happy to abandon corsets after the First World War.  The woman in the dark dress, Mrs. Francis M. Gibson, appears to be stuffed into her dress.  She … Continue reading →

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Redhead and Friends, early to mid-1960s

Posted on December 17, 2022 by Lynn

More big red hair!  This was a lucky eBay find.  If you’re interested in discovering your own treasures, the best search term is “beehive.”  The updo is similar to the last one—a big pile of curls on top of the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1960s | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Spring in Central Park, April 1960

Posted on October 1, 2022 by Lynn

If you can look past the two doormen at the center of this picture, it offers an interesting overview of different clothing styles adapted by a set of older women in New York at the dawn of the 1960s. Starting … Continue reading →

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Barbara Carrasco’s Censored Mural

Posted on September 25, 2022 by Lynn

California has the reputation of a progressive blue state, but that hasn’t always been the case.  As recently as 1981, the Los Angeles Community Rehabilitation Agency commissioned mural artist Barbara Carrasco to create a work to commemorate the 200th anniversary … Continue reading →

Posted in 1980s, 2020s | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Gracious Lady in Polka Dots, 1938

Posted on September 17, 2022 by Lynn

I’m not surprised to see the “Gracious Lady,” Sears’ euphemistic attempt to address the older woman, wearing a polka dot dress!  A very popular print in the 1930s, polka dots were even more common for the older set.  In their … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930s | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Matchy Matchy in the Sixties

Posted on September 10, 2022 by Lynn

Renewed attention to Queen Elizabeth’s fashion choices has brought “monochromatic style” back into the fashion discussion.  There is a less flattering term for it, however–“matchy matchy.” These days it’s often used as an insult for women without enough imagination to … Continue reading →

Posted in 1960s | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Considering the Coastal Grandmother

Posted on August 26, 2022 by Lynn

I’ve been avoiding the topic of the Coastal Grandmother, even though it seems a perfect subject for this blog.  Why?   It smacks so much of wealth and white privilege. Everything is white, from the people, to the backgrounds, to the … Continue reading →

Posted in 2020s | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

The Red Hat Society Lives On

Posted on June 3, 2022 by Lynn

Any commentary about older women and fashion in America must address the Red Hat Society, a loosely knit organization of women over fifty.  Moreover, the founder of the group, Sue Ellen Cooper, hails from my neck of the woods in … Continue reading →

Posted in 2020s | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

In the Pink, 1996

Posted on May 10, 2022 by Lynn

Here’s a big spread for a very big celebration.  If I’m not mistaken, the cake says “Happy 95th Birthday.”  I hope a lot of people came to sample the desserts. Our celebrant has gotten dressed up for the event—a pink … Continue reading →

Posted in 1990 | Tagged , , | 2 Comments