Tag Archives: colors

Marcella in Milan, 1981

Posted on April 15, 2022 by Lynn

Marcella could be a tourist from anywhere, but the writing on the back of this photo has a distinctly American look.  And would a European tourist be wearing what is essentially a pair sweatpants in Italy’s fashion capital?  Perhaps European … Continue reading →

Posted in 1980s, General | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Joshua Tree, 1940

Posted on April 8, 2022 by Lynn

Those strange shaggy bushes in the background are Joshua Trees, native to the Mojave Desert.  According to the writing on the back, this photo was taken in Joshua Tree, California in 1940s.  In those days, the plants were plentiful.  Rising … Continue reading →

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The Navy Blue Suit

Posted on March 18, 2022 by Lynn

Reader and contributor Nann Hilyard recently sent me a page from the humorous book Going, Going, Gone: Vanishing Americana by Susan Jonas and Marilyn Nissenson.  Among their list of things gone the way of the milkman is the navy blue … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, 1950s, General | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Burning the Mortgage, 1915

Posted on November 4, 2021 by Lynn

Photographs often document big moments in life—the wedding, the baby, the new house.  A tradition in Black churches is to mark the end of mortgage payments, the moment when property finally belongs to the residents, with a mortgage burning ceremony.  … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910s | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Great Grandmother Caro Visits America

Posted on October 22, 2021 by Lynn

Reader Davrie Caro sent photos of a special family gathering in San Diego.  His great grandmother, second from right in the photo above, visited the United States for several months in 1992-93.  The photo above shows a surprise birthday party … Continue reading →

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Ohio Blue–What Older Women Wore in 1968

Posted on September 17, 2021 by Lynn

One fascinating source of information on older women’s dress are dissertations written by students in Home Economics programs. One 1968 thesis by Alicia Pieper for Kent State University seems custom made for this blog. Her focus was on older women … Continue reading →

Posted in 1960s | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Color Coding, 1930s

Posted on August 8, 2021 by Lynn

These snapshots from the 1930s show a common color pattern for the period: older women in dark-colored dresses, with younger women in lighter ones.  In photos from the era, the women’s clothes are often color coded in this way. You … Continue reading →

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Learning from the Facebook Group “Mid Century in Color”

Posted on May 3, 2021 by Lynn

Sometimes I wonder just who Facebook thinks I am, sending me links to sites about farms and baby animals.  But recently the mysterious algorithm provided something I treasure—a link to the wonderful resource Mid Century in Color: Amateur Photographic Slides … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Treasure and Trash on Pinterest

Posted on January 6, 2021 by Lynn

I have given up on Pinterest many times.  After getting recommendations from friends and sewing teachers, I’ve tried to assemble various “collections” of things that inspire me.  Each time I have delved into that chaotic bundle of images, I have … Continue reading →

Posted in 1920s, General | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Covid Coiffure

Posted on May 22, 2020 by Lynn

Are you keeping a Covid diary?  I tried writing down what I accomplished every day, but the repetition of “sew masks, walk, read mystery book” became boring fast.  For me, the real document of this pandemic is my hair. After … Continue reading →

Posted in 2020s | Tagged , | 5 Comments