Search Results for: half sizes

Madame Eta’s New Fashions for the Adult Years, 1948

Posted on June 9, 2015 by Lynn

Vogue’s introduction of Mrs. Exeter, a fashion icon for the older set, was more than a gimmick to sell clothing to an older demographic. It marked a real shift in tone in the magazine, a declaration that the no longer … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930s, 1940s | Tagged , | 3 Comments

The World of Sue Burnett, 1973

Posted on April 3, 2015 by Lynn

Sometimes research is best done on ebay, my own guilty pleasure. There I discovered that Sue Burnett patterns put out its own pattern magazine, called immodestly Basic Fashion: THE Magazine for Women who Sew. The issue I found was for … Continue reading →

Posted in 1970s | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Duchess of Windsor Patterns

Posted on November 18, 2014 by Lynn

In the fall of 1959, the Duchess of Windsor began putting out sewing patterns under her name for the Spadea pattern company. The first offerings were a set of six rather fancy styles: three cocktail dresses, one day dress, one … Continue reading →

Posted in 1950s, 1960s | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Mrs. Exeter’s Favorite Brands

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Lynn

Have you forgotten Mrs. Exeter, Vogue’s older fashion adviser?  I just discovered another way to investigate her influence. A dear friend put me in contact with her uncle who worked in the garment industry all his life, beginning with the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1950s | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Native Daughters of the Golden West

Posted on April 10, 2024 by Lynn

I am always amazed by the number of women’s organizations that I have never heard of.  While looking through Calisphere, I discovered this photo of a 1948 meeting of the Native Daughters of the Golden West, a group that celebrates … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, 2010s | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

A Clutch Coat in the Early 1920s

Posted on January 9, 2024 by Lynn

I’ve never understood clutch coats.  They are meant to be open at the neck, and sometimes you even have to hold them closed with your hand if no other fastener is provided.  But don’t you get cold around the neck, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1920s | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

First Prudential Outing, Los Angeles 1908

Posted on May 14, 2023 by Lynn

In 1908, it was not yet clear that Los Angeles would become the megalopolis that it is today. San Francisco was the dominant city in the state at the turn of the century, but things were beginning to change.  While … Continue reading →

Posted in 1900s | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

New Year’s Eve, 1967

Posted on January 1, 2023 by Lynn

Where did the tradition of funny hats on New Year’s Eve come from? This shot of the the Hallberg family (from left to right–son, son’s wife, mother, father) shows that they endorse the idea enthusiastically. They all wear hats–and they … Continue reading →

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

Maggie Walker and the St. Luke’s Penny Saving Bank

Posted on February 25, 2022 by Lynn

Maggie Lena Walker (1864-1934) is not a household name, but she made a huge difference in the lives of African Americans in the Richmond, Virginia area.  In 1903, she was the first woman of any race to found a bank.  … Continue reading →

Posted in 1900s, 1910s, 1920s | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

What to Wear to a Cold War Summit, 1959

Posted on October 17, 2021 by Lynn

During the late 1950s, when Nikita Khrushchev came to power in the Soviet Union, there was a brief thaw in the Cold War between that country and the United States.  One sign of the shift was a big exhibit of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1950s | Tagged , , | 1 Comment