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Tag Archives: special occasion
An “Oriental Celebration,” 1960
Where do you stand of the issue of cultural appropriation? You might remember the recent story of a white high school girl who was shamed for wearing a Chinese style quipao dress to her prom. Some Asian Americans complained that … Continue reading
Dress Up Shoes and the Older Woman
What shoes should women wear to fancy dress up events? Looking at the images presented in most media, it would seem that sky high heels are the preferred option. That might be okay for the younger set, but by the … Continue reading
Gramie and Grampi Cut the Cake, 1960
“Gramie and Grampi with the cake Annie made for you,” reads the message on the back of this photo. At first I thought this might be an anniversary celebration cake for the older couple, but the caption tells a different … Continue reading
Holiday Greetings from Ida Arneson, 1957
Is anyone named Ida anymore? It might be due for a comeback. This card was a lucky eBay find combing two favorite elements—an unlikely Christmas greeting and a sewing theme. I suspect Mrs. Ida Arneson is a widow, since there … Continue reading
The Fourth of July in South Carolina, 1939
The Library of Congress has a series of photographs of an African American Fourth of July celebration on St. Helena Island off of South Carolina in 1939. They were taken by Marian Post Wolcott, a photographer working for the Farm … Continue reading
Posted in 1930s
Tagged African American, hats/headcoverings, South Carolina, special occasion
1 Comment
It’s a Handbag!
Doesn’t this 1950s snapshot call out for a story? The happy woman holding the handbag is obviously the star of the event, since she is the only one wearing a corsage. But what kind of occasion is it? A retirement … Continue reading
Graduation Day
As I continue thinking about things we can’t do now, I bring you this photo of what must be a college graduation day. My guess is that it comes from the mid to late 1950s. The photo is an old … Continue reading
Posted in 1950s
Tagged African American, hats/headcoverings, jewelry, lace, special occasion
1 Comment
Preparing for the Prom, 1959
There won’t be a senior prom for many this year, so this 1959 photo seems especially poignant. The daughter is all gussied up—is it the actual day of the prom or was she just posing to document the dress? It … Continue reading
Come Fly With Me, 1955
Passenger air travel was already well established by the 1950s, so it is unlikely that this prosperous looking couple was making their first trip in 1955. These were the days when people still dressed up to travel. With his broad … Continue reading
Cassie and Jennie, 1932
A handwritten message on the back of this photo gives me names and dates, and I know that it comes from my stepfather’s family. Unfortunately, there is no one left to tell me who Cassie and Jennie were. I do … Continue reading