Dear Vintage Goddess...

Here is an interesting and thought provoking letter from a reader.

==========================================================================
Dear Vintage Goddess,

Television shows like "Mad Men" are so popular these days.  Do you think that retro 1960's clothing has become more popular because of our love of retro pop culture?

Thanks!
Maggie K.

====================================================================

Dear Maggie K,

I love your question.  It would be naive (but nice) for us to think that clothing fashions rule the world and the earth revolves around vintage and retro clothing.  Although, I have to say that you are partly correct.

Traditionally runway fashions have always influenced home design 2 years after the fact.  But what does that have to do with clothing from a past era?  With the incredible resurgence of 1960's inspired designs, the entertainment and home decor industries have followed suit and joined the bandwagon, so to speak. 

Now it has become a chicken and the egg scenario.  Retro clothing influenced television.  Then television influenced retro "inspired" clothing and interior design.

Ursula Andress looking gorgeous

Some naysayers are saying that this is all going to come to a crashing end sooner than later.  The copycats will certainly see an end to their reign but true retro and vintage clothing will always have a great fan base.  That's because the real McCoys are not dependent on passing trends, but rather hold their values on different levels such as historical significance, sentimentality and the desire for individuality.

Carol

FLYING HIGH ON FASHION



smallscreenscoop.com

I am happy to see that the new television series called "Pan Am" has survived its freshman season so far.  At first this show interested me because of its retro connection to "Mad Men" which is all the rage these days.  I am of course more interested in the show as I am a vintage girl at heart.

I have become firmly invested in the story lines and the main characters.  What I find truly amazing and mesmerizing are all the incredible fashions that are displayed in every scene.  One would think that a show based on airline stewardesses would have them in uniform most of the time.  But it's nice to see them in times of leisure and sometimes even surrounded by luxury. 


slow33.com

I would love to have the figures of these actresses as their outfits look like second skin most of the time.  I wonder if that "Pan Am" company issue girdle really does come into play?!  From the cute little hats on their heads, to the the prim gloves to cover their delicate hands, down to the spotless shoes, the costume designer has gone to great lengths for authenticity and fab stylishness.

There are few men featured on "Pan Am".  But the two main pilot and copilot always look the part as dashing men about town.  There are also some guest actors who have taken my breath away, dressed so sharply and dashingly.  Ahhhhhhh,  another reason to keep tuning in...



dignityzine.com





blog.boozt.com



jenniferfabulous.blogspot.com

 

jenniferfabulous.blogspot.com



 

Goran Visnjic looking very dashing as Luka on "Pan Am"
aoltv.com





dailymail.co.uk



 

Kitchens from the Past Part 2

 Continuing our retro kitchen journey, here are some 1960s kitchens. Again, note how many features are incorporated into modern day kitchens - sometimes it's hard to tell that these are 40 years old!

"This kitchen was deliberately planned as an entertaining center. It makes the most of the modern, and easy-to-clean technology (at least for that time). Necessary work areas disappear behind folding doors for easy clean-up and entertaining. Featured in the February 1962 issue."

 Entertaining was a large part of the 1960s household. This one is so cozy, your guests may never leave! I just love this.

This large kitchen has a refreshing warmth and graciousness that is characteristic of the entire house. The island divides the room into work centers with a sitting room at the far end. Featured in the October 1961 issue.

 A classic case of new borrowing from the old. Wood cabinets are everywhere again in modern kitchens, accented with stainless steel appliances. 

 Modern miniatures for prefab homes.

A spruced-up, tiny prefab on a narrow lot was the home of this little kitchen in 1961. The kitchen gave the impression of being much bigger, according to House Beautiful's editors. "One important reason is that the cabinets have been raised so that the eye sees the continuation of the floor to the back wall," they wrote. The kitchen had an oven, but no surface cooking units — only "portable, thermostatically controlled appliances stored in large drawers and brought out for use."

Tomorrow, 1970s kitchens.