The Vintage Site

“Best’s Watchung Welcomes Summertime!”

“We’re simply bursting with fresh and complete stocks of exciting new warm weather fashions from classic sportswear and swimsuits to lovely silks. It’s always a pleasure to shop at Best’s where the service is prompt and courteous, where outstanding quality and value are traditional.”

All of the illustrations in this entry are from a little vintage catalog I have from Best & Co. This catalog is from the Summer 1958 collection and was sent out from the Watchung, NJ branch of the Best & Co. Store.

Both by glancing at the fashions and by doing some research online, it is obvious that these are not high-end, cutting edge styles nor are they meant to be. Rather, it seems that Best & Co set out to produce practical clothes for real women while still embracing the trends of the day. If like I was, you are unfamiliar with this brand, I would recommend reading this Best & Co. Chronology, as well as at the Vintage Fashion Guild, both of whom had some good information.

Drip-Dry Separates by Majestic, 1958

The descriptions given for some of the drip-dry separates listed above:

A1 – “Field Flowers” on an Everglaze sheer cotton bariste shirt; roll sleeves and small Puritan collar. White with geranium pink-and-blue combination. $4.95

A3 – “Polka stripes” convertible collar sleeveless shirt of “Sildara” (dacron and viscose). White with geranium pink or white with porcelain blue. $4.95

Here are some choices in blouses:

Blouse Beauties for Dress and Casual Wear

Notice that some of the brands available here include Jane Holly, Dotti Originals, Mattique, and Yolande.

Summer’s Festivities need the Feminine Look

Young Cosmopolitans Relax in Casual Separates by Loomtogs

Sunshine-Bright Cottons

I hope you’ve enjoyed this glimpse at some typical 1950′s women’s fashions.

“The American woman is recognized at once wherever she goes. Her carriage has something independent about it, and she carries herself well. Her small feet – always in movement – show her vital force. Her head, small and delicate and set so well on a long, straight neck, gives a peculiar charm that is characteristic only of the American woman. She is really a being apart in her compelling spirit.”

These are the words of Sarah Bernhardt, or at least she is the one given credit for writing this article from the April 1912 issue of the Ladies’ Home Journal magazine. The article is titled, “Can the American Woman Design Her Own Clothes?” and in it, Bernhardt, who was French, answers a definite “yes.”

I would suggest reading the article, but here are a few excerpts of her words:

“Now I feel that her personality, so absolutely distinct, loses this charm when she doggedly emulates foreign fashions, be they French, Austrian or of other lands. Why should she not be her own distinct self and dress in the style most becoming to her?”

“Nothing to me is more delightful than a young American woman in her close-fitting American tailor-made suit with its little white collar, topped off with a smart, engaging, appropriate little hat. She is distinctive, attractive, well dressed, and above all, becomingly gowned.”

“But I ask: why should this distinctive American figure be ruined, as ruined it is, by the hideous modern corset that is so absolutely unsuited to it?”

“Therefore I say that as she is distinctively unlike the Old World woman in all else let her dress herself in her own particular style, direct and simple, and becoming to herself. Then she will have undisputed sway for charm and real elegance.”

“The charm of its quaint, fascinating music and its wonderful tempo for the dance were greatly admired and made it The Recognized Orchestra for Social Affairs.”

When I came across this ad in the October 1916 issue of Vogue magazine, I was hearing of the band for the first time. Although I was not at all familiar with the Blue and White Marimba Band, just a quick internet search shows that there are a great number of sites where you can still hear their music now. The band was from Guatemala and performed for six months at New York City’s Hippodrome theater. Probably the best information I was able to find on them came from this great site, The Percussive Arts Society. On that site, there is an excerpt from the 1916 Columbia Records catalog which states:

The Blue and White Marimba Band, latest Columbia Artists, have been the elect musical sensation of New York’s social season. Besides appearing all winter in the Hippodrome, these musicians have played in the private homes of practically the Blue List of New York’s “400″. Their musical gifts are now offered [to] the public through their first Columbia recordings.

Not only could you hear them on records, though, according to this Vogue ad you could also hire them to play for your occasion! As the ad explains,

The Service of these famous Central American musicians are now at your disposal for receptions, dances, etc., if you live within three hours of New York City.

I’m hoping to be able to find more on this band in my other documents of the time.

“The aim of every smart woman this season is not, as in some seasons past, to look very much like her smartest friends, but to look as different from them as possible.”

This is how the December 1929 issue of McCall’s magazine chooses to describe the elegant fashions that are highlighted for this season.

“New Collars are a ‘Dressmaker’ Detail”

The descriptions I am providing here all come directly from this vintage article. The following is the text that accompanied the above illustration:

“The loveliest French fashions are ‘dressmaker’ clothes, individual styles in contrast to frocks that can be turned out by the dozen. Among the many details employed to give a frock this ‘dressmaker’ look are collars cut cleverly and adjusted with the personal touch that individualizes any frock.”

“Paris makes Youthful Frocks for All Ages”

“Almost every important silhouette in the decidedly new fashions is a youthful one, but the frocks in which they appear are not limited to young women. Along with the youthful lines there is also a tendency to introduce sophistication by means of intricate cut, jabots, flounces, subtle flares and longer skirts. The models that result from this attractive combination are frocks that can be worn by women of all ages, but tend to make anyone look youthful.”

L’Echo de Paris

Finally, the last illustration contains one of my favorite vintage dresses, the blue one on the top worn with the black hat and the fur stole (labeled as number 5925).

“No. 5925. The hemline of an afternoon frock dips in three points, and the skirt is joined to the top in a pointed line.”

I hope you enjoyed these timeless 1920′s styles just as much as I do.

With November somehow already starting, it’s soon going to be time to send out the annual Christmas cards!

I like to send out postcards; they’re less expensive to mail plus I love displaying them with all the Christmas decor on my walls. But either way, here are some of my favorite vintage design-filled holiday cards and postcards to give you an idea of the old-fashioned styles that are out there. As you can see, there are Victorian, Edwardian, 1920′s and more recent retro styles to choose from so just pick your favorite era!

Old Fashioned Ice Skater Vintage Christmas Post Card

A Joyful Christmas Postcard

Old Fashion Christmas Post Cards

Vintage Fashion Christmas Card

Wonders of Christmas -vintage christmas greeting Postcard

Old Fashioned Christmas Greeting Card

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“A man with broken arches cannot get into the army, because the military officials know that the resulting pain and nervous irritation absolutely unfit him for the work required. Yet we, who have what seem to us more or less important things to do in life – for ourselves, our families, our communities – permit weak insteps to go on protesting painfully and make no intelligent attempt to prevent the final breakdown…”

Sprinkle the soles generously with red pepper

This article, from the December 1917 issue of McCall’s magazine, is called “This Little Toe: common sense beauty talks.” Despite the fact that they call it a beauty talk, it reads more like a health article to me. Regardless, here are the various vintage tips for taking proper care of your feet, taken directly from the article. (I also have to apologize. When I was putting this entry together, I realized I am missing the last portion of the article. The next time I do my scanning I’ll be sure to find it and add it to this post.)

1. Try to be consistent about heels. If you mean to wear moderately high heels, always wear them; but don’t choose low heels for Monday and Tuesday, high heels for Wednesday and Thursday, and alternate the rest of the week.

Changing from low-heeled shoes to high heels is extremely injurious to the arch of the foot, for after training it to rest in one position you promptly throw it out of alignment, and give it a new adjustment to master.

2. If you already have flat feet, but the arch is not broken, set to work now to overcome this defect.

A flat foot is not beautiful, and that would be reason enough for avoiding its possession; but when you realize that it restricts you in every outdoor pleasure, sets up a nervous condition which affects your general efficiency, and inevitably results in pain and suffering, no argument is needed to make you take the matter seriously and get to work to prevent the flat foot from becoming a foot with a broken arch.

3. Special exercises are about the only way to strengthen and curve the arch again.

Perhaps the best exercise of all is one to be practiced in your bare feet. Tear paper into small strips, and lay in a perpendicular row on the floor, just to the left of your left foot. Now with the bare toes of your right foot, reach over and attempt to pick up the nearest strip of paper. Your foot will arch itself beautifully and exercise the muscles which are not doing their work.

Shedding Corns, and a Toe-And-Heel exercise.

4. An exercise which is good for both ankle and instep is the Toe-and-Heel Exercise.

Stand with heels together, toes out. Now lift left heel and right toe from floor, and swing both toward the left. This will bring left toe and right toe together at the apex of a V. Lift left toe and right heel, and swing toward left, bringing left heel and right heel together at the apex of a V. Do this slowly at first, but with more rapidity as it becomes easy for you. You will find the exercise will take you from one side of the room to the other, and back again.

5. Moisture will inevitably render feet tender, as it renders the horny layer of the skin heavy and moist and causes pressure on the tender skin beneath.

Bathe the feet carefully twice a day, in warm, soapy water, rinse and dry carefully, then use the hands to promote friction, putting them side by side on the foot, and rubbing up toward the body with first one and then the other, in rapid succession, over and over again.

6. Put on fresh stockings every morning and always shake a little powder into them before donning.

7. If you are subject to chilblains, take extraordinary pains to keep the feet warm at all times.

Red pepper, shaken in the shoes or the stockings, will sting and warm the feet, and stimulate the circulation.

8. Paraphrasing Mark Antony, “If you have corns, prepare to shed them now!”

Soft corns are quite easily disposed of. Be careful in bathing the feet to see that they are thoroughly dried. If a soft corn begins to show itself, rub vaseline between the toes.
For a hard corn… Bathe the feet, dry, then with the brush dipped in the collodion, touch the corn.

Here are two great vintage ads from 1950 that showcase the trend for quick, fun, processed foods in American families.

First is an ad from French’s Mustard. The photo shows, of course, a huge plate of hot dogs! These are “hot dogs! with that extra flavor French’s gives!”

This ad also features a little bonus, a recipe for “Hot Dan’s Salad Dressing”, which the ad suggests using as a “zesty potato salad with extra flavor”.

Hot Dan’s Salad Dressing
* 4 tbsp French’s Mustard
* 2 tablespoons evaporated milk
* 2 tablespoons vinegar
* pinch of salt
* 2 tbsp sugar
Beat well until light and fluffy.

Who is “Hot Dan?” Well, it looks like he’s the mascot of sorts for French’s. Here in this ad, he wears a shirt that says “Hot Dan the Mustard Man,” and also offers the reader a recipe book to send for,
Hot Dan’s “Dining Delights.”

Next is another colorful ad, for Armour Pantry-Shelf meals. You can see in the illustration that some of the meals being offered are familiar names such as Treet, Deviled Ham, Corned Beef Hash and Vienna Sausage, along with less common ones such as the “Deviled Tongue.”

The point of this ad is to show “How to Coax an appetite in 20 easy minutes”, and to that end, there is a simple recipe for “Eggs Viennese.” This is as easy as heating the Armour Vienna Sausages in a little butter or margarine, and serving it with scrambled Cloverbloom Eggs.

“Remember this: you cannot bring a disappointing permanent wave back for exchange. All the statements of the advertiser, all the promised safety and beauty of a permanent waving system mean naught when the wave is on your head and you are unhappy.”

I found this ad for the Nestle Circuline Permanent Wave in the September 1927 issue of the Ladies’ Home Journal magazine. The “Nestle Test-o-meter”, pictured at the bottom of the ad, was interesting to me; the use of it “tells your hairdresser to which of ten classes your hair belongs – which Circuline to use in waving it.”

Here is the text of the ad, which describes the perm itself pretty well:

“There is only one thing you can do to make sure that your wave will be perfect – and that is to select it in advance from test curls made on the back of your own head. The Circuline method alone scientifically makes possible this test, because Circuline alone treats each head of hair according to its individual requirements – assuring you of a wave as tight or as loose as you yourself prefer.”

“The Circuline method is gentle, too – for it requires but 7 minutes of temperate heat – 100 degrees less than is needed for an ordinary marcel. Safe, free from injurious chemicals such as lye, potash and ammonia, Circuline is your assurance of a wave as softly flowing as though Nature herself had waved it.”

“But you are not getting a Circuline Wave unless your hairdresser uses authentic Circulines. You will recognize them as she immerses one for each curl in clear, fresh water. Each is individually wrapped with the name ‘Nestle Circuline’ stamped on the glassine wrapper. Demand that your hairdresser use them!”

American Fashions for American Women - Famous Actresses as Fashion Editors

The September 1913 issue of the Ladies’ Home Journal was billed as the “Autumn Fashion Number.” As such, it features an incredible number of gorgeous illustrations of the latest styles from the fall of 1913, and I have selected a few to show here.

This beautiful fashion plate shows off “A Girl’s Three Dresses for the afternoon, the Morning and the Evening”. These three styles were supposedly chosen by Annie Russell, a “famous actress” according to the magazine. I found out a bit about her online, and it seems that she had a long career, broken up by frequent bouts of illness, and she retired for good in 1918. So at the time this magazine was published, she still had a few years of acting professionally ahead of her. On the page, the fashions are described as such:

“Innate love of beauty and simplicity undoubtedly led Miss Russell to choose the little afternoon dress, No. 7848. The Greek influence is plainly discernible both in the graceful lines and in the trimming design. This model is adaptable to soft, clinging material.

No. 7850 is Miss Russell’s idea of good taste in a young girl’s morning dress. This dress has a distinctive Bulgarian effect, and the beauty of the design is greatly enhanced by the pleasing combination of colors in the trimming and sash.

The dainty evening frock, No. 7599, is lovely for sheer figured materials, with net for the trimming. Figured voile, cotton crepe and dignity are attractive and in good taste.”

Another page of fashion in this issue features “The Russian Note in the New Clothes”.

“The Russian note in the new clothes gives opportunity for the use of fur and braid, which are strong factors in the new trimmings, and supply excellent construction lines for a large variety of the new materials. Velvet and plush and the soft wool fabrics with a pile surface are among the season’s novelties and will lend themselves admirably to the development of the typically Russian Coats (Nos. 7975 and 7970) shown in the upper left-hand and upper right-hand corners of this page.”

And finally, here are examples of “The Girl’s Autumn Waist and Suit”:

“Whether the tailored suit be for best or for every-day wear one needs to consider carefully its color, style and serviceability; and then comes the question of waists. This is of utmost importance, for a bad choice of waist will next to ruin a correct suit. It is as bad taste to wear a too dressy waist with the every-day walking suit, and equally so to wear a severely tailored shirtwaist with a dressy suit.”