Betsey Johnson has been around for a long ass time. Here she is in 1966, checking out models in her studio (Betsey is seated on the left), looking the picture of mod coolness.
Tag Archives: retro
5 Fashion Swaps To Do With Your Mom
Whether you grew up with a cool mom or not, chances are your mom’s got something vintage and amazing worth stealing in her closet. The nostalgic nature of fashion means that we’re always looking back, even as we’re looking forward — so if you keep stuff in your wardrobe long enough, eventually it’ll be cool again. Except electroclash. Let’s never collectively decide we should all wear neon again, mmkay?
It’s with that in mind, that we’ve decided to do a little closet raid. On our moms. We know she’s been keeping some cool stuff hostage back there, and that’s why we’ve created this handy guide for steal-worthy fashions from her glory days — and offering her something of yours in return. Keep reading »
Scandalous Butt-Baring Men’s Fashions From The 1950s
What were the most cutting edge men of the 1950s wearing to the beach? Butt-baring barely-there swimwear, if this old reel is any indication. This fashion show, highlighting the creations of campy Brit designer Dale Cavana, features male models with shockingly tiny waists, revealing animal-print banana hammocks, and de rigeur “leisurely” knotted ties. Enjoy! [YouTube]
Quiz: Guess What These Strange Vintage Beauty Products Were Used For
We slather on tons of lotions and potions in order to get our skin glowing and gorgeous — and apparently women have been doing this since the beginning of time. Just ask Cleopatra’s eyeliner applier. But in the 1950s and ’60s, beauty treatments took a strangely Draconian turn. Our friends at Collectors Weekly dug up some of the most bizarre beauty devices from the era. We want to see if you can guess what women might have used them for. Take our quiz above!
How To Undress In Front Of Your Husband, Circa 1937
Do you ever pause before putting in your mouth guard and slipping into your oversize Sugar Ray concert T-shirt and think, “Maybe I need to add some old-fashioned sultriness to my bedtime routine?” Don’t worry–Life magazine has got you covered. In a 1937 issue, they published a photo spread to teach wives how to undress in front of their husbands, featuring ex-burlesque dancer June St. Clair. Click through to learn the lost art of de-robing for yourself! [Retronaut]
French Photographer Predicts Women’s Jobs Of The Future — In 1902
In 1902, photographer A. Bergertet shot a series of images imaging the bizarre jobs that women of the future might have. Women working? HOW WILD! Bergertet came up with a total of 20 possible professions and shot adorable and slightly risque postcards depicting how women might look in various fields. See more of the photos after the jump! [Longstreet]
Lingerie In Your Purse
There’s nothing worse than meeting Person Whose Job You Want at a party and not having any way to contact them again, foiling your plans to kidnap them and slurp up their brains. An up-and-coming career lady such as yourself has got to have business cards and if your field lets you be quirky, go with it! We think these two-sided cards featuring a retro lady lingerie do the trick. Just be very, very clear your actual profession is not a lady of the night. [$56 for 100, Etsy]
Ladies, Meet Your Home Economics Overlord
The nice folks over at Vintage Ads compiled a collection of the faces of Betty Crocker throughout the years. It’s nice to see that while the visage may have changed, the commitment to a perfectly curled coif and magenta sweater sets has remained. [Vintage Ads]
A Totally Awkward ’80s Ad For Coffee
Coffee! It’s the completely safe stimulant of choice of marathon runners, football players … and the band Heart. This totally bizarre ’80s commercial from the National Coffee Association tries to convince us that rockers were mainlining coffee, not cocaine, before shows. As if! “Because coffee gives you the serenity to dream it, and the vitality to do it!” Um, sure, whatever you say weirdos. [YouTube]
Fashion Flashback: Super Cute ’60s Style
We came across these photos of teen girls from the 1960s and fell in love. We thought you might also appreciate a glimpse into what hippie teens wore around high school campuses back in the day. I’m really wishing I had a pair of corduroy bells right about now…
