Fashion | dual personalities

November 5, 2016

Keep yore bat strate boy and all will be all right in life as in criket.*

by chuckofish

Despite the increasingly absurd presidential campaign and the inescapable feeling that “‘Reality is so unspeakably sordid it make me shudder'”*, I’m feeling happy. It was a good week.

On Thursday son #2 gave us great news: The University of Exeter (in Devon, UK) awarded him his Masters degree in English Literature (with a Film concentration)! Here he is a little over a year ago, presenting a paper at the Tolkien conference at Oxford.

Doesn’t he look masterful? We’re very proud of him!

Then, yesterday, we celebrated my DH’s birthday. I won’t divulge his age — let’s just say a few years have passed since his “Thunderbirds are Go!” glory days.

circa 1965

We had a quiet evening at home. For dinner, I served this salmon recipe from Bon Apetit with new potatoes and white wine. Much to my surprise, the dinner turned out perfectly. To top it off, all three boys called to wish their papa a happy birthday.

Now, add to those milestones the completion of our cottage renovation and you can see why I’m feeling cheerful.

Not bad for a wintry week in the North Country!

I like the way the taller trees are leafless but the smaller ones are still turning. It almost looks like the woods are on fire.

Remember, no matter what the upcoming week throws your way, if you keep your cricket bat straight, all will be well!

* Geoffrey Willens, How to Be Topp (1954)

2 Comments

August 24, 2016

“Silk suit, black tie, I don’t need a reason why”*

by chuckofish

This is fun.

A good list, especially #38 and #52.

But when you’re talking about the 75 Best Dressed Men of all time, I might add this guy**:

and maybe this guy**:

And certainly this guy** had personal style:

But I won’t quibble. It’s a good list and a nice distraction during a busy week.

Enjoy your Wednesday!

*ZZ Top

**Napoleon Bonaparte, Buffalo Bill Cody, Sitting Bull

4 Comments

May 5, 2016

“You can have my girl but don’t touch my hat”*

by chuckofish

Today is the birthday of John Batterson Stetson (May 5, 1830 – February 18, 1906), the inventor of the cowboy hat.

As you know, all the best cowboys have worn Stetsons.

So here’s some Lyle Lovett* to celebrate.

Have a great Thursday!

2 Comments

April 22, 2016

“What is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it.”*

by chuckofish

A couple of days ago on the Man Repeller blog they asked the important question: What’s your movie dress?

Good question, but their answers weren’t that exciting. I mean how can you make a list like that and not include something worn by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s?

audrey-hepburn-breakfast-tiffany-street-scene

I could not find a good picture of the dress/hat ensemble Holly wears to visit Sally Tomato…but really, has any woman ever looked better than Audrey in this scene?

In fact, they never mentioned ol’ Audrey at all. How is that possible?

Audrey was mentioned in the comments section and there were other good suggestions, including Glinda in the 1939 Wizard of Oz. Here are a few more…

As a child I was struck by the dress Jane Fonda wears in the scene in Cat Ballou (1965) when she is about to be executed for murder.I loved that dress and it is the one I was thinking of when we chose the pattern for my “May Day” dress in 1974.

Clearly my friend Harriet was thinking the same thing.

Who can deny that there were many great dresses in the movie White Christmas (1954)–such as this classic number worn by Rosemary Clooney at the Carousel Club.

Great accessories too! Those gloves! The bottom of the dress was great too–it belled out to great effect…

Here’s another great dress worn by Rosemary in the Minstrel Show number–love those red bangles!

This more conservative green velvet cocktail dress is pretty great too. And I am loving that couch as well.

And who wouldn’t want to pull this dress out of the closet for a night on the town?

I know I have always wished I could. As you can see, the older I get, the more I relate to Rosemary rather than Vera-Ellen!

So…what’s your movie dress?

*Yves Saint-Laurent

GIF found here.

1 Comment

March 25, 2015

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…

by chuckofish

Did you read this in Apartment Therapy about the 1970s–“the best decade of all time or the worst?” OMG are you kidding me? Check out those interior design pictures! They’re awful! Remember avocado green appliances and orange kitchens?

The 1970s was the worst decade ever–from Watergate to Jimmy Carter–the worst. Elvis died. John Wayne died. What was good about it?

Certainly not the fashions! Everyone looked terrible!

…or the hairdos!

…or the cars!

I read something recently where they referred to the seventies as the “Second Golden Age” of Hollywood. Seriously? I hate the movies from the 1970s. Taxi Driver (1976), Chinatown (1974), Saturday Night Fever (1977), The Deer Hunter (1978), The Exorcist (1973), Rocky (1976)–Ugh. Even the movies I like from the Seventies aren’t in my all-time favorite category!

Well, it just goes to show you that Americans can be nostalgic about anything! And the Seventies’ time has come. Look out for more ridiculousness–and probably a return to high-waisted pants.

Discuss among yourselves.

7 Comments

February 11, 2015

Woke up this morning feelin’ fine*

by chuckofish

Do you remember Mary Quant?

She was born on this day in 1934 in London, the daughter of Welsh teachers, and became a famous fashion designer and British icon. She is credited with inventing the miniskirt (named after her favorite car–ahem) and as such was an instrumental figure in the 1960s London-based “Mod” and youth fashion movements.

Twiggy in a Quant design, 1966

Quant was also responsible for hot pants, the Lolita look, the slip dress, PVC raincoats, smoky eyes and sleek bob haircuts, but it was make-up that eventually made her company the most money.

I remember those days. My dual personality loved Twiggy and collected pictures of her. (She was in the second grade.) We thought it was all pretty cool: Carnaby Street,

Jean Shrimpton,

The Man From U.N.C.L.E.,

the Rolling Stones,

Herman’s Hermits!

Living in flyover country, the hip new fashions were slow in catching on, but eventually skirts got shorter, hair got longer and girls started wearing Yardley make-up.

I still have some of these iconic tubes somewhere!

Needless to say, We were oblivious to the darker elements of the mid-sixties. I think we thought, if it’s British, how bad can it be?

Anyone in the mood for Austin Powers?

Yeah, baby–me neither. And happy birthday to Mary Quant!

*Woke up this morning feelin’ fine/There’s something special on my mind/Last night I met a new girl in the neighborhood, whoa yeah/Something tells me I’m into something good (Herman’s Hermits, 1965)

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