Shrunk Trunks - Jantzens sell for $77
Yesterday, I uncovered a disturbing footnote in swimwear history. I fully intended to surprise you all with actually finding the ghastly “wrap front” swim trunks online (the term “trunks” used very loosely here). Alas, I am not surprised that I came up empty.
One item of note is that these Jantzen Swim Trunks were recently sold on Ebay to the tune of $77.00. They are very similar in “coverage” but infinitely apropriate for the man who is going to the beach or the pool to actually SWIM, albeit a bit more modest then what some Olympic divers wear for the aerodynamic qualities. Michael Phelps doesn’t mess around with boarder shorts, afterall.
1950s, 1960s | Comment (0)Giant Slides and Cotton Candy
One of my loves as a child was a giant fiberglass slide. They gave you a mat, and you would make your journey up the staircase again and again. It was interesting for me to discover that there is a whole amusement park that based itself around an initial slide like the one I liked so much as a child.
Morey’s Piers in Wildwood, New Jersey started out with two brothers, a giant fiberglass slide and a dream. In the 50s and 60s, Bill Morey operated a boardwalk concession stand, while Will was a developer. They spotted a giant fiberglass slide languishing in Fort Lauderdale, and thought it was the perfect thing to attract more business to the boardwalk.But where do you put a giant fiberglass slide?
The brothers bought a mini golf course as well as a languishing restaurant to complement the slide, and Surf Side Park was born. The photo, at left, shows the slide circa 1969, and after 1976. The ape you see had been a part of a Planet of Apes Themed attraction/ride at Morey’s Piers, and the Ape is seen here at its new spot in the park. Way back when, the park was two piers separated by some municipal land, but it has grown by leaps and bounds since, hence the plural “Piers” in the name.
Fast forward to today, and Morey’s Piers is a crown jewel among New Jersey amusement parks. In fact, every Tuesday during the day through August 26th, you can ride as many rides time and your stomach will allow for just twenty bucks until 6:30 P.M. You can check other specials on their website, HERE. Imagine Flying The Great Nor’Easter for six hours straight. Luckily, there are lots of hotels right near by for you to crash and you can find them on the site, too.
It is a place not just for having a great time eating more cotton candy than you can eat and riding the rides, but it is also a great spot for a family beach vacation just like it was in decades past. Below, a beach scene from the 1970s, contemporary to the time of Morey’s Piers’ beginnings.
Whatever you do to wrap up the summer, or start the fall, a lot of these parks that have some history to them are sometimes just what the doctor ordered. You can decide to spend half the day taking it slow, and not feel like you have missed the entire park, yet there is a lot to do, making it a very worthy jam-packed daytrip.
One of Our Favorites from Sears
I sold this suit last year, but it is in our “short list” of favorites. It was (is) a metallic suit from the late 60s. Although it is from the tail end of the decade, it has major mod sensibilities with its Italian cut and slim collar placement that we would place just a couple years earlier.
Tailor tags can be very important in dating menswear, especially because the classic suit doesn’t change as rapidly as ladieswear and is sometimes harder to pinpoint in less than a 5 year period even if one is very knowledgeable. Of course, there are “of the season” cutting edge looks available for the fashion forward, but for the average man, a suit is an investment piece. They want to be stylish, but they don’t want to look dated the next year, especially if their employment or social outings do not require a suit for daily wear.
This particular suit came from Sears. The tag is not specifically a tailors tag of a custom suit, but the date the suit was altered for the original buyer. Unlike high fashion magazines that show what the designers introduced each year, the Sears catalog was a very good record of what the average person was actually wearing that year, just like the paint colors represented what was actually in the average homes of America. It may not be nearly as exciting as haute couture, but is invaluable for historians, reenactors, vintage lovers, and costumers alike.
In the fall of 1968, the year of this suit, though the Brits had moved onto more fluid lines, American Mod was still showing an influence on American fashion and was interpreted in a little more of a relaxed fashion.
At the tail end of the 60s, because of the new synthetics, shades that could never be achieved before were everywhere. I have seen quite a few menswear in the jewel tone blues, greens, and teals during this time period in many eye tricking fabrics and hues that begged the question “Is that blue or is that green? Greenish Blue?”. I have often needed a second or third opinion myself!
Having a specific date always makes me wonder if the date had been around a special occasion. I always imangined with the suit being tailored in proximity to Halloween, that perhaps someone bought it who went to an alternate event. They might have gone to a performance at a concert hall instead of a costume party that night. Or maybe it was just a coincidence, just another day.
It’s Seiko Time
Seiko began in Japan, at K. Hattori, the eponymously named clock and jewelry shop of Mr. Kintar? Hattori. In 1892, the “Seikosha” clock was born. Thirty-two years later, the first Seiko watches, were on the market. The watch world was innovated with the Seiko Astron, the first quartz watch, in 1969. Just for trivia’s sake, it is said that the word “seiko” means “minute,” “exquisite,” or “success.” Very apt for the brand that has been the official timekeeper at many Olympic games since 1964.
I found a few Seiko Watches on Bluedial.com. One or two bring to mind the Gold Grand Seikos that were made with real gold in the 60s and the 70s. This one has the full 35mm dial. Today, with the price of gold, of course, you will get a gold plated or stainless steel one, but admirers won’t know. There are slight differences in design nuance, of course, from period pieces. However, if you are looking for a masculine (read: BIG dial), gold tone watch to make your 1960s or 1970s (leisure suits!) ensemble a little more authentic looking, it may be the watch for you. Only time piece historians, and not your admirers, will probably point it out to you.
LA Time Machines: Where to Wear
Los Angeles Time Machines is a site that we have been watching for awhile that we think our readers would enjoy. It focuses exclusively on pre-1970s restaurants and bars that are still in their original state. Occasionally, there are updates on when folks can make a big difference in saving a historic vintage landmark so stay plugged in!
It mainly focuses on the many sites in Los Angeles, California, but has extended to includes spots in Nevada, Maryland, Washington and beyond.So, go look up a historic place and show up in your vintage clothing! It would make a great retro photo!
http://latimemachines.com/
Another great place brought to our attention recently is the KFC in Marietta, GA. Lizzie wrote about it recently, and if you are driving through, go take a look!
http://fuzzylizzie.bravejournal.com/entry/17499
Stay Unique 
Get Out Your Checkbook!
Here is the ultimate gift for that special gal!
The iconic black dress Audrey Hepburn wore is going on sale.
Sale will benefit City of Joy Aid.
According to stylist Phillip Bloch, the most memorable black dresses of all time are:
Now that you are considering the dress….
You need a tux with tails now on sale from Couture Allure.