Always on a Monday
Quotes from the Archives:
Harriet, of TastyVintage presented the following quotation from “The Art of Window Dressing” on the public forum at Vintagefashionguild.org that we found rather interesting…
“A certain draper in a large provincial town had for very many years alays changed the neckwear window on Mondays, and it was not until recently that, on account of his window dresser being called away, he had occasion to leave his display in over Monday.
He then discovered that he sold more better-class neckwear on that particular Monday than of any other day of the display. Monday is now the best day for neckwear, and the window display is never changed that day.” Have mondays been “mondays” throughout time and they could use a new accessory to lift their mood, just like it is said more stereotypically of women? Are men more “refreshed” on mondays? Were more men “in town” on mondays reporting to the office before the rest of the week took them away to meetings uptown or in another city? What are your opinions?You may not live near a place like that, but do you find yourself in a buying mood out of necessity or fancy any particular time than others? I think it would be an interesting discussion.
Fashion Defined: Argyle
The design was first seen on the tartans worn by members of the Campbell clan from Argyll, Scotland. The clan found popularity when it was mentioned by the Scottish novelist and poet Sir Walter Scott. By the late 18th century, the knitted pattern of the argyle was beginning to be adapted by manufacturers as the argyle plaid and socks knitted with the patterns became known as “argyle socks.” Although the original pattern of the Campbell clan was a traditional green and white, today argyle socks can be a combination of any two or more bright colors.
Save that for a cocktail party. You are sure to dazzle someone with your knowledge!
Until next time,
January 6, 1947: (Don’t) Burn, Baby, Burn
I was so excited to do a “this day in history” last Sunday, but I neglected to actually share it with the world. So….its a week late, but today I pose the question:
What exactly happened on January 6, 1947?
I have recently learned that The California Flammability Act went into effect. (Exciting, huh? Well, it certainly changed the fabric and clothing industry)
Retailers were ordered to clear their shelves of any clothing and “yard goods” were constructed of a flammable fabric. Some retailers purchased or were provided with test equipment to determine which goods were at risk. Not all retailers immediately complied.
Fabrics were not graded on the failure to protect the individual from a large scale fire (such as a house fire or those also involving flammable liquids), but the sudden catching of fire from a very small source such as a heat glow or a spark. Fabrics were considered flammable when they caught fire in less than 6 seconds. Materials most targetted were, according to Fairchild’s Mens Wear Magazine of March 7, 1947, “long napped rayons, sweaters and robes with the same characteristic, or with short or finer nap, nets as used in evening gowns, and thin, coated fabrics.” In fact, for a time, any synthetic fabric more flammable than natural cotton was banned.
The ban did not include hats, gloves, shoes, purses, or interlining materals that were not exposed.
Not only mills in the state were barred from producing them, retailers were fined or penalized for carrying flammable clothing and purchased or supplied with equipment to test fabrics. They were ordered to clear their shelves and check their insurers for liability.
Retailers did not all immediately comply. There were some questionable fabrics that individual stores inquired the fire marshall about. In doing so, the retailer could probably sell off the remaining forbidden items because it took 6 months at times for the subsequent ruling.
It is very interesting to think about the presence of particular fabrics lending towards accurately dating a garment. However, since the regulation did not immediately spread across the country, nor did it become federal law, fabric content alone cannot be relied upon to accurately date a suit or a nightie, except perhaps in the case of California Designers of the times.
1940s, history | Comment (1)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 