Mary Van Notes

For the first installment of I heart vintage, I’d like to treat you all to a video of a 16mm home movie showing San Francisco in 1958 (via vimeo).  What warms my heart the most when seeing this is realizing how little things have changed since then.   If it weren’t for the fashion and old cars, you wouldn’t know this was shot in 1958.   It also makes me think of my family and of their roots here.  I like thinking that they could’ve been in this footage. They could be in one of those cars on the bridge, or at a table next to the guy smoking a cigar…

I just found the Vintage Ladies Tumblr full of vintage nudes and pin-ups.  There are so many beautiful shots there, so take a looksee.   Here’s some old-timey porn and sexiness to hold you over:

I love me some Tom Lehrer.

RIP Jean Carroll

I just read this NY Times article.  I’m saddened that I didn’t even know who she was until she died.  I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without women like her.  It’s amazing the trailblazing she did:

“When Ms. Carroll came to prominence, no woman was expected to sustain a comedy act by herself; traditionally (think of George Burns and Gracie Allen), a woman had a straight man beside her as a counterweight. Nor was she supposed to be hugely attractive: The combination of feminine wit and beauty seemed too potent a cocktail to foist on the American public.”

Here she is on a popular Sunday evening variety show from April 5, 1959:

Yes, Valentine’s Day is stupid, but I can’t help appreciating cutesy vintage valentines.  This one is for all my fellow vintage-lovin’ ladies whose blogs I follow.  There are so many of you I can’t name you all, but here are some of my faves Andi B. Goode, Calivintage, Strawberry Koi, Clothes Horse, Vixen Vintage, Agent Lover. Y’all inspire me so much.  Keep rockin’ the crazy hats and killer style, ladies!

Special thanks to Anita Drieseberg for sending me this valentine. We gotta grab a beverage and go gawking over vintage hats on Haight St!

I am a Queen of Vintage!  Thank you Queens of Vintage dot com for making me Vintage Queen No. 60.  It’s an honor to be in the same company of some amazing, stylin’ and inspiring ladies.  Head over here to see the full story.

Queens of Vintage says I am a “a true style chameleon. Whether she is channeling early Sixties a la Mad Men, the psychedelic swinging years of the same decade, Forties chic or demure Fifties, Mary always looks fabulous!”

It’s completely true, I am a chameleon.  I can’t stick to one decade, or one distinct style the way others do.  I think a kid from my high school said it best when he wrote in my senior yearbook, “It’s impossible to describe you: you change too often!”  I like keeping myself and y’all on your toes. ; )

Thank you Google Images for the above pics.

I heart the vintage Michael Jackson Impersonator at my friend Nick’s fourth birthday party.  The way Nick looks at the camera at 2:26 is pure gold.

Nick grew up to become the musical visionary that is DJ Real.   I believe the above video is proof of the impact that occasion had on his life.   See the below video as evidence.

I picked up a book at the used book store called Funny Ladies: 100 Years of Great Comediennes by Stephen M. Silverman.  I’m always a bit sad when I learn of comediennes I’ve never heard of.  Why is it that we know George Burns but not Gracie Allen?  Charlie Chaplin but not Mabel Normand?  I’ll be featuring these funny ladies as soon as I go about learning about them.  First up is Fanny Brice, whose photo on the back cover of Funny Ladies made my heart jump.  Could I please have that dress, pretty pretty please?

Fanny Brice started in burlesque revues and went on to radio and TV. Her career spanned from 1910 to 1950.  From Funny Ladies:

Fanny was intuitive: “I never worked out any business ahead of time,” she declared of her performance technique. “It would only happen when I hit the audience, because they speak so much louder than my mind.”

Photos courtesy of Google Images.

She was one hilarious and beautiful phenom. A true entertainer. Watch Fanny Brice with Judy Garland, as she plays her famous Baby Snooks character: Why, Because

All 1920s photos from Vintage Ladies.

I posted a hiking pic in my last post and wanted to post these pics from a hike I did with my boyfriend up near Arnold, CA at the Stanislaus River and the Calaveras Big Trees State Park.

One of the things I remember talking to Ben about was how much I needed to clean out my closet of clothing I don’t wear anymore, or clothing I don’t want myself to wear.  For instance, I still have t-shirts from high school, and unflattering jeans!  I need to just get rid of those clothes–the crappy under-par quality modern clothes that rip with ease.  I also don’t want those unflattering jeans around because I’d rather force myself to wear nicer vintage pieces in my day-to-day life.

I need to confess that sometimes I walk around my neighborhood looking SCHLUMPY!  Well, I feel schlumpy in some of the modern ill-fitting cheap clothing I have in my closet.  So my September 2010 new years resolution is I’d like to find a nice balance of comfort and style.  And I’m looking at what women wore in the 40s and 50s for inspiration.

For instance, hiking.  Now the outfit I’m wearing above isn’t horrible, but that tank top….eeegh.  Boringtown, USA.  And the shorts?  Thrifted American Eagle cargo-ish shorts… bleh.  Back in the day women were so stylish when they went out hiking and camping.

1899 photo:

1910 photo:

1920s ladies re-posted with permission from Fuzzy Lizzie Vintage:

The following photo is for sale here:

1930s photo from the Sierra Club:

1940s women of the Erdington Social and Cycling Club from flickr photostream of zombikombi1959 (posted with permission):

1930s photo:

And there were a bunch of great photos of women hiking in the 50s on this flickr photostream. Like this one. And this one. And this one. And this. Such great examples of good style while being in the outdoors.

So here’s a little vintage hiking/camping ensemble wish list:

Vintage 30s 40s Ladies Ski Suit

Pendleton Plaid Vintage 1950s Wool Jacket

1940s Levis Ranch Pants 29 Waist

Vtg 30s 40s Pants Blouse Suit High Waist Striped Cotton Brown White Medium Large

Vintage 1940s Chippewa 2 tone Wool belted Ski Jacket

Vintage 50s WYONEGONIC Plaid Camp Shirt

1950s Autumn Striped Shorts

Vintage Boyco Metal Canteen with Wool Cover and Strap

I.Magnin Womens Jacket Plaid 1940s

RAB Capri Jeans Vintage 50s Blue Denim W30 High Waist

Vintage Bass Brown Leather and Suede Oxfords

I finished writing this post and started reading my blog roll.   Hannah and Landon posted an interview with the inspiring Nicole Eymard of Fashion Forestry.  She succinctly put into words what I’ve been feeling:

Nothing is more important than knowing what looks good on you and what represents you properly. No one benefits from walking around amongst clones. Comfort doesn’t mean ugly. I personally dress in a favorite outfit everyday because when I was little I thought you were stuck with the outfit you were wearing when you died.