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.