Evolution of Women's Career Suits

With more women entering the work force during World War II, the clerical jobs formerly occupied by men were filled with women. Trying to maintain some status and not look frivolous in the serious world of commerce and industry, women adopted a Masculine Look with Wide padded shoulders and complete covering from neck to below the knee. But you will notice that they did manage to keep a semblance of femininity with a very fitted waistline and peplum jackets that emphasized their hips.

This lovely Gabardine suit, found on Babylon Mall, is completely dart fitted in front and back and the peplum jacket flares nicely over a pencil slim skirt.

Vintage 1940's Sexy Fitted Navy Blue Gabardine Suit Sm

After Johnny Came Marching Home, women we reluctant to give up their new found status in the professional world and some managed to keep their jobs and opened new employment opportunities for young women who wanted a career instead of a life of domestic bliss (notice that both was seldom an option at this time.)

The 50's ushered in a similar but softening look in career wear. These three suits have a less structured feel although in the first shoulder pads are still prominent but smaller. The waist is softened with velvet trim on the jacket and a velvet pocket. The Pumpkin Spice flecked suit is boxy over a still slim skirt. But the fabric flows and shows all those feminine curves within the box. And the 3rd in this series is Femininity Personified. Fitted waist, small peplum that is enhanced with ruched trim and a full flared skirt and don't forget the lower V neckline.

Vintage 1950's Black Rayon Crepe Suit with Asymmetrical Trim & Pocket
Vintage 1950s Pumpkin Spice Sexy Secretary 2pc

Vintage 1950's Black Faille Fitted Peplum Flare Skirt Suit

The 60's brought us a very new look with the influence of Jackie Kennedy. Her taste and particular figure requirements brought us the A line skirt and short boxy yet softer jackets. Less emphasis on the waistline and more emphasis on the Total LOOK!

These three beauties are all distinctly tailored for that Classic Chic Jackie Style.

The first is a pink brocade with glittery buttons. The 2nd is a blue shantung with heavily beaded collar and the last is a heavy slubbed silk in pink with cranberry trim and a ruffled cranberry collar.

Vintage 1960's Pink Silk Brocade 3pc Set B38 Neiman Marcus

Vintage 1960's Blue Silk Beaded 3 pc Chic Jackie Set B40 NOS

Vintage 1960's Pink Slubbed Silk with 3 pc Suit B38 (not listed yet)

Just prior to the British Invasion and the MOD era, swingy pleated skirts and lowered waistlines were not only casual and comfy but practical and just plain fun to wear. This fab suit from Donavan Galvani is a cranberry and wine combo. The skirt is pleated and the jacket is semi fitted in the waist with a belt. Shawl collar and ribbed sleeves finish off the look.

Vintage 1960s Donovan Galvani Berry Tweed Knit

School Has Started and Fall is just Around the Corner.

And cool morning and warm afternoons give us a need to layer. This great dress and coat set from Garguilo for Smith & Jones still has it's original Hang tag and is ready to go at La Dolce Vintage on Babylon Mall.




For the MOD Squad, we have a pair of square toed pilgrim shoes and matching handbag with the neatest brass studs.




And if the Renaissance Faire is your cup of tea, this gorgeous corset front maxi dress with huge lace belled sleeves from Roberta of California, is just the item you are looking for.

Last Kiss J Frank Wilson

While we're on the subject of the 60's, I found this listing from txdude52 on eBay of 3 issues of The Fang! That's the High School Yearbook for Lufkin High School in Lufkin Texas. The issues are 1958, 1959 and 1960. What makes these issues special you ask? Well these issues have J Frank Wilson who sang Last Kiss. "Last Kiss" was a number two hit for J. Frank Wilson & the Cavaliers in 1964, and was one of the final gasps of the teen tragedy craze that blossomed in the early '60s



To hear the song and learn a bit more about the general genre of Teen Tragedy Songs click on Artist Direct

Mad About Mad Men

I am so delighted to see a program that celebrates this often over looked era because I LOVE the early 60's Fashions. That's probably because I became really fashion conscious in 1960 when I entered Junior High School.

This beauty is something I would have worn to a 8th grade dance in 1961. As a matter of fact I wore something almost identical. It has a taffeta under dress and floral organdy overdress with those really special puffy sleeves and of course we still worn BIG petticoats that year. Pink kitten heel shoes helped me dance the night away with that Special boy I met that night.

While I was strutting my stuff in the floral beauty above, my lovely Hazel eyed Mom would be wearing this gorgeous cocktail dress of steely blue taffeta, (just the color of my Daddy's eyes) covered with lace and a crepe wiggle skirt below. Matching Peau de Soie spike heels pumps would have set it off perfectly.

Since my Mom was a bit more conservative than her best friend, Brownie, this gorgeous Gold and yellow confection would have been Brownie's choice for the party. With her lovely brunette hair and tawny brown eyes she would have been the hit of the party. But then she usually was the hit of the party, no matter what she wore.

And then there was the Subtle but Sexy Billie. Billie always knew how to dress just right. Sheer organdy over a full taffeta slip. Wide neck but not too daring. No fat petticoats for the understated Blonde. She would have every head turning to watch her pass in this Gay Gibson.

For some real Eye Candy...Flip through the Mad Men Scrapbook

Unsung Heros! Funeral Directors and Staff!

We sing the praises of our First Responders in the time of crisis. Rightfully so, they deserve it!

But something came to my attention this week, that I had never thought about. Our town experienced a different type of tragedy. A bus carrying 55 Vietnamese Church members from Houston to a retreat in Missouri, had a major fatality accident. See Story Here

As sirens screamed, blue lights flashed and Air Ambulances blew the trees around, Emergency Medical Teams triage the surviving, Police directed and diverted traffic and the Red Cross and Salvation Army offered sustenance to the volunteers and staff.

But who is attending to the 12 deceased?

Funeral Directors and their staff. They are the ones who transport the bodies and offer counsel to the victims families, prepare the bodies for viewing and make arrangements for transport to the home communities. The overwhelming work load was compounded by the fact that the families were 300 miles from home and had a language barrier.

I would like to offer a tribute to these Unsung Heroes, and call attention to the fabulous job they do and the smooth and calm manner in which they do it. Within 24 hours of the accident which occurred at 12:35 AM all of the bodies had been processed and on their way to their families and final resting places.

Thank you each and every one. Dannel Funeral Home, Waldo Funeral Home, Angelica Funeral Home.