Vintage Miscellany – May 18, 2021

This young woman may look like she’s having a carefree day at the beach, but actually she is working. She’s a model and this is a professional photograph, made for the arcade card trade. I love it because the emphasis is not on the bathing suit, but on the girl’s happy attitude. And the accessories.

And now for what’s new…

• I love that dress designer Ann Lowe is finally getting recognition. I hate that every article introduces her as the maker of Jackie Kennedy’s wedding dress.
• Always over-contextualized, the Met has announced the next exhibition of the Costume Institute.
• Here’s a great profile of Helen Uffner, owner of the last large costume rental shop in New York.
• Designer Alber Elbaz died of Covid-19 in April.
• In 1887 Hannah Ditzler Alspaugh started a scrapbook of fabric swatches from her clothing.
• The plea for pockets continues.
• Why should museums be de-colonized?
• Do the clothing brands you buy from share your values?
• The Jane Austen Society of North America, Southwest Region has posted a presentation on 18th century shoes on their Youtube channel.
• You probably have heard about the biopic based on Halston’s life. It’s currently showing on Netflix. Ewan McGregor plays Halston, and he actually took dressmaking lessons in preparation for the role. I’ll have a review of the miniseries up later this week.