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Old Magazine Scans
Old Photo Scans
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Misc. Ephemera
Vintage Styling & Photography

History of Beauty Contests and the Ideal Female Measurements of the 1950s

Did you know that the first Miss America was 5 foot 1, weighed 108lbs, had a 30 inch bust, 25 inch waist, 32 inch hips and brown hair with blue eyes? In comparison, Evelyn Ay, the 1954 winner, measured: 5'8, 132lbs, 37-24-36. Here is a chart and a picture to demonstrate the perfect female form of the 1950s, as decided by Vincent Trotta, a Miss Universe judge. He claimed that it was proportion, so a woman could be taller or shorter, just proportional.

Happy July 4th!

Slide Scans, The Best Few... | 0 |

This entry is part 8 of 19 in the series Old Slide Scans

The A B C Book of Birds

Featured, Old Book Scans | 0 |

This turn of the century children's alphabet book contains illustrations and descriptions of 27 birds from all over the world including parrots, poultry and songbirds.

Dancing, Singing, NightClubs, and 1950s Stripper Stars

Old Magazine Scans | 0 |

Wow. What a cool series of pinup and burlesque star history! I'm not sure if there's much of a point to the words in these pages, but the pictures show the history of fashion and burlesque with pictures including

Pictures of Confederate Soldiers, Women, and Children

Featured, Old Photo Scans | 0 |

I believe that these are pictures of Confederate Soldiers from the Civil War. This album also included pictures of women, children, and non-uniformed men. I was told that all these people were from St. Louis, or relatives of people living in St. Louis. Such fascinating untold stories... I'll let these pictures speak for themselves!

Early 1900s Summer Fashion Illustrations

Old Catalog Scans | 0 |

These fashion illustrations show what women wore in 1913, and what was in style. Apparently, embroideries were the rule, and placed where there was the smallest excuse for them. This illustration shows three fashionable early 1900s women and a little girl. On the right side is an advertisement for a Venus adjustable dress form. The text includes detailed descriptions and how to order the dress patterns to make the fashions the models illustrated are wearing.

Historical Bus Routes to the Muny in 1943

Misc. Ephemera | 0 |

It appears as if bus service to the Muny at Forest Park during World War II was very comprehensive! Bus service extended as far as Gravois and Hampton, Grand and Holly Hills, 3rd and Washington (downtown), Florissant and Kingshighway, and Delmar and DeBalviere... a pretty wide radius! Also in these last few pages of the 1943 St Louis Municipal Opera program, besides ads, was the list of large donors who gave to the Municipal Theatre Associations guarantee fund. It reads like a long list of old St. Louis society's who's-who and includes Adolphus Busch II and his son, August Buch (of the Anheuser-Busch brewery). It's interesting to see who the early supporters of the Muny were!

1880s going away dress outside

Vintage Styling & Photography | 0 |

Once I had the model in this 1880s bustle dress, I didn't want to let her out! The weather was SO pretty outside that we decided to go take some fashion photos at Carondelet Park. The boathouse at Carondelet Park, although originally built in 1918, and the concrete pergolas (built in the 1930s), made for perfect a perfect set to go with this 150+ year old dress.

Old Book Scans

The Language of Fashion by Mary Brooks Picken 1938

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I am so excited to get The Language of Fashion by Mary Brooks Picken (1938 edition) as an early Christmas present! I am even more thrilled by my friend's thoughtfulness. Even more excited that this book's copyright has apparently expired (according to my search on the U.S. government copyright site).... so I can scan the pages!

Old Photo Scans

Early 1900s band photos street photography

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Here are 2 pictures of Seymour's Regiment Band, from the early 1900s. Charles Seymour was a famed conductor and soloist in St. Louis at the time, and I wonder if this was the band he led.

Old Catalog Scans

1935 Summer Dress Fashions

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This entry is part 13 of 17 in the series 1935 Chicago Mail Order Company Catalog

Slide Scans

Pictures of the Gateway Arch under construction

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These photos show the Arch under various stages of construction, from just two legs, to the final keystone about to be placed into the nearly complete monument... fascinating historic slide scans of the Gateway Arch under construction in 1965.

A new car in 1944

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A Huband and wife in 1944 Kodaslide scans

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Random Old Slides

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San Simeon 1959

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Old Magazine Scans

Art Studies 100 Years Ago Were as Daring as Today’s

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Wow. What an interesting 1950s perspective on the history of nude photography! The accompanying pictures include 3 "unusual photos taken about 80 years ago" (i.e., sexy pictures from c. 1870). The full color photo is a realistic modern figure study by Jules Alexander, of a nude woman posed next to an electric fruit slicer.

Misc. Ephemera

3 Musical Gibson Girl Sketches

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Here are three sketches by Charles Dana Gibson of lovely ladies playing musical instruments. A harpist, a cellist, and a fiddler. These prints are titled: The Wearin of the Green - woman playing a harp Then You'll Remember Me - woman playing a cello The Sweetest Story Ever Told - woman playing a violin

Dancing, Singing, NightClubs, and 1950s Stripper Stars

Mar 21, 2023 | Old Magazine Scans |

This entry is part 10 of 32 in the series CheeseCake Pinup Magazine - 1953

Wow. What a cool series of pinup and burlesque star history!

I’m not sure if there’s much of a point to the words in these pages, but the pictures show the history of fashion and burlesque with pictures including

1880s going away dress outside

Mar 13, 2023 | Vintage Styling & Photography |

This entry is part 23 of 23 in the series Carondelet Historical Society Project

Once I had the model in this 1880s bustle dress, I didn’t want to let her out! The weather was SO pretty outside that we decided to go take some fashion photos at Carondelet Park. The boathouse at Carondelet Park, although originally built in 1918, and the concrete pergolas (built in the 1930s), made for perfect a perfect set to go with this 150+ year old dress.

1880s tea gown and going away outfit

Mar 5, 2023 | Vintage Styling & Photography |

This entry is part 1 of 23 in the series Carondelet Historical Society Project

I almost forgot that I took these 1800s styled photos, back in 2012. The first dress is an 1880s-ish tea gown, and it was fun enough to take pictures of… but the second dress, with the attached note saying that it was Miss Meroe’s “Going Away Dress”… was just incredible! I wish we’d had a proper corset, but luckily my model Tiffany was petite enough to fit into it….

Pinup model with a green vintage car

Feb 25, 2023 | Vintage Styling & Photography |

This entry is part 13 of 13 in the series My Photography

Here are the last of the unposted pics from my retro styled photo shoot with pinup model Rebekah Leigh a few years ago. She’s wearing her own vintage wardrobe and posed next to a green vintage Chevrolet. Although these photos are retro inspired, they could easily be modern fashion.

When more than one person is photographing a model at the same time, it is always difficult to get great photos. If the photographers are at different angles, the model doesn’t know who to pose for, and if the photographers are shooting close to each other, they end up with very similar images. It was very challenging to shoot any model in this situation.

Pinup pics of June Ann with 2 vintage cars, a black Bel Aire and a green Chevrolet

Feb 17, 2023 | Vintage Styling & Photography |

Here are more never posted pinup and retro styled pics with vintage cars from my shoot a few years ago with St. Louis model June Ann. She wore her own vintage inspired wardrobe and did her own pinup styled makeup and hair. I am awful at identifying cars and car years, except what I can read on the side of a car, so feel free to comment what kinds of cars she’s posed with 🙂

June Ann and The Red Vintage Car pt 2

Feb 9, 2023 | Vintage Styling & Photography |

Sometimes when editing good pinup pictures, or photos that I think are pretty good, my eyes and judgement start to glaze over. I end up thinking that self-similar images are equally good, so show those also. I also never know what people are going to like, and if I like two pictures just the same, may as well post them!

Rebekah Liegh Pinup Pics

Feb 1, 2023 | Vintage Styling & Photography |

The red skirt, shoes, and matching blouse and accessories in these pinup pictures really pops against the drab background. St. Louis pinup model Rebekah Leigh is wearing her own wardrobe and did her own hair and makeup. This set is from a few years ago, and I realized that I never posted any of these pictures…

Cheesecake Pinup Pics in Daisy Duke Short Shorts

Jan 24, 2023 | Vintage Styling & Photography |

We decided to make model June Ann look like a naughty 1950s greaser with the bright red vintage...

Snapshots of a pinup model wearing a 1960s Plaid Sheath Dress on a gold car (Rebekah Liegh)

Jan 16, 2023 | Vintage Styling & Photography |

I think pinup model Rebekah Liegh is perched on and in a 1957 Chevy, but I’m not sure? I do know that her cute sleeveless plaid vintage dress, from my collection, is from the 1960s.

Vintage 1960s Mustang – a forgotten fashion photoshoot

Jan 8, 2023 | Vintage Styling & Photography |

I was going through my old hard drive, and realized that I’d exported these 1960s styled photos of Ashley, but never posted them to this vintage blog! I dressed and styled her in a vintage light green psychedelic floral minidress and hat. Since we were going to shoot other sets, I kept her makeup fairly neutral, but with bright pink lipstick.

Pictures of Confederate Soldiers, Women, and Children

Dec 31, 2022 | Featured, Old Photo Scans |

Modeling an Edwardian Lace Dress

Dec 23, 2022 | Clothing Restoration Projects, Vintage Styling & Photography, Editorial |

This entry is part 21 of 23 in the series Carondelet Historical Society Project

Here’s ZiZi modeling an Edwardian Lace Dress. I’ve posted a few untouched close ups of the dress so you can see the intricate details in the lace. It was an amazing piece and required minimal styling to bring a turn of the century mood. I especially loved her poses with the violin.