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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.

Pictures of Confederate Soldiers, Women, and Children

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

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

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

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

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The Language of Fashion by Mary Brooks Picken 1938

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

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Early 1900s band photos street photography

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

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Slide Scans

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Pictures of the Gateway Arch under construction

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.

Old Magazine Scans

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

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

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3 Musical Gibson Girl Sketches

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

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1880s going away dress outside

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.

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1880s tea gown and going away outfit

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….

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Pinup model with a green vintage car

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.

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

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 🙂

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June Ann and The Red Vintage Car pt 2

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!

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Rebekah Liegh Pinup Pics

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…

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Pictures of Confederate Soldiers, Women, and Children

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!

Read More
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