Henry Cyril Paget, 5th Marquess of Anglesey (1875–1905), styled Lord Paget until 1880 and Earl of Uxbridge between 1880 and 1898, and nicknamed “Toppy”, was a British peer who was notable during his short life for squandering his inheritance on a lavish social life and accumulating massive debts. Regarded as the “black sheep” of theContinue reading “Portraits of Henry Cyril Paget, 5th Marquess of Anglesey”
Category Archives: fashion & clothing
Crazy Double-Faced Swimming Caps of the Late 1950s
These vintage crazy swimming caps were invented by a Long Island housewife, Betty Geib, to amuse her children. After they flew off the rack at a church bazaar, she started a new business, Betty Darling, selling her wares for $3 to $6. The caps featured indeed funny masklike faces and motifs including a sea serpent,Continue reading “Crazy Double-Faced Swimming Caps of the Late 1950s”
The “Golden Age” of Childhood: A Gallery of 45 Amazing Daguerreotypes of Siblings From the Mid-19th Century
Daguerreotypes were the first commercially viable photographic process. Developed by French chemist Louis Daguerre in 1839, the technique quickly made its way to the US in the 1840s, the beginning of what some historians characterize as the “golden age” of childhood. To make the image, a daguerreotypist polished a sheet of silver-plated copper to aContinue reading “The “Golden Age” of Childhood: A Gallery of 45 Amazing Daguerreotypes of Siblings From the Mid-19th Century”
40 Wonderful Portrait Photos of Women Posing With Their Books From the Mid-19th Century
Women formed a large and increasing part of the new novel-reading public. The traditional discrepancy between male and female literacy rates was narrowed, and finally eliminated by the end of the 19th century. The gap had always been the widest at the lowest end of the social scale. Perhaps more women than we realize couldContinue reading “40 Wonderful Portrait Photos of Women Posing With Their Books From the Mid-19th Century”
35 Vintage Photos Show Fashion Styles of 1950s Couples
Fashion in the 1950s saw a clear gender divide. While men and boy’s fashion moved towards a more casual day-to-day style, women and girl’s fashion prioritized elegance, formality, and perfectly matched accessories. Couture womenswear saw rapid change with new designers such as Cristobal Balenciaga and Hubert de Givenchy disrupting the overtly feminine silhouette popularized byContinue reading “35 Vintage Photos Show Fashion Styles of 1950s Couples”
Yesterday Today: September 2
A 6 year old Chimney Sweep photographed before child labor laws were put into effect, 1934. At the ripe age of 137, White Wolf a.k.a. Chief John Smith is considered the oldest Native American to have ever lived, 1785-1922. In the 1950’s, Black Musicians were often limited to small nightclubs. The Mocambo, a popular nightContinue reading “Yesterday Today: September 2”
30 Elegant Portraits of Victorian Beauties in Tight Corsets
The corset has been an indispensable supportive undergarment for women, in Europe for several centuries, evolving as fashion trends have changed and being known, depending on era and geography, as a pair of bodies, stays and corsets. The appearance of the garment represented a change from people wearing clothes to fit their bodies to changingContinue reading “30 Elegant Portraits of Victorian Beauties in Tight Corsets”
20 Fascinating Vintage Photos of a Young Lucille Ball During Her Modeling Days in the 1930s
Although she is a beautiful woman, Lucille Ball never really attempted to have a glamorous look in her television career, so you might be surprised to learn that Lucy earned her living as a model before she ever turned to comedy for her show business career. In fact, she dyed her blonde hair red toContinue reading “20 Fascinating Vintage Photos of a Young Lucille Ball During Her Modeling Days in the 1930s”
Vintage Photos Show What Young Couples Wore in the 1940s
World War II dominated the first half of the 1940s as well as fashions in the Western world. Materials such as silk, nylon, wool, leather, rubber, and zippers were needed in wartime production. Clothing was rationed in the United States and parts of Europe. 1940s fashion designers had to be efficient and innovative in howContinue reading “Vintage Photos Show What Young Couples Wore in the 1940s”
51 Amazingly Gorgeous Photos of Supermodel Cindy Crawford
Cynthia Ann Crawford (born February 20, 1966) is an American model, actress and television personality. During the 1980s and 1990s, she was among the most popular supermodels and a ubiquitous presence on magazine covers and runways, as well as fashion campaigns. She subsequently expanded into acting and business ventures. Crawford is an icon who’s hadContinue reading “51 Amazingly Gorgeous Photos of Supermodel Cindy Crawford”