Penelope Tree Mask by Emanuel Ungaro 1968 Photograph by Richard Avedon.

Babar and Celeste: a Lovely Wedding

1960 ~ The Marriage of Babar and Celeste

Wasaga Beach

It's a cold Sunday morning and after making sure I remembered to turn the furnace back on (no wonder it was so cold last night!) I sought some feel good summer inspiration from this old postcard of Wasaga Beach. It's from the early 1960's when North America was at the height of its love affair with the car. There appears to be more cars than people on the beach (a long ago custom that has since been banned). Not entirely environmentally friendly, was it?

Cookbook Comfort Foods

"When you can't think of what else to serve, compose a casserole. It's the hostess' best friend and the busy homemaker's helper, because usually the preparations can be finished ahead of time and the final heating done in the oven, without extra attention. So simple to fix, so pretty to serve, so wonderful to taste - that's the casserole. Take a handful of vegetables; take a pinch of seasoning and a dash of herbs; take a cup of this and a pound of that - and you have the makings for that dish of magic."

What could be more fun than a vintage 1960's cookbook?

Enamel Jewelry From the 1960's

The 1960's brought a new vision to jewelry that wasn't the kind that belonged to Mom. It was metal and cool and punchy and just a little "flower power."

Here's an example in those famous patriotic colors, red white and blue.

Christian Dior

Christian Dior ( 1905 – 1957), was an influential French fashion designer, best known as the founder of one of the world's top fashion houses. He was responsible for the "New Look" in fashion in the 1940s (volumous ballerina skirts) and dressed stars such as Marlene Dietrich and royalty such as the Duchess of Windsor.

This is a beautiful A-line dress from Christian Dior, late 1960's. The dress has cut-away armholes, a shaped bodice front and back with a v-neckline and back zipper

Emilio Pucci

Emilio Pucci ~~ Heir to a Florentine family, Pucci was famous for his designs distinguished by marvelous cut and construction and his Pucci prints. Marilyn Monroe was buried with one of his dresses, and his designs were worn by everyone from Sophia Loren to Jackie Kennedy. After Emilio's death in 1992 his daughter, Laudomia Pucci, continued to design under the Pucci name. Other designers who have worked for the label include Stephan Janson and Julio Espada. This dress and coat combination is a wonderful example of his tailored, streamlined designs. The coat is set-off with large buttons and is cut to emphasize the neckline. A seven-eighth sleeve length serves to highlight the arm-line and make the figure seem longer and leaner than it really is. Up swept dart lines in the coat and dress add to this illusion. A beautiful design from a master designer.