Vintage Shoes for the Beach

Ads for shoes from 1959. I particularly love the Red Ball ad with the striped flats. Wouldn't they look sweet paired with a vintage swimsuit on the beach?

Back to the Sun - 1959

This is the kind of unhampered exposure the lovely female back deserves. The plunge is deep, flattering - for Catalina follows the natural curves of the back to emphasize the core of it's beauty. The result not only bares you beautifully, but also acts as a perfect backdrop for a glorious suntan. Only a Catalina can enhance your special charms so completely.

Careerist, (in color) an Orlon and Lastex knit sheath flattering the figure from all angles. Buttons accent the low back. Empire bodice $19.95 ($149.58 in today's dollar.)

Primavera, striking satin Lastex leaf print, with square bodice, gathered waist, slimming boy leg, $22.95. ($172.07 in today's dollar.) Matching Cover-Up in fine cotton. $9.95 ($74.60 today's dollar.)

Smash Hit, figure flattery in plaid cotton satin, with built-up shoulders and puckered derriere, $12.95 ($97.09 in today's dollar.) Matching Cover-Up, sleeveless, hip level, $6.95 ($52.11 in today's dollar.)

Sportswoman, sun-baring simplicity in tweed plaid Lastex. Square low back has cording detail on bodice, slimming quarter panel skirt front. $15.95 ($119.59 in today's dollar.)

Sun Stunner, curvaceous sheath in iridescent Lastex with figure controlling uniskirt. Front cowl effect, soft draped back. $19.95 ($149.58 in today's dollar.)

The headline to the pictoral says "Enhance your special beauty with a Catalina." I find it interesting and refreshing that they chose to shoot the models from the back side. Which is your favorite?

Joan Holloway Ringer

I received a fabulous magazine from 1959 on my birthday this week and I've been busy busy scanning images from it. This one from Ship 'n Shore on the back cover is fabulous. Isn't the model a true ringer for Joan Holloway of Mad Men? Joan is played by the talented Christina Hendricks and has come back to Mad Men's season 4. I'm so glad she's back! I'll be sharing more from this issue all week, stay tuned.

Underwater Beauty

Busy busy day today at GlamourSplash so I'll just leave you looking at this underwater beauty from 1959 and wishing you a blessed day!

Mad Men - Jantzen - Logo Rebrand

While watching the season premier of Mad Men last night I was excited to see a couple of scenes with the newly formed agency, Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, in a pitch with Jantzen. While this is a fictional agency, certainly there is some historical based fact with Jantzen and advertising (J. Walter Thompson worked with Jantzen.) Many of the scenes at the first fictional agency in Mad Men, Sterling Cooper, have Jantzen images hanging on the walls and there is a wonderful swimsuit clad model in the opening credits.


More recently, and based on fact, Plazm was hired when Perry Ellis acquired Jantzen in 2002 to re-brand the Jantzen mark. You can see more of that information here. It's it exciting to see how the Jantzen logo has developed over the years.



I don't think any agency would have thrown Jantzen out on their heels as Don Draper did last night, but this is television. And I can't wait to see more!

A Walk Down Yesterday- Vintage Bathing Suit Parade at Jazz Age Lawn Party

A fabulous video featuring many vintage swimwear styles from the 1920s to the 1980s. I wanna be there! And I love it when the kids are included! PS - the video kept buffering for me, but its worth the wait.

Watumull's Vintage Hawaiian Aloha Shirts

1940s Watumulls label

Watumull's has been around since 1914, specializing in Hawaiian clothing. Watumull Jhamandas Mirchandani was a businessman selling imported goods from the orient in 1914. Born in India, he made his fortune in Hawaii as a merchant and real estate agent. In 1942, he published the Watumull Foundation to help increase India's national efficiency and promote cultural exchanges between India and the United States.

He was one of the first Indians to arrive in Hawaii. His business center was initially in Manila. The Philippines had recently obtained independence from Spanish rule and the political scene in Manila was in turmoil. With the advent of the First World War, when the US military moved its operation from Philippines to Hawaii, Jhamandas – with his keen foresight for business – decided to move his operation to Honolulu as well. His brother, Govindaram joined him in establishing the “Watumull Brothers” company. Their children adopted “Watumull” as their family name. His legacy is carried forward today by his son Gulab and daughter-in-law Indru. Gulab arrived in Hawaii in 1949.


Watumull's East India Store led the way by commissioning artist Elsie Das to create fifteen floral designs. Her hand-painted designs were sent to Japan where they were printed by hand onto raw silk. According to Elsie Das, a Japanese manufacturer once printed a set of her floral designs on heavy satin by mistake. "These started a vogue in Hollywood. Ginger Rogers, Janet Gaynor and other stars bought bolts of the stuff and had it made into 'seductive gowns.' The result was an epidemic of Hawaiian designs, with hibiscus and ginger breaking out on table cloths, napkins and scarves all over the country."

Vintage Watumull's Hawaiian clothing is getting harder and harder to come by. Most of the examples I found on line are in Japan. I did find a couple on line though that were in English.

1940s Hawaiian shirt available at the Hana Shirt Company

This one is on EBAY from ord_kung

We were fortunate to find this one a little while ago. This piece dates to the 1940s and is made of Rayon. It has the classic coconut shell buttons with horizontal buttonholes, short sleeves and a single chest pocket. Check out that wind collar!

Available at Glamoursurf