The Lost Art of the Letterpress

The art of the letterpress. Such a fan, would love to go play with these types of printing presses one day.

Realtree | The Making of a Tradition from MAMMOTH on Vimeo.

Amongst my personal collection of items that I consider to be 'collectible' are these two Jantzen logo's, most likely used in the 1940s in advertising. Back in the day, these would have been used by typesetters, so when stamped would give the flipped image. 

 

I've flipped the image so you can get a better look of the typeface. 

 This piece would have been used between 1947-1954. Pretty cool right? I haven't used them or mounted them on a tool yet, but just to have them gets me thinking of the possibilities.

Another piece I happen to have as part of my personal Jantzen collectibles is this pin from the same time frame.

I guess what I have now is a collection because it's more than two. Oh and if you haven't seen all my Jantzen swimwear you really should check out my store Glamoursurf!

Eduardo Garcia Benito Limited Edition Beach Towel

Just a couple of works I adore by Spanish artist Eduardo Garcia Benito.

1929

This first one was done for Vanity Fair and graced the cover in 1929. So Art Deco and so clean, and you know I just adore the subject matter.

Source

This one was the cover for Vogue on July 15, 1926. And guess what? It could be yours for a mere $450.00 as a beach towel!

Source

Vogue has reproduced this in a limited edition beach towel in collaboration with luxury linen purveyor D. Porthault in commemoration of 120 years of Vogue. 45" x 69".

Would you buy it? And if so, how would you use it?

Just What is She Doing?

My my she's having fun, but what is that thing she is holding and what is she doing? I've made some assumptions, I think she's on a boat somewhere and has taken the captains hat. She's lost her shoe(s) and is getting ready to share her lunch? What do you think? This is a postcard people, you were to send it home to your friends and family. What would your caption read?

Hearts on Swimsuits 1948

1948

Those are hearts being applied to that swimsuit! I have no background information to give you here other than the date. I sure would like to know if this was some sort of fad to design your own suit, or perhaps a publicity photo for Valentines day.

Speaking of, are you ready for Valentines Day? What are you getting for that special someone? Or maybe you're making something special. We need some idea's, what'cha got?

Marilyn Monday - Best Rear View

Image by Frank Powolny

According to movie cameraman Frank Powolny, Marilyn had the best rear view of all the movie stars he had photographed during his career.

Betty Grable by Frank Powolny

You may also recognize this famously sweet photo, also by Frank.

"I asked Betty if she'd like to have a back shot, just to be different," he said. 

"She said, 'Yes,' and began to clown around. 

'You want it like this?' she asked, posing. 

And I said, 'Yeah.'

"I made only two shots of that pose. It was the second shot that became famous."

We thank you for that Frank! I gotta agree, he did get some great rear view shots. Happy Monday everyone.

Wolford Then and Now

I love this image of a vintage Wolford bodysuit from the late 1960s. I'm kind of partial to these sorts of things. Add to that the fact that I sort of love the look of a sleeved swimsuit, although this is a bodysuit, but I'm sure it would do in a pinch.Wolford is a fairly high end lingerie company that has some gorgeous items that can be mixed and match, layered upon layer to create just the right look you might want for any outfit.

Wolford Vegas Body Stocking circa 1969

From the website:

"The two Wolford pioneers were extraordinary characters:
The industrialist Reinhold Wolff from Vorarlberg and the retail businessman Walter Palmers from Vienna.

In 1949, they founded the company Wolff & Co. KG in Bregenz am Bodensee. With their own dye works and moulding shop, they also took up the manufacture of nylon stockings in the same year that nylon made its entrance in Europe. A year later – 1950 – the Wolford brand was registered for the first time as a protected trademark. 
 
After further expansion in 1953, the first double nylon stockings were brought onto the market and, in the following years, production rapidly developed through the acquisition of circular knitting machines. To this day, Wolford works with circular knitting machines which make it possible to provide a seamless product.
In 1964, the company started to produce women’s outerwear whereby it predominantly manufactured pullovers in this area. The creation of the Schoppernau production branch followed in the same year and today this is a retail outlet. Three years later, the five-storied building was erected in Bregenz. 
In 1988, the internationalisation of Wolford achieved a trendsetting dynamic. The crucial factor for this was the company’s reorganisation to become the ‘Wolford AG’ corporation.
On 14^th February 1995 (Valentine’s Day), Wolford simultaneously went onto the stock market with LADY AKTIE in Vienna and Paris.

Today Wolford specialises in the luxury market as an operative and active company in the manufacture and distribution of qualitative, high-class fashion in leg and body wear, primarily stockings, tights, bodysuits, swimwear and underwear. Wolford AG has 14 international subsidiaries and distributes their branded goods in around 65 countries to single-brand boutiques and trading partners.
  
Last year they had several seasonal co-operations in co-branding with well-known international designers such as Jean Paul Gautier, Philipp Starck, Vivienne Westwood, Karl Lagerfeld and Emilio Pucci."

 

Wolford Bahamas Body 2011

Good design need not change much with the time. Wolford on line Boutique is having a 50% off sale right now on selected items, including the body suit pictures above in a myriad of colors. Theres some pretty little things over there, stocking, swimsuits and tights, oh my. Enjoy!

Ohhh, That Special Diving Girl

My ideal beach cottage bathroom. Not only can I picture myself owning a place like this where I could take a soak in that wonderful big tub, I could also just stare at that wonderful diving girl on the wall. She's awfully similar to the Jantzen diving girl, except her suit is blue. But, she can come over to my house anytime and I'd find room for her. Anyone know where I can find her?


UPDATE:

I did find a wooden one but sadly it has been discontinued. However, I managed to find a decal over at the website Suzanne Nicholl Studio.

Source

From the website:   Retro Dive Girls are scanned from our hand painted wooden products, all the texture and detail is printed in the decal.  You can order one or all three to fill up a wall. Each dive girl is about 47" from tip to toe, and about 13" wide.  We can do custom sizes, or change the direction they face. $39.99

I'm off to measure.

Santa Monica Images, 1923

This weekend I came across a photo album book from the early 1920's. I've scanned a few of the photos to share with you.

Some of the images declare a place, date and or name, and in general most of the ones I selected were from Santa Monica in the early 1920s. I'm particularly fond of this one with long skirt and tied belt.

That robe! Or perhaps it's a jacket, handsome right?

And here's the reason I got it. The suits are wool and somewhat unisex, although hers does appear to have a little bit of design work to it. And I love how she has made a belt of seaweed.

Santa Monica in the early 1920s. The coastline sure has changed since then!

She's ready for a dip. Note how the people in the back ground are still bundled up in coats and hats. Most of these were pasted down on black paper. Some of them have aged, but overall still in good condition. Enjoy!

B.V.D. Not Just Undies but Swimwear Too!

1935 B.V.D. ad 

Yes, B.V.D. produced swimwear. Perhaps you know them better as maker of underwear for men, but they started in the business in 1876 and created undies not only for men but women too. B.V.D. was located in the Empire State Building in New York, and also manufactured and sold in Canada. These ads from 1934 and 1935 shows a sampling of their swimwear.

 1934 B.V.D. ad

In 1929 B.V.D hired Olympic swimmer Johnny Weissmuller to model and represent the company at swimshows throughout the country wearing B.V.D swimwear.

Johnny Weismuller promotes B.V.D.

Happy Friday the 13th to all!

Out with the Old

This image came from a Argentine brochure from 1939. I love the illustration and how it is attempting to imbue some sort of snobbery for the changing swimwear styles. Out with the old and in with the new.

Giorgio di Sant Angelo, Tribal Beauties collection 1988

Giorgio di Sant Angelo, Tribal Beauties collection 1988

The designer most often associated with experimental new fibers in fashion is Giorgio di Sant Angelo. He worked with DuPont to devise no only suitable replacements for wool or acrylic, but fantastic ones: silk that could stretch in any direction and new fabrics that were transparent, took color beautifully, and could be painted, tie-dyed, or embroidered. From the 1960s to the 1990s, he worked with Lycra enhanced materials of all kinds to devise ensembles based on such versatile elements as bodysuits that could double as bathing suits or evening tops, and tubes that could be worn as tops, skirts, cummerbunds, or shrugs.

To see more on Sant Angelo please see our blog post here.

More Fun with Marilyn

Lovely Marilyn Monroe shot in the mid to late 40s. I do believe these were taken on the same location, one is black and white, one in color. Which is your favorite? I'm kind of partial to the black and white myself. She looks so young, innocent and lovely all at the same time. Happy Monday all!

Turn of the Century Bathing Machine

This photo is from 1909 and shows just what seaside fun looked like back in the day. These monstrous wagons are called bathing machines. Bathers would use this contraption for changing into their bathing costume for a 'dip in the briny'. Horses pulled them in and out of the sea for the convenience of the modest.

Sex and Splendor at the Folies Bergere, 1909 Paris

The Follies Bergere opened in Paris in 1869 as a music hall and a place to hold operettas, pantomimes, political meetings and vaudeville acts. As the Parisian taste for striptease in the 1890s began to take hold, elaborate costumes and stage sets were created to enhance the spectacular nude shows. The "Place aux Jeunes" launched in 1886, was a revue style music hall show featuring scantily clad women in elaborate costumes. As you can imagine, the show was a huge success. This photo from 1909 shows just how elaborate some of the costumes were.

Marilyn Monday

Happy 2012!