More retro goodness from the Prelinger archives. This film sheds some light on the early 1950s standardized building processes using asbestos sidewalls which apparently raised no red flags concerning health issues back then. Funny how awareness can change so quickly.
Here are a couple of excellent early 1960s fashion and style photos taken by famed photographer Mark Shaw. If you recognize the woman on the boat, it's no other than Jacqueline Kennedy her self. Mark Shaw is best known for his photographs of Jacqueline and John F. Kennedy, which he shot originally for LIFE magazine. He also developed a strong friendship with JFK and Jackie and regularly visited the White House during the 1960s. Shaw is also famous for his numerous photos of Audrey Hepburn, some of them dating back to 1953 were lost until 2006 when they were discovered again long after his death in 1969, aged only 47 years old. The Mark Shaw collection is nowadays maintained by Shaw's son and wife. [Thanks Fhardyfan]
For those of you who always wish you were born early enough into the 20th Century so that you are able to experience the thrill, excitement and glamour of the 1950s and 1960s classic Rat Pack shows with Frank, Dean, Sammy and all the other boys, here's your chance. Picking up where they left off in the 60s, Douglas Roegiers, Dave Cox and a variety of performers transform the Pasadena Jazz Institute (in Pasadena, California) into a swingin’ lounge on the first Thursday of every month. Far from a show full of impersonators, these guys (and dames) pay homage to the great American crooners by bringing their own brand of style and entertainment to the stage monthly. The first show kicks off at 8:30 p.m. on June 4th, don't miss it baby!
For those of you who have massive amounts of empty white wall space (something that wouldn't be a problem if you are into the clean Danish modern look) and have yet to find something worthy to put up there, designer Mario Freese has what you need. It all began some time ago when he didn't have any room his new studio to place his designer chairs but plenty of space on his 15 feet walls, so being a designer he simply created drawings of the chairs and plastered his empty walls with them to give him a daily dose of inspiration. And now he is offering his work on printed posters available to buy through his website LX97 for $29 a piece. There are nine different prints which span from Scandinavian, European and American designers such as Arne Jacobsen, Mies van Der Rohe and more. If you are interested in Mario's fabulous and one of a kind prints, head over to his website and get in touch with him right away.
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If you are a lucky owner of one of the 11 000 mid-century Eichler homes located in northern and southern California, chances are you are also a design and architecture savvy person who appreciates fine details. Proud Eichler home owner Carmen realized this and are therefore offering authentic Eichler house numbers for sale through her website eichlernumbers.com. You can buy any digit combination from two to five numbers styled in the original Akzidenz Grotesk typeface that the original signs used.
Seeing summer is around the corner for those of us who are living in Europe, why not catch up with the latest trends and styles in beach fashion for women. Here are a handful of beach fashion photos from Life Magazine circa 1955. The photos were taken by film director, musician, journalist and photographer Gordon Parks who is mostly known for directing the 1971 blaxploitation movie Shaft starring Richard Roundtree. Most people have no clue that he was also a acclaimed photographer that started his career by doing photo essays for Life Magazine who had noticed his photos of a young Harlem gang leader in back in 1948 and offered Parks a job with them where he stayed for 20 years. More photos after the jump. [Thanks Fhardyfan]
Ultra Swank takes you back in time into the kitsch, chic and swank living of the 50s to the 70s. We mainly focus on the design, architecture and the lifestyle of the happy-go-lucky and space-age-living mentality from that era - but also on the mood music that takes you back to happier times. Ultra Swank is run by Chris who resides in Sweden. More | Contact
I am sure that most people who read this blog have their own secret crush about times gone by, whether it be kitchen appliances, cocktail bars, design or cars that purr. Some of you might even have stories to tell but what about the rest of us who can only fantasize about. Meet Joanne Massey, [...]
I am the mood to travel to some place warm and exciting so I thought, why not experience some vintage airline commercials from the the past for some inspiration? Here are a bunch of TWA, Pan Am and Braniff commercials produced in the late 1960s and the 1970s — the golden age of air travel [...]
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Ultra Swank is your blast from the past that takes you back to a more civilized and elegant era with lush cocktail parties, retro design, tasteful architecture and dreamy mood music.
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