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  1. St. Louis

    A Girls' Weekend Out, circa 1939

    I'm looking for suggestions and ideas. A friend of mine, who lives about 550 miles north of me, wants to take a long weekend vacation for a Girls' Weekend Out. We only see each other once or twice a year, so this is a way of getting together on our own just for fun and relaxation. The idea...
  2. St. Louis

    Are you ever tired of explaining why you live or dress the way you do?

    For me, it's the seamed stockings that get a lot of comments and sometimes even gasps. I've never had a rude remark about the way I dress, now that I wear almost exclusively 1930s and 1940s fashions, though I think the slightly frumpy schoolmarmy spinstery look that I sport doesn't draw a lot...
  3. St. Louis

    Golden Era Things You've Revived Or Repaired For Use

    You'd be amazed at how much you'll use cards, Rue. I had some cards printed and I find I use them constantly. I give them to the cobbler when he reheels my shoes, so that he can call me when he's done. I give them to new friends I meet socially, which makes the whole business of exchanging...
  4. St. Louis

    What modern invention/innovation do you wish had *never* been developed?

    I regret the general homogenization of American culture and, I suspect, a similar process in Europe. No matter where I travel in the U.S. I see strip malls, big box stores, and franchises everywhere. I know each of those abominations has been listed in earlier pages of this thread, but I think...
  5. St. Louis

    Our own vintage town

    For those on the US side of the pond, there is actually a primitive village, constructed of original log houses and frame buildings, that is available for rent. It's located in central Illinois, about an hour south of Champaign and about 45 minutes west of the Indiana border. Some friends and...
  7. St. Louis

    Vintage Things That Have Disappeared In Your Lifetime?

    I use table cloths and real napkins every day. I have a whole closet shelf full of beautiful damask linen cloths and napkins that I find at thrift and antiques shops. There are also literally thousands of embroidered napkins out there, completely unused, or even if used, with only minimal...
  8. St. Louis

    Golden Era Things You've Revived Or Repaired For Use

    Here's another one. I use a white enamel basin with a red rim to wash my hand laundry. To the best of my knowledge, that was the standard hand-washing vessel in the golden era. Here's one image from the "1940s House" kitchen, and another period image (look in the sink.) You can spot that...
  9. St. Louis

    Skills For "Living The Era"

    This is very helpful and interesting. I copied the info, but it would be nice if it could be collected somewhere for future reference. It's not always easy to know how to search older posts to get at this kind of excellent & useful information. Now I have a question. I use a flap toaster but...
  10. St. Louis

    Vintage Things That Have Disappeared In Your Lifetime?

    Speaking of schools, how about mimeograph machines? They used a type of ink that was intoxicating and addictive. I wish I could get a bottle just so I could sniff it occasionally. Not that it would bring back such great memories ... I went to a very strict Catholic parochial school and wore a...
  11. St. Louis

    Comments You Get When You Dress Vintage

    That says much more about this person than it does about you. Imagine responding that way to a nicely-dressed lady who happens to be smiling at you.
  13. St. Louis

    New Years resolutions. ANY ?

    I don't make resolutions as such, but every Dec. 31 I choose a theme for the coming year. I try to bear that theme in mind all year long. The theme for this coming year is cheerfulness. I'd like to be cheerful. Not idiotically euphoric or phony, just to refrain from whining or complaining. I...
  14. St. Louis

    1930s and 1940s sewing ease?

    Over the holiday break I've been working through my stash of 1930s and 40s sewing patterns and fabrics. I have a question for the more experienced dressmakers here. I understand basically how to fit myself, but I don't know exactly how much ease I'm supposed to build in. That is, I find that...
  15. St. Louis

    Wedding photos I thought you might enjoy

    Lovely and elegant. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness.
  16. St. Louis

    The Porch Life

    My neighborhood was a project developed by an insurance magnate in 1929, with the purpose of housing low-level office staff. Almost every house on my side of my block is an identical tiny brick bungalow with a huge front porch. The porch is one third the size of the entire house, seriously...
  17. St. Louis

    Golden Era Things You've Revived Or Repaired For Use

    About sincerity versus irony: there's a big difference between cynical, dismissive, insolent irony and "cracking wise." 21st century irony is aimed at anything with a genuine emotional content, or at any serious ethical commitments. I'm not referring to religion, but to such beliefs as "it's...
  19. St. Louis

    Golden Era Things You've Revived Or Repaired For Use

    I had no trouble getting ribbons for my Smith Corona Silent Portable, circa 1941, from Amazon. A company called EBS Hard to Find Office Supplies uses Amazon to sell its products. I contacted the company directly to double check that the ribbon would fit my machine, and found their customer...
  20. St. Louis

    Depressed by the modern world

    I absolutely agree with Rathdown. Find the joy and beauty in the era you love. It's no good focusing on what's wrong with the modern era; you can create a life that makes you happy. For every person who might be surprised by what you are wearing, there will be ten who are inspired. Perhaps...
  21. St. Louis

    This or That

    I'm still working on the Walter Winchell vs. Ed Sullivan thing from a few pages back. I couldn't answer it so I left it alone, but it's been bugging me ever since. Walter Winchell would be a more fascinating dinner companion, but I'd be sick with fear for weeks going over the conversation &...
  22. St. Louis

    Housework in winter?

    I'm still looking for some suitable flannel for slips. Here in St. Louis there are almost no fabric stores left in business. I pretty much have to order it online. All I can find is flannel with baby or pajama prints, or else plaids. I presume we're talking about a fine white or peach cotton...
  23. St. Louis

    Golden Era Things You've Revived Or Repaired For Use

    So all these threads about vintage things you feel have disappeared or are glad have disappeared reminded me that there are things that have been revived, too. I don't mean the obvious ones like swing dancing, big band music, or retro fashions. I mean things like hand-written letters or rotary...

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