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No Accounting for Taste

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  • The theme for #thevintagefashionchallenge today is Something Changed… but it really feels like things aren’t changing enough. If you’re a white person who feels like you want to do something to examine your own biases and help dismantle systemic oppression but you don’t know where to start, follow @thegreatunlearn, become a patron, do the reading, do the work and get uncomfortable. It’s not the end, but it is a first step. And if you don’t think you need to do anything, think again and do it anyway. // . (1) Marchers on the way to the Board of Education, 1963. (2) Long Beach State students protest police brutality, 1989. (3) Casey Robinson plays saxophone honoring his twin brother Corey, killed by police, 1987. (4) Tanya Donel holds a picture of her brother Marcus who was killed by police in 1989.
  • Day 27 of #thevintagefashionchallenge: Day Dream. I adore being outside in late spring, but not enough to go to a public beach right now. How about I visit 1947 instead, at Atlantic Beach in Long Island? Wearing 40s inspired trousers by @revellecollection, vintage scarf from @playclothesvintage and 50s top by Jantzen. Original image from the Library of Congress archive. // #ootd #vintagestyle #noaccountingfortimetravel #1940sstyle
  • Feeling summer-ish today ... “White ducks—tough, classic and this summer, smart as paint. To wear long (turned up once at the anklebone) under true-blue, navy blue jersey. By Glen of Michigan. Top, of Everglaze cotton jersey by Alamac, about $7; pants of Wellington Sears duck, about $11.” Photo by Louise Dahl-Wolfe for Harper’s Bazaar, June 1955 // #1950sfashion #louisedahlwolfe
  • We’re nearing the end of #thevintagefashionchallenge and today is a return to glamour… something I definitely don’t feel ready for yet in the real world. Here in Radio City Music Hall though, I’m wearing a 1938 Mainbocher gown from Bergdorf Goodman’s custom department, Ferragamo shoes and, borrowed from 1939, a velvet tilt hat by Reboux with a little hood of snug felt (also from Bergdorf’s, natch). // #1930sfashion #noaccountingfortimetravel
  • A very happy birthday to Claire McCardell, born May 24, 1905 in Frederick Maryland! Today for #thevintagefashionchallenge the theme is supporting, so I wanted to time travel with some of the great small businesses that have provided me with her pieces over the years but I only had enough plutonium for two… maybe I’ll drop more in my stories tonight. First up, a mid-1950s linen number for revisiting the 1955 office, from @brideofthefox and {swipe} an early 50s paisley print bias cut dress from @clarafoxvintagem for a shopping trip to Great Neck in 1951 (sorry that one’s kinda grainy, some folks were eyeing the time machine suspiciously and I had to shoot quickly). // #clairemccardell #1950sfashion #vintagestyle #noaccountingfortimetravel
  • Today in time travel I’m visiting the USO canteen at the Harrisburg Station of the Pennsylvania Railroad, designed by Raymond Loewy & Associates and completed in July of 1943. This photo was taken before the lounge opened, and I can’t get over how modern it looked. In addition to food and drink (barely tying it in to #thevintagefashionchallenge), servicemen were provided desks and materials to write letters, magazines to read, a radio-victrola to listen to and games to play. It was staffed the Women’s Aid of the Pennsylvania Railroad with 180 wives of railroad men volunteering as hostesses, serving thousands of men and women in the armed forces each month. The lounge closed in April of 1946, and I’ve no idea what became of it. For my visit I’m wearing early 1940s slacks by Loomtogs from @smallearthvintage, a California-made twill blouse from @house_of_edgertor, and a rare shoulder padded jacket waist-length jacket by Claire McCardell, also early 1940s. Shoes by @remixvintageshoes, turban from @audrey_ropeburn // #1940sfashion #vintagestyle #noaccountingfortimetravel
  • Yesterday I went to the office for the first time in ten weeks and, in keeping with today’s theme of pretending for #thevintagefashionchallenge, it did not look anything like this. Wearing a #1950s suit by Irene for Neiman-Marcus, time traveling to a 1955 office in New Jersey from the Gottscho-Schleisner photo archive. 60s turban by Betmar, pearls from my great aunt. // #irenelentz #1950sfashion #vintagestyle #1950sstyle #wearvintage #noaccountingfortimetravel
  • Yesterday’s theme for #thevintagefashionchallenge was lounging and I spent way too long trying to find an appropriate place to visit via time travel but eventually the dearth of available hi res color photos from the late 30s proved to be too much so here we are in my living room again 🙃 Late 30s/early 40s silk lounging pyjamas from I Magnin in a delightful nautical flag print 🛥🚩
  • “White éponge in casual, one-piece pyjamas with a wide bodice shading the shoulders. Ripe-cherry beads lace the deep V-neck, trim the matching turban and the twisted cord belt. The utterly flat Grecian sandals are of suede. Perfect for the post-swimming hour… A daring pattern on a linen pyjama from Franklin Smon. This has a Talon fastener on the side. The hat is of sisol and Milan braid, the beach bag is oilcloth, and the espadrille has a jointed wooden sole. A Cannon towelling robe combines brilliant colors.” Drawing by Gladys Rockmore Davis for Harper’s Bazaar, July 1931 // #1930sfashion #beachpyjamas

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My name is Jessica, and I love old things. I wear, collect, research and sometimes sell vintage clothing. This is some documentation along the way.

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No Accounting For Taste is a personal blog of Jessica Parker. All words and original photographs are copyright Jessica Parker, 2007-2018