Get an OLD STYLE PHOTO TAKEN

When I first saw this vintage photograph I thought it looked like one of the phony old style photo studio shots available at fairs and some tourist spots these days.

What would these two look like in today's street clothes? Would she be wearing walking shoes with the horrible day-glo color stripes? He'd be wearing a baseball cap, brim forward. They'd both have on fanny packs.

Joyously, they are right where they're supposed to be, back in the early part of the last century.


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LITTLE GIRLS with PARASOLS

A lot of little girls like parasols. They make them feel special. I think they also help to define their physical space. Beneath the parasol is their world and you may only enter if invited.




(SOURCE: Mother Goose, illustrated by Kate Greenaway)

To see more parasols visit Lost Gallery.

PARASOLS, like I said...THEY'RE A CATEGORY

There's just something about a parasol that makes the person holding it smile when their photo is taken. The lovely paper parasols decorated with delicate images are something to smile about. The perfect accessory on a warm day.


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So why haven't parasols been made with collapsable handles like umbrellas? There are times each year when I go to some event and take along an umbrella because I just can't stand the sun; we don't get along at all. Too often umbrellas draw heat instead of dissipating it. A parasol would be so much nicer. And in my case I want a paper parasol, not fabric. I want something a Geisha would be happy to carry. I won't go into it, part of my childhood.

I declare today BBP day! BRING BACK PARASOLS!

Oh sure, watching some idiot walking and texting while trying to control a parasol is just courting disaster so perhaps people should be licensed to carry a parasol. Just something to think about.

PARASOLS, they're a category

At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th, parasols were common in photos. They were the fashion accessory of the time and for good reason; women's complexions were to be pale, not tanned. Pale skin showed you were upperclass, tanned scan was for the working class.

I'd love to be able to collect antique parasols, but rarely see them. They often look to be Asian, but perhaps there were companies in the US manufacturing them to look Asian. I haven't a clue. I do know that they are a category, a vernacular photography category.


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Visit this site to see some lovely impressionist paintings of women with parasols by American artist Frederick Frieseke.

SITTING and READING

I literally dreamt about this photo last night so I figured I had to post it. It was purchased at an estate sale last year.

It was a restless night with little sleep. When I did sleep I had some very strange and adventurous dreams. In one of the more mundane moments, I suddenly realized I needed to find a photo and began going through albums. I came upon this one. In the real world this is not in an album. In my dream I wrote a whole post about this fellow and the marvelous room. The simple fact that he's sitting and reading is charming these days. And please note his book does not require batteries. My mental writing was very clever, but alas I remember none of it so my even saying it was clever is to be questioned. In my dream I believed it clever, but then I went and petted my feral peacock so there you go. Oh, and there was something about spies.

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I love the peaceful setting of this room. The victrola. The beautiful clock on the bookcase. Even the bookcase itself. Then add in the light from what appears to be a bedroom. A comfortable and lovely home. Let's escape there for awhile and just wander through the rooms while he quietly reads. Don't bother the reader. If he looks up just nod and smile and quietly explore. I expect he too has a nice smile.

BUSTER in the snow

This little tyke appears to be wearing some sort of Buster Brown suit while contemplating eating some really yummy soot laden snow. Hand written caption says "Take a bite?"  

Buster Browns were popular the first part of the 20th Century and were based on a popular newspaper comic character. At this link you can see examples of a Buster Brown paper doll.

Like fads today based on Disney movies, all things Buster and Tige were popular. I remember wearing shoes made by a Buster Brown as a kid in the 50s. I believe the company in some form or other is still in business.

Check out this link at Wikipedia for more information about the comic: Buster Brown

I imagine this was a style frowned upon by most little boys. They couldn't wait to get pants that went to their ankles.

Click on the image to see it larger at Flickr.