Ladies Lounge

Posted in: Ladies Lounge Ladies Lounge: Swim Caps of Yesteryear

Other than the members of my high school’s water polo or swim team, I can’t recall anyone my age donning a swim cap. I do, however, seem to recall little old ladies and women in...

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Posted in: Ladies Lounge Ladies Lounge: Summer Suit

Ooh la la! A summer suit that really suits! Let’s recapture the days of “That Ayres Look” Linen works for me, how about you? And how about in a bright color like turquoise?...

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Posted in: Ladies Lounge Ladies Lounge: Up-Do’s For You

For some of us, the summer inspires contemplation of murder…of our lengthy locks. I love having a head full of thick, long, auburn hair…until the mercury creeps into the upper 80’s plus. That’s about the...

Posted in: Ladies Lounge Ladies Lounge: That Ayres Look 1961

This one’s for sale on ebay right now–if only the dress were. Seems in the early 60s, the “That Ayres Look” ad series morphed from the cosmopolitan, worldly woman photos to artist renderings of the...

Posted in: Ladies Lounge Ladies Lounge: Pajamas of yesteryear

If you haven’t heard, we’re putting on the “City Market Pajama Game” this coming Saturday, June 16th. So, great time to look back over a few decades of nightwear. The above is a photo of...

Posted in: Ladies Lounge Ladies Lounge: That Ayres Look, 1947 Hattie Carnegie

Another offering from Hattie Carnegie–exclusively carried at L.S. Ayres in Indianapolis. This look nods to 50 years prior, at the tail of the Victorian era–the Golden Age for our Capital City. Look back at the...

Posted in: Ladies Lounge Ladies Lounge: That Ayres Look, 1955 Hattie Carnegie

These days it’s often called a “Maxi” Dress, back then it was just called incredibly stylish and full length. I, for one, am a fan of full length and think we should bring it back...

Posted in: Ladies Lounge Ladies Lounge: That Ayres Look, 1951 Derby Style?

Many thanks to Thomas Brown for sharing this gorgeous 1951 advert with a dress by Traina-Norell and hat by John Frederics. If Indianapolis had a derby, I think this would be my pick! Ok, J....

Posted in: Ladies Lounge Ladies Lounge: Real Silk Hosiery

Real Silk Hosiery was one of the more successful and well known manufacturers in Indianapolis of yesteryear. Lucky we are that the Real Silk Lofts, (where hosiery, lingerie, undergarments and eventually products needed for World...

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Posted in: Ladies Lounge Ladies Lounge: What’s your scent, Indianapolis?

I don’t know about you, but that warmer weather last week got me schvitzing. Time to double down on the anti-perspirant. It’s not just prevention, there’s also augmentation: perfume. Prior to developing allergies, I loved...

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Posted in: Ladies Lounge Ladies Lounge: Slips

“Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.” I’m sure we ladies have all seen that quote at least 100 times. And...

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Posted in: Ladies Lounge Ladies Lounge: The Skirts Have It

“There’s nothing new under the sun,” so the saying goes–and never more so than in the world of fashion. There are, in fact, just so many ways you can drape and decorate the human form....

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Posted in: Ladies Lounge Ladies Lounge: Spring Hats, 1957

Hats, hats, glorious hats! Oh how I love a great hat! these spring 1957 beauties are a little reminder of fashion’s past. Though I’m far more inclined to don a big and wide-brimmed hat, this...

Posted in: Ladies Lounge Ladies Lounge: Think Pink!

So, Easter 2012 is now in the history books, but it’s the time of year that many of us start gravitating towards pastels and pinks–one of my favorite colors, truth be told–though I realize pink...

Posted in: Ladies Lounge Ladies Lounge: Ghosts of Easters Past

Anyone else recall the days when you had to look your very best for Easter? Where have these days gone, friends? Nowadays, you go to a church or the theatre and find the most garish,...

Posted in: Ladies Lounge Ladies Lounge: Spring…in your step!

Our unusually early (and fabulous) Indianapolis spring inspires the dusting off of the spring and summer shoe wardrobe. Here are some fab finds from 1954–I’d love to have just about any of these. Et vous?...

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Posted in: Ladies Lounge Ladies Lounge: Manicures of the early 20th Century

On the 3/11 Sunday Advert, we showed “Manicures in the 1890’s,” and whilst conducting research, found that in its early years, starting circa 1925, nail paint/ polish/ varnish was applied in the “half-moon” style. Not...

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Posted in: Ladies Lounge Ladies Lounge: Green Dreams

You won’t catch THIS crowd sporting a jaunty cartoon of a “Leprechaun,” but perhaps we may be prevailed upon to rock a spot of green for the coming ‘holiday.’ There is indeed a way every...

Posted in: Ladies Lounge LADIES LOUNGE: WM H BLOCK CO SUIT

Oh to have been able to select an entire wardrobe from the early 50’s (local expert Thomas Brown informs me this is from 1951–thank you; I just had a loose image in a stack). Even...

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Posted in: Ladies Lounge Ladies Lounge: What would we wear to the Oscars if they’d been in Indianapolis in February

1956 No Doubt there would have been a lot more long sleeves, for a start. Some of those ladies looked chilly at yesterday’s Oscars, even in California, but had they been in Indianapolis, outerwear would...

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