Posted in: Ladies Lounge Ladies Lounge: Glamour For an Indy Woman, Born 1913

Does the sight of a baby ever prompt you to wonder what the world will look like for that child when he or she is decades older? Or maybe when they are your age? Think...

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Posted in: Ladies Lounge Ladies Lounge: The Evolution of Block’s Branding

Does your heart skip a beat when you chance upon an old hometown brand while out vintage shopping–especially when it’s a long-time favorite like Block’s or Ayres? With a beloved company such as Block’s that...

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Posted in: Ladies Lounge Ladies Lounge: 200 years of Walking Indianapolis

It’s not something we contemplate often, but people have been walking through Indianapolis land since before there was an Indianapolis. The first to make tracks through our geographic coordinates were native Americans, presumably wearing moccasins...

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Posted in: Ladies Lounge That Ayres Look 1960

In the cool temperatures of January, who isn’t looking for the perfect coat? If you love this full one, you just have to travel back to L. S. Ayres, 1960. Or start frequenting more vintage...

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Posted in: Ladies Lounge Indy Halloween 1917, What Did Ladies Wear?

Ever pondered what the gals of yesteryear Indianapolis donned for Halloween? Guaranteed she wouldn’t have been an overt strumpet like the vast majority of 21st century costume-clad characters, but let’s look at the creative dressing-up...

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Posted in: Ladies Lounge Ladies Lounge: Warm Colors of Autumn

I don’t know about you, but this is the most eagerly anticipated autumn I can recall. Ever. And with it, the colors of fall will soon be moved back into my wardrobe’s repertoire. You could...

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Posted in: Ladies Lounge Ladies Lounge: L.S. Ayres, Fall 1944 Suit

In a time when there were few designers that might be considered household names, Hattie Carnegie was well known. Not bad for a woman who didn’t know how to sew. She could make hats, but...

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Posted in: Ladies Lounge Ladies Lounge: Swimwear of Olympic Proportions

credit: Roger Viollet Watching the current Olympic swimmers got me pondering the evolution of the bathing suit, especially as it pertains to sport. Couldn’t help noticing last night that the suits Olympian ladies wore bear...

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Posted in: Ladies Lounge Rainbow hair in 1949?

Redheads like Lucille Ball weren’t the only ones to dye their hair in the 1940’s or before. Check out this article from October 1949, talking about pink, blue and other colors in New York from...

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Posted in: Ladies Lounge Ladies Lounge: Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Sew Me

With all the talented women who have lived and do live in Indianapolis, I’m guessing the number of capable seamstresses, in total, is astronomical.  A few such accomplished locals have started an organization called Pattern...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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....

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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: 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: 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...

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