Talk about an inspirational woman...

I am really honored and touched by a portion of a personal web page devoted to me here.

Mary Beth, who wrote this, is someone I met through sales on eBay. I do often meet wonderful people, and am so gratified by their kind comments about my work. I am so grateful for what Mary Beth has written because it really helped me realize that I am offering something positive to people. I need that.

Mary Beth is struggling with a disease that I have just barely begun to understand. From what I can tell, she is battling just to live, at the same time living a gloriously positive, meaningful, beautiful life. I deeply appreciate knowing that too, because sometimes I struggle to get by, in various ways. If she can do it, I'll try!

She wrote about me as an inspiration to her, and I can only begin to say what an inspiration she is to me.

Another favorite source

In previous blogs I have introduced a couple of women from whom I have had the privilege of acquiring clothing. This is about Juana and the contents of her closet.

It really is a privilege to dip into a woman's closets with the woman right there to talk to. Juana is--at what looks from the history of her clothing--to be about 80, but her actual appearance is of someone at least a decade younger. She and her husband were planning a move into a retirement home when I met her, and her height and fine-featured beauty were so unusual that I pried and found out that she had worked as a model for one of Spokane's department stores, The Bon Marche.

I could tell that she had previously let go of much of her clothing from before the late 60s, but there were a few choice items dating back to the early 40s. I love the outgoing taste and expression she found in her clothing! Here is a sampling:

Early 40s pajama top


Early 40s suit


Hand-painted Mexican skirt


Plastic and rhinestone shoes


Miss Egypt


Veil hat


Herbert Sondheim


Dior


Wool suit


60s suede


Green feather toque


Pauline Trigere


Teal Traina


Yellow feather toque


Norman Kaplan


Icing pink leather Lilli Ann


Lilli Ann knit suit


Another 60s Lilli Ann


Easter bonnet extraordinaire


Jane Andre


Jane Andre with city names embroidered


Rinaldi party shoes


DeWeese swimsuit


Alfred Shaheen


White lace


White wicker


Young Edwardian

Wish You Were Here

I remember watching lots and lots of slide shows of people's holiday travels when I was young. Usually families had piled into their station wagon to head to Yellowstone Park, Mt. Rushmore, a nearby beach...

I'm not going anywhere this summer, but in tribute to those old-fashioned American holidays I invite you to travel in time and place with Wish You Were Here. All June I will show sportswear, swimwear, cotton separates, sundresses...vintage play clothes for travel and fun.