Archive | August 18, 2012

The 1920’s Look

Aug18

I love this photograph of my grandmother, Junie. Such a beautiful smile! When I was writing part one, I noticed Junie’s hair and remembered experimenting with my hair many years ago. I wanted to get that “1920’s Look” for an upcoming banquet or for a skit I was writing.

I didn’t have “crimping pins” so I pin curled my hair with bobby pins. I looked like Shirley Temple in her twenties on a bad hair day! Thankfully, my fifth-graders didn’t snicker and I noticed a couple of older girls sporting the same hair style a few days later. Loved those kids!

I ran across this ad a couple of years ago when I was doing research for Isabel’s Story, The Vision of a Mother’s Heart.Junie’s photo reminded me of this ad and I thought perhaps some of my readers may also be interested in how young ladies achieved the wave look without having a permanent wave.

Check out the link below for hairstyles of the 1920-30’s.

http://www.1920-30.com/fashion/hairstyles/

If you want to try these fancy hairdo’s, I do not recommend wearing it in public unless you want to start a new retro wave trend!

I would love to hear your stories of hairstyles that didn’t work out or of watching your mother or grandmother style their hair.

In the sequel, Hope Beyond The Sunset, Isabel tries a new hairstyle but Papa isn’t pleased. I hope it will be available soon!

BOBBED HAIR STYLES OF THE 1920'S AND 1930'S

Junie in the Good Old Days

Aug18

This is my other grandmother, Junie. She looked quite fashionable with her pretty bobbed, wavy hair and winning smile! It appears that she may be wearing white “Mary Jane” shoes – the style little Sylvia asked Papa for in The Vision of a Mother’s Heart. She also played several musical instruments just like Isabel’s “Mama”!

I love the little kitten on the porch too! Junie lived in West Virginia when this picture was taken. If she had grown up in Roanoke, she could have been one of Isabel’s friends!

We can learn so much from old photographs. Apparently, Junie was a happy girl. She had such a beautiful smile – even when she was a baby! White was apparently a popular choice for clothing.

Junie the one wearing a smile in the center front. There are so many things in this photograph that helps in research.
Notice how the little girl’s dresses are cut.
A simple neckline without a collar and apparently without a facing. (For my friends who sew).
The sleeves are set in simply – no gathering or “puffs”.
They are wearing sensible shoes.
The popular “bob” or pageboy haircuts.

Junie’s mother is wearing the type of apron I envisioned “Mama” wearing in
The Vision of a Mother’s Heart.
Her father (“Daddy Ben”) is wearing a suit and tie.
The shoeless/bootie-less baby sleeping peacefully in her mother’s lap. Such tiny toes!

It is probably after lunch and dinner so they are on the porch to cool off. When the wood or coal stove is used to cook, it takes a while for the house to cool down.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Junie’s Mama had warned her not to slam the screen door and I also imagine it squeaked when opened.

Obviously, this family loves cats too!

Oh, the stories and questions that come to mind when I look at old pictures.

How long did they have to hold their breath and sit still so that the photo would turn out?
Why do some of the family members look tired and perhaps a little grumpy? Heat perhaps?


Who took this picture?

What do you see in your family pictures? What can you learn from them? I would love to hear your stories too! Remember, your grandchildren will someday look at pictures of you. What would you want them to know?