Pajama Games and Pillow Talk: Doris Day Inspired Lingerie

Doris Day was the quintessential "Girl Next Door" movie star - sweet and spunky, sexy but wholesome - and absolutely adorable...

Photo from squallyshowers

I've always loved Doris Day, so I didn't hesitate to nab this album when I spotted it for $1.00 at Half Price Books a few months back.  The record is a bit scratched, but I bought it mainly for the record jacket which features Miss Day in a little heart print night shirt from her 1957 film, The Pajama Game.

What is it about Doris and pajama-themed movies?  Here she is again in the 1959 film Pillow Talk with co-star Rock Hudson.

Photo from Hooked on Houses, a blog that features movie and television homes.

Doris in a sweet little baby blue peignoir set.  Is that a Bloody Mary next to the phone on her pink countertop?  See what I mean - sweet but spunky!

Contributed by YouTube's FloridaFilmFestival

This Pillow Talk trailer captures some of the fun from the movie.

Best line from a favorite scene: "Are you getting out of that bed, or am I coming in after you!"

Like Doris Day, I've also been stuck on a pajama theme lately.   During the past several months, I can't seem to get my hands on any quality vintage dresses, suits or blouses at reasonable prices. But I've hit the jackpot with lingerie! 

 For a single girl who currently only shares her bed with musty stacks of vintage magazines and catalogs - I've certainly got quite the stash of sheer and sexy vintage nighties and robes hanging in my closet.

And if I looked as sexy in them as Doris Day, I'd be happy to model them for you! But I think it's best if I pass off the modeling to my faithful dress form, Donna...

Short pink nylon peignoir set.  This could have come right out of the 1959 Pillow Talk movie!

 

A mid- 1950's nylon slip

It has a gorgeous bodice of lacy embroidered netting.

And a pretty blue bow and nylon tricot pleating at the bottom, with a sheer lacy overlay.  Gorgeous!

Here's one of my favorites, a sheer nylon robe, probably from the mid 1950's.  Label: "Dressmaker Designed by Radcliffe" 

I love the big bow at the neck...

All that lace!  So pretty and feminine...

I love bed jackets!  This sweet little lilac number has a "Van Roalte" label.

Look at this 5-inch wide band of lace on the sleeves.  

There's no such thing as too much lace on vintage lingerie!

The sun washed out the soft pink color in this photo.  But isn't it pretty? This very sheer 1950's nylon gown is by "Colura."

Here's a view from the back, showing off the pretty pink bow.

We move from soft pink to baby blue, and from the 50's to (I think) the 60's with this vintage Olga gown.

This is from their "Sleeping Pretty" line of lingerie.  The label: "Behind every Olga, there really is an Olga."

It has a softly padded built-in bra, and fits like a dream!

And now we're suddenly in the Mod world of the mid-1960's with this colorful pastel sleeveless nightie.

Underneath the sheer diagonal panels of pink, green and blue is another layer of pink nylon. This gown has a "Deena" label.

Here's a view from the back.  Simple design, perfect for the 60's.

And finally, let's move back in time about 20 years, to the mid 1940's.

"Gay printed Rayon Crepe Ensemble in floral print. Gown has soft flattering fullness over bust and pointed midriff. Bias cut skirt follows body contours to hip line, then flows out into graceful folds."

Montgomery Ward catalog - Spring and Summer 1943.

And here's my very own rayon crepe floral gown, purchased from an estate sale a few weeks ago.

 

I've never had a bias cut gown before. Even I look glamorous in it. :-)

Aren't these shoulder straps interesting?

Can you see why this one's my favorite?

So, as you can see, I've got quite the movie star wardrobe for a girl-next-door type like me.  Now my next step is to find something a bit cozier than magazines to curl up next to at night. 

Oh well...at least I'm sleeping pretty.
G'night...

Vintage 1923 Ribbon Art: How to Make Hundreds of Dainty and Practical Things of Ribbons

This morning Casey of Casey's Elegant Musings was jumping up and down and squealing over her weekend find: a Spring and Summer 1944 Sears Catalog.

I don't blame her for being excited!  These old catalogs are so hard to find at a price that won't cost an arm & a leg.  And for some reason, I've had an especially tough time trying to get my hands on a department store catalog from the 1940's.  So if you've got one you want to get rid of (for some silly reason) please keep your new blogging friend from St. Paul, Minnesota in mind.  ;-)

Today is Tuesday...and for me, that means Twenties Tuesday.  And I've got a weekend find to share that had me jumping and squealing almost as much as Casey!   I found an original vintage 1923 copy of Ribbon Art:  How to Make Hundreds of Dainty and Practical Things of Ribbons.

You might not be familiar with this 48-page magazine. I wasn't either.  But after I found this at an estate sale and started researching it, I discovered that the 1986 reproduction is everywhere!  But nobody that I've run into so far seems to have the real thing.  And I do!

Now if you're not into the 1920's like I am, this might not make your heart sing as much as mine.  But bear with me as I share some of the illustrations inside.

My temptation is to share it all at once, but I think I'll just give you a taste of it this week with more to follow on future Tuesdays.  I always think that when something is really good, it's better to savor it slowly - don't you?

I love the little "flapper baby" on the front cover.  Isn't she sweet, with pink ribbons from head to toe?  I think I'm going to have to incorporate her permanently into my blog somehow, and give her a name.

This past Sunday, I shared with you a couple of photos from a corner of my bedroom, and my new vintage drapes.  Well, if I had my druthers (and a little bit of money), I would completely redo my bedroom to fit my 20's-leaning personality. And this is the bedroom I envision myself in:

 

And here's what the other side of my new bedroom would look like:

Do you see the ribbons everywhere?

And every day, I'd get dressed in a ribboned gown and chapeau - and would always look fresh as a daisy...

 And I would spend my afternoons eating bon-bons and creating boudoir luxuries like these:

The hat in the first photo was called a hair band - the middle one, a boudoir cap and the last one, a head band.  Which is your favorite?

Good night!  Hope you'll stop back again soon...

Vintage Weddings: "Something Old..."

"Something Old, Something New,
Something Borrowed, Something Blue
And a Silver Sixpence in Her Shoe."

                     - Old English rhyme - Anonymous 

I don't think I'll ever outgrow my love for weddings.  It doesn't matter that my own marriage didn't last quite as long as I had hoped.  Whenever I go to a wedding, my eyes always glisten with tears of of joy for the bride and groom.  I still believe that love can last a lifetime - and my own parents, happily married for 54 years, are living proof.

Romantic fool that I am, it's no surprise that when I go to antique stores, auctions and estate sales - anything to do with a wedding catches my eye.

Here are some of the vintage wedding items I've collected over the years.  I hope you'll enjoy...

Engaged!  Showing off the ring at the office.  1958 Saturday Evening Post cover.

"Priscilla" Wedding Ring ad - from 1929 Photoplay Magazine

Beautiful Diamond Rings - 1930's Jason Weiler & Sons catalog

What a sweet little ceramic basket for holding rings - ca. 1920's?

An early 1920's Wedding Record Book

The book opens up to this quaint verse - "Hail! Wedded Love..."

One of the oldest wedding traditions....tossing the garter.  These days it's often a blue garter - to cover the "something blue" tradition.  The garters pictured above are from "The Ribbon Art Book", 1923 - back when garters weren't just worn for show, but to hold up stockings!

A variety of tiny wedding flowers from the 1950's and 60's - for bouquets, wedding cake toppers, hats and veils.  They were purchased from the estate of a 91-yr-old woman who catered weddings for 35 years.

Here's a closeup of the flowers with a rhinestone center.  Aren't they fabulous!

Life Magazine - June 9, 1952.  Isn't this dress gorgeous?

Crinoline Petticoats and a "Belle o" the Ball" hoop (above).  Bridesmaid nine times, flower girl three times (below).  Both photos are from Life magazine - 1952

Early 1960's bridesmaid dress.  The coat, with a bow clasp, is in a heavy gold satin. And the lovely dress underneath is in a beautiful gold and cream floral brocade.

Here's another early 1960's bridesmaid dress in a pretty lemon yellow.  I was thrilled to find a matching pair, both size 8.

I love the daisies - and the pretty bow in back.

And best of all....there's a train with a huge bow that attaches to the back, for that walk down the aisle!

And to top it off - a pretty yellow veil.  I love this color!

Here's a pretty Fostoria American cake stand with a rum well in the center.

Vintage plastic bridesmaids in green, yellow and blue, on heart stands - to decorate a wedding cake.  How fun! 

Here's a 1950 "military" wedding cake topper with a 48-stars flag.  I love the simple floral frame surrounding the bisque bride and groom.

Pictured above - famous bride Frances Folsom Cleveland (wife of President Grover Cleveland). The gown was fashioned of ivory silk, a bustled skirt, fifteen foot train & trimmed with orange blossoms - the most popular bridal flower of the nineteenth century. 

Pictured below are three more famous brides: Jackie Kennedy (married 1953); Wallis Simpson - King Edward VIII abidcated his throne to marry her in 1937; and Grace Kelly, who became Princess Grace of Monaco when she married Prince Rainier in 1956.

1920's satin "flapper" wedding dress

Such a simple wedding dress - with the only embellishments, the beautiful lace (above) attached to the slip underneath, and the gorgeous beaded belt (below) across the front.

 

A collection of early 50's bridal shower, wedding and anniversary cards.

This last one is my favorite.  Squeeze the top of the card, and the couple pops out from underneath!

 

And finally - a vintage 50's, 60's bride doll with a zippered storage compartment hidden under her skirt, for holding all your wedding treasures!

p.s. If you're interested in learning a bit more about the history behind "Something Old, Something New..." take a peek at this Foot Talk blog, written by a shoe historian!