FRANK SINATRA - "Chairman of the Board" and Men's Style Icon

Frank Sinatra, aka "Chairman of the Board" and "Old Blue Eyes" was one of the most popular singers in American history. As an actor, he appeared in fifty-eight films and won an Academy Award for his role in From Here to Eternity. His career started in the 1930s and continued into the 1990s.

Francis Albert Sinatra was born in Hoboken, New Jersey, on December 12, 1915, and died of a heart attack on May 14, 1998, in Los Angeles, California.

Sinatra dropped out of high school in 1934 and began to sing at small clubs trying to get the attention of the then popular "Swing Era" big bandleaders.

He began working with bandleader Harry James in 1939. His career skyrocketed when he joined Tommy Dorsey's band from 1940 to 1942.

Sinatra appeared in two movies while with Dorsey's band - Las Vegas Nights (1941) and Ship Ahoy (1942).

He began his solo career at the end of 1942 and became the Swing Era's (1935-1945) best-known vocalist.

Always a snappy dresser, Sinatra's wide-shouldered suits and his bow ties were imitated by many men.

During this time frame, Frank became a teen idol and was the first singer to attract the near hysterical attention of teenage girls.

In 1954 Sinatra appeared in the critically acclaimed film From Here to Eternity which won him an Academy Award for best supporting actor. He appeared in nine films in just two years, including Guys and Dolls (1955), Young At Heart (1955), The Tender Trap (1955), The Man With the Golden Arm (1955), and High Society 1956).

Sinatra was back on the record charts as well with "Young at Heart" and stayed on the charts steadily through 1967, recording albums around a central theme with a collection of songs or ballads.

From 1957 through 1966, Sinatra had twenty-seven Top Ten albums without producing one Top Ten single.

Sinatra's teenage fans were now adults - he had shifted smoothly to the role of the aging romantic bachelor which was signified by the image of him leaning alone against a lamppost with a raincoat slung over one shoulder.

Sinatra's hits in the 1960s included "It Was a Very Good Year" and "Strangers in the Night" (1966). He reached the top of the singles charts in a duet, "Somethin' Stupid," with his daughter Nancy in 1967.

Sinatra continued to act in several movies in the 1960s, including Ocean's 11 (1960), The Manchurian Candidate (1962), Robin and the Seven Hoods (1964), and Tony Rome (1967).

In the 60's, Sinatra also became known as part of a group of friends called the "Rat Pack." It included entertainers Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop, and Peter Lawford.

Sinatra briefly retired from 1971 through 1973, returning in 1974 with a renewed interest in older tunes. His return to the limelight was highlighted by his famous recording of "New York, New York" (1980) as he entered his sixth decade of entertaining.

In 1988 Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dean Martin embarked on a cross-country tour. The tour lasted only one week. Sinatra later organized another reunion tour with Shirley MacLaine in 1992 and it was an undeniable success.

By 1994 Sinatra was experiencing memory lapses, but that did not keep him from performing publicly. He merely added the use of a prompter (device that shows the words of a song) to remind him of the lyrics. After celebrating his eightieth birthday at a public tribute, new packages of recordings were released and became instant best-sellers.

The audiences who grew up with him and his music were complemented by adoration from younger generations. They have all made "Old Blue Eyes" one of the most outstanding popular singers of the twentieth century.

Frank was married four times, to Nancy Barbato in 1939; to actress Ava Gardner in 1951; to actress Mia Farrow in 1966; and to Barbara Marx in 1976.



The Reflections of Vintage sellers network present the following vintage fedoras, jacket, and jewelry that Sinatra himself might have worn.

Vintage 1960s Men's Blue Sharkskin Dinner Jacket Tuxedo Size Large from CATSEYE VINTAGE:

Vintage Light Blue Tuscany Straw Dobbs Fedora Hat from ALLEY CATS VINTAGE:

Vintage Anson Mens Clip Tie Bar in Original Box from VINTAGE BAUBLES TOO:

What Frank might have worn if he'd been on a bowling league ---- Vintage 60s Men's Embroidered King Louie Two Color Blue Rockabilly Bowling Shirt Size Large or Extra Large from CATSEYE VINTAGE

Vintage Dark Brown Felt Marathon Fedora Hat Madmen Style recently sold by ALLEY CATS VINTAGE:

Vintage Men's Black Fedora with Red Feather recently sold by VINTAGE BAUBLES TOO:

EYE CANDY FRIDAY

EYE CANDY FRIDAY --

As temperatures start to drop and leaves start to fall, our thoughts naturally turn to new Fall clothes. The sellers of the Reflections of Vintage network offer the following beauties currently available in their shops.

Vintage 1930s Sage Green Crocheted Ribbon Dress Embellished with Rosettes - Size Small or Medium from CATSEYE VINTAGE

Vintage 1970s Boho Hippie Maxi Sundress Patio Dress with Matching Shawl Striped Poly Knit by Giamo - B36 from ALLEY CATS VINTAGE

Vintage Mod Plain Wool Mini Skirt and Suede Vest - Small from VINTAGE BAUBLES TOO

Vintage1950s Brown Patio Southwest Blouse & Full Tiered Skirt Dress Ensemble Embellished with Metallic Gold Ribbon - Size Small or Medium from CATSEYE VINTAGE

Vintage1950s Royal Blue Two Piece Dress and Jacket by Andrew Arkin - Size B42 from ALLEY CATS VINTAGE

Vintage Mad Men 50s/60s Wool Sheath Dress - Size Small from VINTAGE BAUBLES TOO

Vintage 1930s Crocheted Sienna Brown Ribbon Dress Embellished with Rosette Buttons - Size XS or Small from CATSEYE VINTAGE

Vintage Schoolgirl Mod Pencil Skirt, Vest and Blouse - Size Small from VINTAGE BAUBLES TOO

Pendleton Plaids - A Vintage Classic

Now that Autumn is almost here and leaves are starting to turn, my mind always turns to Pendleton wool jackets and shirts for men and women.

Pendleton began production in 1909 in Pendleton, Oregon as a family owned company specializing in making jacquard blankets. In 1924 Pendleton began manufacturing their iconic mens wool plaid shirts. In 1949, Pendleton introduced the woman's wool plaid 49er jacket. All of Pendleton's plaids are exclusive to them and were originally sold in high end department stores and specialty shops.

Pendleton has always controlled the entire manufacturing process of their clothing from the buying of the fleece to the dying of the wool to the weaving of the fabric to the cutting and sewing of their clothes.

The surfing culture adopted the Pendleton wool plaid board shirt as part of their wardrobe in 1960 as personified by the California surf band the Beach Boys' early album covers ~ The Beach Boys originally called themselves the “Pendletones” after their favorite shirts.

In late 2002, Pendleton put out a limited edition of the iconic Beach Boys favorite board shirt which was limited to a run of 800. The original of this shirt worn by Brian Wilson on their early album covers was on display in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Pendleton continues designing, manufacturing, and selling high quality apparel for men and women to this day.

The sellers of Reflections of Vintage present the following vintage Pendleton currently for sale.

Vintage 60s Blue and Green Plaid Men's Pendleton Jacket - Chest 48 - Size Extra Large or XXL from CATSEYE VINTAGE:

Vintage Red Green Navy Blue Plaid Pendleton Mens Shirt Size L Chest 45 from ALLEY CATS ATTIC:

Vintage 60s Brown Plaid 100 Percent Wool Men's Pendleton Jacket - Chest 50 - Size Extra Large or XXL from CATSEYE VINTAGE:

Joan Crawford - Glamorous Hollywood Star and Style Icon

Joan Crawford was one of the biggest stars in Hollywood from the time of her film debut in the silent movies of the 1920s through the 1970s and was well known for both her luminous talent as an actress and iconic style.

She was born as Lucille LeSueur on March 23, 1905 or 1906 in San Antonio, Texas and died on May 10, 1977 in New York City.

"Lucille LeSuer" began her 45 year film career with a six month contract with MGM studios in January 1925. In March of that year, MGM ran a magazine contest to find her a new name - "Joan Crawford" was the winner and her film debut under the Crawford name was in "Old Clothes" with child star Jackie Coogan in November 1925.

Joan went on to appear with the famous male stars of the day, including George K. Arthur, Harry Langdon, Charles Ray, Tim McCoy, John Gilbert, William Haines, and Lon Chaney. Her breakthrough role was in September of 1928 in her portrayal of "Diana" in "Our Dancing Daughters" and Joan became a bona fide star.

With her marvelous voice, Joan easily made the transition to talking pictures in 1929 continuing to star in many films in the early 30s, including Grand Hotel, Letty Lynton, and Rain.

From 1933 through 1936, MGM featured Joan in a series of glossy pictures where she wore stunning Adrian-designed gowns, including Dancing Lady (1933); Sadie McKee (1934); Chained (1934) Forsaking All Others (1934); No More Ladies (1935) and Love on the Run (1936).

Joan was named "Queen of the Movies" by Life Magazine in 1937.

Joan starred in many other movies in the late 1930s before leaving MGM studios in 1943.

Joan signed on with Warner Brothers Studios within a few days of leaving MGM.

In 1945 she was awarded the Academy Award for her starring role in the 1944 film Mildred Pierce. Joan also received (but did not win) an Academy Award nomination for her role in Processed (1947).

Joan continued to star in films throughout the 1940s and early 1950s, including Humoresque (1946); Possessed (1947); Daisy Kenyon (1947); Flamingo Road (1949); The Damned Don't Cry (1950); Harriet Craig (1950); Goodbye, My Fancy (1951); and this Woman is Dangerous (1951) before leaving Warner Brothers in early 1952, often wearing the classic "big shoulder" suits of the era which many people associate with her style.

After leaving Warner Brothers, Joan went on to star in several films, including Sudden Fear (1952) for which she received an another Academy Award nomination (although she didn't win); Torch Song (1953); Johnny Guitar (1954); Female on the Beach (1955); Queen Bee (1955); Autumn Leaves (1956); The Story of Esther Costello (1957); The Best of Everything (1959); and What Ever Happened to Baby Jane (1962).

Joan also appeared on television variety and talk shows and in guest spots on dramatic tv shows over 100 times from 1953 to 1972.

Joan was married and divorced three times, to actor Douglas Fairbanks, Jr (1929); to actor Franchot Tone (1935); and to actor Philip Terry (1942).

In 1955, Joan married Pepsi Cola Chairman Alfred Steele and worked with him promoting Pepsi products. Joan was married to Alfred Steele until the time of his death in 1959. She was appointed to the Pepsi Board of Directors shortly after Mr. Steele's death and acted in that capacity for 14 years.

After Joan's death in May 1977, director George Cukor organized a memorial service in Beverly Hills on June 24. Mr. Cukor's read the following tribute to Joan:

"...She was the perfect image of the movie star, and, as such, largely the creation of her own indomitable will. She had, of course, very remarkable material to work with: a quick native intelligence, tremendous animal vitality, a lovely figure and, above all, her face, that extraordinary sculptural construction of lines and planes, finely chiseled like the mask of some classical divinity from fifth-century Greece. It caught the light superbly, so that you could photograph her from any angle, and the face moved beautifully....The nearer the camera, the more tender and yielding she became---her eyes glistening, her lips avid in ecstatic acceptance. The camera saw, I suspect, a side of her that no flesh-and-blood lover ever saw....I thought Joan Crawford would never die. Come to think of it, as long as celluloid holds together and the word Hollywood means anything to anyone, she never will."

Throughout her career Joan Crawford epitomized the glamorous Hollywood star who always dressed to perfection both onscreen and off, and was once quoted as saying:

"I never go outside unless I look like Joan Crawford the movie star. If you want to see the girl next door, go next door".

The sellers of Reflections of Vintage present the following vintage fashions and accessories which could have been worn by Joan herself.

Vintage 1940s Pink Tweed Town Suit Waist B36 W28 from ALLEY CATS ATTIC:

Vintage 1940s Lightweight Topper Swing Jacket Clutch Coat from VINTAGE BAUBLES TOO:

Vintage 40s 50s Designer NARDIS OF DALLAS Deep Black 3D Hand Sequined Rayon Suit Blouse -- Bust - 34 -- Size XS - S from CATSEYE VINTAGE:

Vintage 1960s Silk Designer Sheath Dress Petite Small from VINTAGE BAUBLES TOO:

Vintage 40s Variegated Blue Boucle Knit Hand Beaded and Embroidered with Prong Set Rhinestones -- Cardigan Sweater and Skirt Suit Ensemble -- Size Small or Medium. B 36 38 from CATSEYE VINTAGE:

My Love of a Good Magazine

Even as a child I loved magazines. Aunts and Uncles would bring me their old magazines and I would add them to my stash. Unfortunately my parents weren’t wild about my collection, so slowly while I was at school my piles got smaller. Didn’t matter to them that we had every issue of National Geographic on shelves in our basement....that belonged to them....Ladies Home Journal, McCalls, Seventeen, Vogue, and Glamour just wasn’t in the same league as National Geographic.

Today I continue searching for those vintage magazines I found so entertaining in my youth. I search flea markets and antique stores looking for that perfect issue to add to my collection. You can find rare issues in many online venues but nothing compares to the thrill of actually capturing them from estates and auctions.

Mountains of information can be gleamed from the pages, even if only for a chuckle. Mainly for me it takes me down memory lane when life was simple and often humorous. I especially love the ads. Does anyone remember. “Unguentine”? Did you know Greer Garson was a cook and created many recipes? And “You’ll feel lovelier with your ODO-RO-NO double circle of protection”? I’m not sure what you do with it exactly but I’m sure it worked wonderfully.

I’m much ridiculed about my old magazines but I find NO one comes to my house without picking one up and diligently studying each page and eventually screaming ‘my Mother had one of these’. My greatest compliment came from my husband when he asked if he could have one of my 1966 Consumer Guides to take to work for his friends to admire.

When you find them don’t pass them by. There’s a wealth of entertainment inside those pages. After all don’t we all want to know who Eddie Fisher dated after Liz dumped him?

Not All Polyester Is Evil, Part II

Last time your fabric junkie (me) talked about polyester, that much-maligned, often justly, fabric whose use became common about the mid 60s, and really hit stride starting in the early 70s. We showed some classic, upscale examples of designer poly-knit pieces, but today we have some everyday pieces; some designer items that are, shall we say, a bit more “70’s trendy”; and some uses that had been primarily the domain of fabrics such as silk, rayon, acetate, and nylon.

1970’s polyester lent itself incredibly well to the wild prints, bright (some would say “loud”) colors, and outlandish styles of the 70s. The skirts of maxi dresses draped nicely when done in a good poly knit, wide collars laid softly on the bodice, and screen prints took well to poly knits. Polyester can be knitted into textures such as linen, crepe, jacquard, and fine sweater-style weaves; these can add a lot of interest to a piece. Here are some that exemplify the era of 70’s polyester, some for better, and some for worse. And be sure to check out our note of interest at the bottom!

Mid-range makers such as R & K (the label for “the girl who knows clothes”) used a lot of poly knits and some woven polys, but often “dressed” them up with an interesting weave and/or design elements or embellishments. This pastel green knit dress is a good example, with a linen texture and beautiful lace appliqués:

R & K dress from My Vintage Cocktail

Not only do these two knit dresses feature big collars, but both have zip fronts and fabulous prints, and are in desirable large sizes:

Atomic-print dress sold recently at Catseye Vintage

Screen-printed dress available from My Vintage Cocktail

And it seems that their well-known designers fell into following the trends with these dresses, as many designers did. Not that they aren’t nice, but we would expect more drama and originality from these labels! (But these are two opportunities to pick up desirable labels at fantastic prices.)

Alfred Shaheen maxi dress and jacket from Glamour Girl Vintage

While this dress is a surprising treat from a generally conservative label:

Gay Gibson maxi dress;"> at Alley Cats Vintage

The 70’s also ushered in the widespread use of polyester in lingerie, a trend that continues today. Woven poly can mimic rayon or silk satin, as well as different types of silk, and taffeta. It gave a new dimension to traditional lingerie!

Watch for more fabric discussions from The Fabric Junkie! In the meantime, here our our final poly pieces, epitomizing what most people think of when they think of 60’s and 70’s polyester.

This dress has it all: brown and orange colorway; two, not one, crazy prints; tie collar… a quintessential 1970's polyester knit dress:

Two-tone brown poly dress at Alley Cats Vintage

And these butt-ugly 100% poly wide ties (though we think the one on the right is pretty cool, it’s pretty awful, too), infamously unique to the era:

Coming eventually to My Vintage Cocktail

We'll also leave you with this interesting note: Singer/musician Jackson Browne and his pal David Lindley, on tour this summer and fall, have created a campaign, "Show Me the Polyester," which encourages fans to submit photos of themselves wearing polyester. The best dressed (or worst, depending on your POV) wins a trip and two front-row seats to see the duo's September 14 concert at New York's Beacon Theatre. Who woulda thunk?

Springolator Mules by Shoe Designer Beth Levine

Springolator Mules by Shoe Designer Beth Levine ~

As backless high-heel shoes were slowly moving out of the bedroom and the boudoir and onto the street, ladies were complaining that they were difficult to keep on. In response to this problem, shoe designer Beth Levine created and introduced the Springolator in 1956.

The Springolator shoe features an elastic insole that is designed to create tension between the shoe and the bottom of the foot to stay on the foot, without slipping off or go clack-clack when you walk.

The Springolator quickly became the must-have shoe of every glamour girl in the country, from Marilyn Monroe to the girl next door.

Beth Levine was an American fashion shoe designer who was most known for her designs from the 1940s through the 1970s, and was referred to as "The First Lady of American Shoe Design".

Beth Levine met Herbert Levine in 1944 and married him within a few months. The founded The Herbert Levine shoe label in 1948, with Beth as designer and Herbert as the head of the firm.

Beth set out to create feminine and delicate shoe designs and changed the silhouette of American women's shoes by cutting away more and more of the leather to expose more and more of the foot, creating shoes that were sexier and more elegant.

Fashion innovations introduced by Beth Levine for the Herbert Levine label include boots as fashion wear and Springolator mules.

Beth Levine was awarded the Coty Award in 1967 for design innovation.

Beth Levine died at age 91 on September 20, 2006 in New York City.


Vintage 1950s Leopard Print Pony Fur Springolator Spring-O-Lator Mules Shoes - Size 6.5 from CATSEYE VINTAGE

Be Successful at the Auction....

Are you insignificant like me? I’ve battled this disease all my life. I’ve written up a few tips I’ve learned over my years of insignificance to use at the AUCTION. In order to win your bid you have to appear as a person of great success. In simple terms if your competition thinks you have more money than they do, they will give up bidding against you.

First there is the arrival! Borrow your cousin’s BMW and park it in the front. Make sure the ‘others’ notice you. If your selfish cousin won’t loan you her car, then park your wrecked 1998 taurus in the back. Stay in your car until no one is looking, then dash away from it.

You must dress with style and class, smelling of money. For summer wear silk capri pants with a matching blouse. A must is open toe sling back heels. Do not wear your usual jeans, sneakers and t-shirt from Wal-Mart. Nothing screams insignificance like Wal-Mart. Nice tasteful jewelry, it can be the cheap fake stuff...no one will get close enough to tell. Carry a knock off Louis Vuitton tote bag. You can get them really cheap and these auction people won’t know the difference. No one needs to know you had to borrow $20.00 to get the gas to come to the auction. Paint your nails and toe nails...the same color. You must have a perfect coiffure. Women of great wealth and importance must look the part. You want people to fear you...well at least not make fun of you.

As you enter the auction glide slowly, tall, straight and meet no one’s eyes. Give a cold glance over the crowd smile at no one. You must have a seat on the front row. If possible attend the preview and reserve your seat. Front row spells I Mean Business. If you can’t get a front row seat you will have to stand in the back. Face it those heels are going to cripple you in a couple of hours. Get a seat on the front row at all costs.

Talk to no one. Speak only into your cell phone. You must have several conversations with your mysterious business associate who is minding your European Antique Store. When checking out your coveted items do nothing to draw attention to them. Talk on your phone while doing this using phrases like ‘garbage, moth damage’, ‘reproductions’, and my personal favorite ‘pragulatory rust’. No such thing as pragulatory rust but it will impress your competition. Say these things loudly into your phone. You may have to do this several times as the crowds move around. A word of caution...Do Not Let the Auction Personnel Hear You Doing This. They can and will throw you out.

Do NOT eat anything. Rich people do not eat hot dogs, chocolate cake and cheap coffee. If you can’t stay for hours with no nourishment, take a Starbucks coffee container with water or kool-aid. DO NOT pack your lunch. Nothing spells loser like pulling a peanut butter sandwich out of a Louis Vuitton tote.

Now for the bid. You should now be seated ON THE FRONT ROW. There’s many ways to bid. The most successful dealers do the facial twitch. Raise your right eyebrow at the same time with the right side of your mouth. Battling insignificance I have found this method to be totally unsuccessful. The next method is the full body twitch. Sitting with your hands folded in your lap holding your bidder card, raise one hand very slightly, displaying the number while doing the facial twitch, and slightly jerking your head back. Twitch the right side of your body at the same time. It appears like a small seizure. I have also found this to be unsuccessful. To be on the safe size raise your arm with your bidder card in your hard. Do not scream ME ME ME or HERE HERE or I WILL.

Ok. You have successfully won the bid on everything you wanted. How you pay for it is your problem...can’t help you there. You should have several boxes of smelly stuff surrounding your FRONT ROW seat. In a perfect world you would have an attractive well-dressed man to carry each box to your car. That’s not going to happen. Once I dressed my husband up and took him to the auction thinking that’s how it would go down. I caught him stuffing a hot dog in his face, mustard on his trendy shirt, telling someone that his wife sold used clothing on ebay to help pay the bills. This statement coupled with an Alabama accent just ruined my provenance. You are better off going it alone. Carry each box slowly to your car. Be very careful on those god awful shoes. If you fall off them no one will help you...they will enjoy it. By now everyone in the room should hate you. I repeat WALK CAREFULLY with one box at a time. Remain cool and aloof even if something is moving in one of the boxes. Don’t let them see you sweat.

These tips should help you for a few auctions. If you attend the same auction house they will soon realize who you really are...the woman who lives in the trailer behind the dairy queen.

Good Luck!!!