Forbidden Drinking...

During the Prohibition, that lasted between 1920-1933 in the US, and forbade any sale, production importation, and transportation of alcoholic beverages, the speakeasy became the place to socialize at. These speakeasies were bars that illegally sold booze to their customers behind locked doors. Some of these popular places were run by criminals, and even though the police would sometimes raid the bars and arrest both the owners and their customers, the speakeasies were so profitable they continued to flourish. Photographer Margaret Bourke-White were able to take some photos at a few of these notorious bars in 1933 - the year the Prohibition ban was lifted, and therefor meant the speakeasies could take the locks off their doors. I found her photos in LIFE Magazine's archives. And here they are! Illegal drinking...

Source

Nylon Stockings

As I love to wear nylon stockings, I have to say that the invention of nylon by Wallace Carothers at DuPont's research facility in the mid 30s was one of the biggest moments in fashion history! The first commercial sale of nylon stockings happened in the US, in late October 1939. These new stockings were cheap, durable and cheerer than the ones in silk or cotton used previously, and they instantly became extremely popular - with up to 4 million pairs sold in just one day! Over at LIFE Magazine I found a series of photos in homage of this invention. And here they are!

Photo: Thomas D. McAvoy

Photo: Gjon Mili

Photo: Walter Sanders

Photo: Walter Sanders

Photo: Peter Stackpole

Photo: Gjon Mili

Photo: Peter Stackpole

Photo: Nina Leen

Photo: Nina Leen

Photo: George Silk

Photo: Gjon Mili

Photo: Gordon Parks

Photo: Nat Farbman

Photo: Gjon Mili

Photo: Cornell Capa

Photo: Gordon Parks

Photo: A. Y.

Source

At The 1940s Lingerie Show

During the 1940s photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt was assigned to cover the Corset and Underwear Review for LIFE Magazine. The photos from the show depicts the models both backstage and on the runway, and I love that the girls aren't all tall, young and skinny, like in most of today's fashion shows. The models range from young, slim and small busted, to older, curvier women - which I think is the perfect way to show off that your designs fit everyone! Love these photos...

Source

Jessica Rabbit

I think most of us know who Jessica Rabbit is. The über sexy woman in a red, curve-hugging dress, strutting around in the Roger Rabbit movies. Here she is!

Source

What you might not know though, is who the real Jessica Rabbit is - or more correctly, who was the inspiration for the cartoon character. Here she is!

Source

Her name is Vikki Dougan (born 1929), a model and actress. In 1953 publicity man Milton Weiss came up with the idea to promote Vikki by putting her in backless dresses. And so, throughout the 1950s, she became famous for appearing at Hollywood social events in these very low-cut dresses, which earned her the nickname The Back. In June 1957, and December 1962 she also appeared in Playboy magazine. Ralph Crane photographed her for LIFE Magazine, and here follows some of his shots.

Source

Source

Source

Source

Source

Love the look on that old lady's face! Haha!

Source 1

Source 2

The Unchanging World Of Ballet

One thing I love about ballet is that this art form has been standing still in time for such a long time. Of course new, modern works are created all the time, and the demands on ballet dancers to be more agile, stronger, fitter, and have better technique grow all the time. But basically it has stayed the same since it first evolved. We still do the same barre exercises, pirouettes and stretches ballet dancers have always done. And in five hundred years from now, we will probably still get up in the morning and start doing our pliés to warm up. Among all the fast changes going on in the world today, I think it feels reassuring some things will never change too much...

In 1936 photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt did a shoot for LIFE Magazine's December issue of that year. It featured New York's School of American Ballet, and except for the girls having different hair styles and a bit softer bodies than today's ballet dancers, everything looks a lot the same as the dance studios of 2014!

Source