Category Archives: Fashion

How to Dress and Undress a Victorian Lady

Posted on July 19, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: The Wall Street Journal’s slide show on “How to Dress a Victorian Lady.” Credit: Wall Street Journal. To make sure their bodices are correctly ripped (it’s harder than it looks),  the annual convention of the Romance Writers of America … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Fashion | Tagged , | 2 Comments

7|11|2011 #history, #museum

Posted on July 11, 2011 by lmharnisch

Nov. 26, 1936: Ambrose Schindler in The Times as USC and UCLA prepare to play for the first time in six years. My colleague Jerry Crowe at The Timeshas a nice profile of Ambrose Schindler, former USC quarterback, stuntman on … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Fashion, History, Museums | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

‘Zoot Suit’ and History – Part 4

Posted on July 7, 2011 by lmharnisch

June 8, 1943: A mob of servicemen block a streetcar on Main Street to remove a passenger wearing a zoot suit. This was supposed to be an easy – if long – post to wrap up the Zoot Suit Riots. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Downtown, Fashion, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Latinos, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Zoot Suits in the News

Posted on July 5, 2011 by lmharnisch

Just as we were exploring the history of the Zoot Suit Riots comes news of Kathy Peiss’ book “Zoot Suit” from the University of Pennsylvania Press. Writing about the book in the New York Times’ Arts Beat, Patricia Cohen raises … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Books and Authors, Fashion, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Zoot Suits in the News

Lost and Found: Patek Philippe

Posted on June 28, 2011 by lmharnisch

Last Thursday’s New York Times had a terrific story by Austin Considine about Charles B. Woehrle, who received a Patek Philippe watch while imprisoned at Stalag Luft III (he ordered the watch and promised to pay for it after the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Fashion, World War II | Tagged , | 2 Comments

‘Zoot Suit’ and History – Part 2

Posted on June 28, 2011 by lmharnisch

May 9, 1943: Al Capp satirizes zoot suits in a series about “Zoot-Suit Yokum.” In Part 1, we saw that in 1942, The Times originally portrayed zoot suits as a youthful fad, but that attitudes hardened toward them once the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Downtown, Fashion, Film, LAPD, Latinos, World War II, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

‘Zoot Suit’ and history – Part 1

Posted on June 27, 2011 by lmharnisch

I was extremely fortunate to attend Wednesday night’s showing of “Zoot Suit” and hear remarks by the panel that preceded the show. Betto Arcos moderated a session with director Luis Valdez, Rose Portillo (Della), Edward James Olmos (El Pachuco) and … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, 1943, 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Fashion, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD, Latinos, Music, Stage, Theaters, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on June 20, 2011 by lmharnisch

Eve Golden  describes herself as: a biographer, show-business historian, photo archivist and obituary writer. And a haughty dowager. Queen of the Dead—dateline June 18, 2011 • Mildred Wolf, who played piano accompaniment to silent films, died on June 5 at … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Crime and Courts, Eve Golden, Fashion, Film, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender | Tagged | 3 Comments

Found on EBay – I. Magnin

Posted on June 15, 2011 by lmharnisch

This postcard showing the millinery salon at the I. Magnin store in Los Angeles has been listed on EBay. The vendor dates it at 1915 but the store actually opened at Wilshire Boulevard and New Hampshire on Feb. 10, 1939. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1939, Fashion, Found on EBay, Interior Design | 3 Comments

Found on EBay – Marge Riley

Posted on June 14, 2011 by lmharnisch

I guess you could yodel like Patsy Montana in this outfit. It’s a Marge Riley shirt, which has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $35.

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Found on EBay – Bullock’s Wilshire

Posted on May 18, 2011 by lmharnisch

This Givenchy Nouvelle Boutique jumper from Bullock’s Wilshire (later Bullocks Wilshire) has been listed on EBay. Items from the store, which opened in 1929 and closed in 1993, turn up somewhat often on EBay, but I can’t say I’ve ever … Continue reading →

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Found on EBay – Bullock’s

Posted on May 16, 2011 by lmharnisch

        This postcard, top, of the gown room at Bullock’s, postmarked 1916, has been listed on EBay. Above, here’s some wonderful artwork from a Bullock’s ad showing what the fashionable woman was wearing in 1916. Bidding starts … Continue reading →

Posted in 1916, Fashion, Found on EBay | 1 Comment

Found on EBay – Oviatt’s

Posted on May 11, 2011 by lmharnisch

This unusual – and maybe a bit odd – suitcase from Oviatt & Alexander has been listed on EBay. It’s an alligator suitcase with what appear to be little pouches for jewelry on the lid.  Although Oviatt’s has been gone … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion, Found on EBay | 1 Comment

Straw Hat Day in Los Angeles

Posted on May 1, 2011 by lmharnisch

       May 1, 1931: Cartoonist Edmund Waller “Ted” Gale reminds Times readers of the arrival of Straw Hat Day, when men threw out their old felt hats and bought a new sailor. Straw Hat season began in Los … Continue reading →

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Found on EBay — Bullock’s Wilshire

Posted on April 26, 2011 by lmharnisch

This pair of shoes from the Collegienne department of Bullock’s Wilshire has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $9.99.

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Jim Murray, April 17, 1961

Posted on April 17, 2011 by lmharnisch

            April 17, 1961: Jim Murray pulls together a column of various items, including this line about Vin Scully, who is “the only redheaded broadcaster I know who makes a ball game sound like a … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock, April 11, 1961

Posted on April 11, 2011 by lmharnisch

    Men are from math class,  women are from Planet Prom, evidently. April 11, 1961: What's with the high handlebars set? Well, an elderly gent in Bermuda shorts was reaching for the sky, as seems to be fashionable, while … Continue reading →

Posted in 1961, art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Fashion, Matt Weinstock | 1 Comment

Found on EBay — Bullock’s Wilshire

Posted on March 26, 2011 by lmharnisch

This sun dress from the Collegienne department at Bullock’s Wilshire has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $8, but there is a reserve.

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Found on EBay — Bullock’s Collegienne

Posted on March 25, 2011 by lmharnisch

This top from the Collegienne department at Bullock’s Westwood has been listed on EBay. Although Bullocks and Collegienne items are somewhat common on EBay, I don’t recall ever seeing anything from the Westwood store. Bidding starts at $14.99.

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Found on EBay — Bullocks Collegienne

Posted on March 24, 2011 by lmharnisch

This sweater from the Collegienne department at Bullocks Pasadena has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $39.95.

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