Category: Culture

Alexandria, Virginia 1965, Part IV

Today we wrap up the memories from 1965 with this image of gals on the bus. I haven’t taken public transport in years because HYGIENE, but one gal looks positively GIDDY to be aboard. Is she sheltering her project from Nosy Nellies?

Next, we have two of America’s favorite things: cars and dogs. You may notice Susie O’Hazza’s name listed under the kennels, which she owned and operated, and where she bred, raised, and showed Champion Great Danes. Per her 2008 obit, she and her husband spent 17 winters in the Cayman Islands. Isn’t it amazing how quickly we can access information these days?

These ladies seem to be scratching their heads at all those tubes and wires.

Typing class, an ancient relic, once offered at business school–and one with an easy phone number!

Oh, dear. this is why we don’t wear pleated shorts. They do not flatter. They almost appear to be jodhpurs that have been chopped at the knee.

And we end with this image (of another gal in another pleated skirt), presumably endorsing her check or completing paperwork at the bank. Note the gumball machine and the countertop. Is that Formica?

The Braless Eighties

Bra-burning began 50 years ago among protesters of the Miss America pageant, an emblem of radical feminism. Having not been alive 50 years ago, I cannot fully comprehend their behavior. I imagine most of these women would have been svelte, small-bosomed ladies like my mom and most of my friend’s mommies. Today, however, those who are fuller figured and into the C and D cups, who spend over $50 per bra, wouldn’t dare burn them. Not even for political gain.

Getty Images

Of my generation, I never knew anyone to go braless, though we did see Baby Boomer women who did, and we did witness the jiggly antics of Chrissy Snow on “Three’s Company.” This was not something we wanted to emulate. So when I see braless pics in the pages of my new (but old) 80’s Vogues, I assume it was purely for fashion reasons.

It started out subtle.

Jan 84

In the most androgynous of ways.

It presented a united front.

Apr 84

Then it got scary.

And then it took a turn into the new career woman’s ensembles. What working woman would be caught dead sans camisole, with a V nearly to her naval? And what’s with that belt? High fashion indeed.

It would have been impossible to saunter into an office and ask folks not to stare. It’s like J. Lo in her green dress. Too much liberation, with risk of escape!

One thing I do know for sure is that they sold bras in the 80s. The problem was, save for Jane Russell’s Cross Your Heart Playtex bra, they nearly all look like training bras for middle schoolers. No underwire, no support. And little cooing doves on the cups made them posilutely silly.

I can’t imagine a grown woman wearing this. I can’t imagine a bra that you could crumple up into your hand. Many of today’s top-selling bras are minimizing, taking you one cup down, having wide straps that don’t leave indentions in your shoulders, and they’d never fit in one hand. Then again, we are in an obesity epidemic. If you’re lucky enough to be able to find function in that duet brassiere, thank your lucky stars. Your back thanks you as well. You are spared the burden.

So, ladies, whether your bosom is a Dolly Parton or a Kelly Ripa, one thing is for sure: our country sure has a love/hate relationship with them.

womenyoushouldknow.net

Doing Science To See If You’re Expecting

Vogue Jan 84

Evidently, you had to do science 35 years ago to determine if you were in the family way. I’ve asked several Baby Boomer friends of mine, but none of them recall this particular pregnancy test kit, or ever using test tubes for results.

45 minutes? That’s a lot of waiting. You can eat dinner and watch a sitcom in that amount of time. And God forbid you dropped a tube, and it shattered. Anyway, times have surely changed for the better.