Black Cat Vintage  ::  Archival vintage clothing + accessories since 2005
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History Repeats Itself: "The Bully Pulpit"

1/17/2017

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Inauguration Gown, 1909
Belle of the Ball: the inauguration gown custom made for Ednah Clarke Procter Hayes of Hilo, Hawaii.
Image courtesy of Black Cat Vintage.


I am the lucky steward of an extraordinary gown that was worn to the Presidential inauguration of William Howard Taft in 1909. Custom made for its owner, whose brother attended Yale University with the then-incumbent President, the dress has been the solitary focus of my attention for the last two weeks as I prepare to loan it to the Rosson House Museum for their upcoming exhibit, Dressing Downtown.
 
My attention to the gown subsequently led me down a rabbit hole of research into the 1908 Presidential election, whose major issues bear an odd resemblance to those of the 2016 election. In observance of this week’s inauguration, our newest blog post takes a closer look.


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Vintage Curiosities: A Better Mousetrap

8/30/2016

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The Mighty Disciplinarian
"The Mighty Disciplinarian," a fictional product less dangerous than many actual ones from the 1900s.
(Image courtesy of Viz Comics.)

My recent blog post about the erstwhile practice of douching with Lysol prompted me to investigate other questionable customs that have fallen victim to the march of time and science. What follows is as astonishing glimpse at the lengths our forebears were willing to go in the name of progress, and a reminder that the more things have changed the more they remain the same.

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    Claudine in her mother's European travel suit circa 1962

    The Little Black Book thoughts about life, luxury and the pursuit of vintage fashion.


    The author

    Claudine Villardito is a vintage fashion historian, collector, conservator and cat whisperer living in Phoenix, Arizona.  Her archive of over 3,000 fully restored vintage items from the 1850s to the early 2000s is sold online at blackcatvintage.com.

    She began this blog because she got sick of people commenting that she should really write a book.

    Her work has been featured in Vogue Italia, Matchbook Magazine, Tokyo-based En Vie magazine, on AMC's Mad Men, and in theatrical productions and museum exhibits worldwide.  She also contributed a monthly editorial column to the award-winning online periodical 3 Story Magazine.

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