Monthly Archives: August 2010

Say CHEESE! Vintage School Photos Have Style.

Greetings friends! I’m back from a wee, sunny vacation and can I just tell ya that I feel soooo refreshed. Greg, Wolfie and I hit the Tiki Oasis weekender down in San Digeo and it was a totally needed little spoonful of awesome sauce. My friend sweet friend Doe and her hubs Otto throw one heckuva party, you’ll die when you see how fab it was! I took a zillion photos and can’t wait to share them all with you (I went crazy on the photos—I think I took over 400!!!!) so it will take me a day or two to sort through ’em all. The weekend was all about sun, fun, retro fashions, mai tais, great music and lots of family-friendly action down at the pool. Wolfie was even in a little fashion show for my friend Stephanie, of The Pineapple Princess Shop. Hilariously adorable.

In the mean time, can we West Coasters just brag for a moment? HOUSTON, WE HAVE SUMMER!!!!!!!!! Of course San Francisco had to be fashionably late, but we are *finally* experiencing what you all have been yackin’ about all summer long. HEAT. People, we are actually in the midst of a heat wave, propa. It was 98 degrees in downtown SF, which is UNHEARD OF.

So beside marveling at the hot hot weather, I’ve totally got school on my brain. School starts August 30 out here, and I can’t believe my little guy is going to be a first grader. I know some of you are already in the throes of a new school and others are gearing up for everything. I thought it would be fun to take a look at some classic Classroom Photos. I am obsessed with these, I think they are so cool. You just want to know the stories behind all these sassy little kiddos! Make sure you check out all the great fashions goin’ on…..

This first one is Mrs. Cliett’s Third Grade class, Shiver Elementary, 1963-64, Cairo, Georgia. Mrs. Cliett looks about a million years old, but I love her prim grey suit! You know she was the kid of crankster who rapped her ruler on yer knuckles.


image: janet sumner
Best Fashions: bottom row, red polka dot dress and cat eye glasses. yeah! also, a handsome row of lads on the top there..

This next one is also adorable. Grade 1 and 2 at Gray’s Lake Elementary, 1955. A whole lotta plaid going on.


image: takomabibelot.

On to the 70s….and COLOR, COLOR, COLOR. Mrs. Fujita’s Grade 1 & 2 class at Haskell Elementary in 1977.


image: C-Monster
Best Fashions: where to start? bottom row, love the two pinafore girls but hellllo jumpsuit on the end! Please note how teensy Mrs. Haskell is on the end there behind THE JUMPSUIT. Also, middle row, middle girl with huge bow is awesome, but the the two guys on the top row ends (far left, denim vest and far right…little bad ass stance) rule.

Next, Eisenhower School Kindergarten class 1973, Fergus Falls Minnesota. Dig that crazy teacher’s suit. WHOO, WHOOO is wearing an owl pendant? Why yes I do believe it’s Mrs. Teacher Lady.


image: Precious Kitty Kat
Best Fashions: the two kids with the spex are amazing, but BOTTOM ROW WINS! red, white blue dressie and tights, FOUR cute pants set, a boy with tie…..and a crochet vest on the end. The owner of this photo is the adorable girl on top in red and white!

Miss Michelle Frenette’s First Grade Class at Eisenhower Elementary School, 1974, Fergus Falls Minnesota.


image: Precious Kitty Kat.
Best Fashions: Love the middle row boys on the end (baby Joey Lawrence Bowl Cut on the left and cutie cowby on the right) but again the bottom row takes it. This time with the Plaid-O-Rama pants suit, plaid maxi skirt, the baby blue maxi dress, boy with tie AND yellow pants suit with photo of a water fall on it. Huzzah! Feeling badly for girl in sweatshirt. I bet her mom forgot it was picture day. Also, i think that’s the same kid in the tie as above…. love Miss Frenette’s jaunty neck scarf too.

Mrs. Amundson’s Second Grade Class at Eisenhower Elementary School, 1975, Fergus Falls Minnesota.


image: Precious Kitty Kat.

I love this photo from a primary school in Scotland. But uh oh, someone wore their jumper/ski sweater instead of regulation ties. Minus ten points Gryffindor!


image: joevl, Catrine Primary School, 1970s.

This is perhaps my favorite. Such a bunch of cuties. The boy’s all look like *such* rascals.


image: joevl, Catrine Primary School, Scotland, 1970s.

Miss Davis’ first grade class at Northside Grammar School, 1961. Hmm. “Miss” Davis is looking a little long in the tooth…

Check out the groovy Miss Groob’s Third Grade Class at Sheridan Elementary School, 1973-74 in Ohio.


image: brian glass

Mrs. Alford’s  kindergarten class at Spring Shadows Elementary, 1971-72.

Oh 70s, how we love ya. This whole class wins Best Dressed.  Front row snazzers, Cindy Brady on the end, two pairs of gogo boots, little boy in purple on top left….and especially Mrs. Alford’s crazy zig zag poly dress!

Mrs. Thren’s fourth grade class at Landisville Elementary in Hempfield, Pennsylvania. 1974-75.


image: brechtbug
Best Fashions: All the kids are swell, but helllllo gams! Check out those minis on the teachers!

Let’s take a little jaunt across the pond and check out some the “Preschool” (aka Kindergarten) class at the Princes Marijke School in Nieuw-Vennep, The Netherlands. 1974. LOVE all the colorful clothing.

image: christiaanV
Best Fashions: how could I pick?? But the little guy RECLINING is kind of brilliant.

Here’s the same school the next year in 1975, First Grade Class:


image: christiaanV

And finally, we head back to the states to Houston, Texas. This is Mrs. Dahlem’s First Grade Class Spring Shadows Elementary, 1972-73

image: Rowland Kodachrome
Best Fashions: These guys win BEST SHOES all around. Gogo boots, mod little saddle shoes, and even t-straps on Mrs. Dahlem. Little girl on the top right is kind of fabulous, with her jaunty scarf!

Let’s see how Miss Lamoreaux’s class at Spring Shadows Elementary holds up. This is from 1974-75.


image: Rowland Kodachrome

And finally, Mrs. Harper’s Second Grade Class, Spring Shadows Elementary, 1973-74.


image: Rowland Kodachrome

How fun are those? I wish they still did group photos. Wolfie’s school does a Classroom picture but it’s made up of all the little photos from the kids. Somehow it’s not the same as everyone sittin’ all proper on their little benches.

Lawdy, I wish you could see me right now. It’s late at night and as I peruse all these cool old vintage photos I’m realizing I’m totally clammy from the heat of our house that was baking in the sun all day. This is taking Sweatin’ to the Oldies to a whole new level. Hewwww.

Back to School with Elias & Grace

Finally San Francisco took a look at its calendar and realized it is summer. And cranked the heat up. Into the nineties.  The NINETIES, people. Which is just lovely, but not when I’m seeing all of these yummy plaids, and layers and scarfs and dreaming of sharpened pencils and new lunchboxes. And the delicious new Fall clothing line from Elias & Grace.

Now, I’m new to this wonderful company, but it seems all sorts of fancy pants people have been shopping there for years finding all sorts of goodies for their kiddos. Like Jude Law, Mrs. Jamie Oliver, and Kate Moss. But hey, better late than never because hoo boy, they got quite a load of grand clothes for fall.

For boys.

And for girls.

And oh dear. They’ve got a baby line.  Drat it!

Good inspiration, yes?

Giveaway: Vintage Fisher Price Painting by Meredith Steele!!

As you know we are grand fans of vintage Fisher Price toys here are the Modern Kiddo HQ.  Which is why I’m super duper thrilled to bring you this wonderful giveaway from Oak-Town artist extraordinaire Meredith Steele whohas kindly offered up one of her vintage Fisher Price Little People portraits that would add a delightful snap to any nursery or er–your own bedroom/office/bathroom/you name it place cuz it is that darn-tootin’ awesome!

Meredith’s mother saved all of the Fisher Price Little People toys that Meredith played with as a little girl which are now being put through the pretend play paces by her own little four-year old daughter, Amelia.  It   reminded Meredith how adorable the toys are–and you know how those artists are–they’ll find inspiration in the darnest places.

Meredith’s favorite figure is the little blonde princess toy because it reminds her of her daughter. It is so button cute!

My favorite is the girl with the glasses!  I also love the bully–I remember him as the carnie from the vintage Ferris Wheel!

She does all sorts of lovely stuff beyond Fisher Price–putting to good use her a BFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design and an MFA from Winthrop University. She exhibited her work throughout the Carolinas before relocating to the Bay Area in 2009. Meredith’s work is primarily figurative and she utilizes a bold palette, descriptive brushwork, and the incorporation of recycled materials.  Which is perfect for Cookie Monster portraits too…

And Meredith will begin a post teaching Art at Bentley School this fall. When she’s not working on her own paintings, she is often crafting princess castles and unicorn costumes with Miss Amelia, which is an excellent use of her time.  More of Meredith’s work can be seen on her website, www.meredithsteele.com., which I highly recommend stopping by to check out when you have a chance.

And Meredith is parting with this jaunty gem–the vintage Fisher Price doggie–for our giveaway. Three cheers for Meredith!!!

Now, how to get this grand giftie!

  1. Leave a comment (natch) and tell us about your favorite Fisher Price toy memory (if you have one)
  2. Follow us Google Alerts
  3. Follow us on Twitter, @modernkiddo
  4. If you already follow us on twitter, tweet about this giveaway—don’t forget to include @modernkiddo in the tweet please!
  5. “Like” this on Facebook (see below!)

If you do all five you’ll be entered five times. Woot!

Good luck you all for this particularly yummy giveaway!

Vintage Irmi Lamp Giveaway Winner

Well, hot dog! We have a winner for the Vintage Irmi Lamp giveaway sponsored by Priscilla Barros of Little Miss Heirlooms and Babiekins fame.

And the winner is:  AMBER LIDDLE!!! Congrats, lady!

Be sure to come back because we have a new giveaway tomorrow that will be oh sooo good!

Thanks to Priscilla and to everyone who entered the giveaway!

And please don’t fret if you didn’t win—Priscilla has two Irmi lamps at her shop that are just as cute as the one we gave away today! So check it out here. They are better priced than what you’d find at Pottery Barn and much cuter to boot!

Hip Hip Horray! It's the Weekly Vintage Kiddo Retro Round-up!

Happy Monday, everyone! Did you have a lovely weekend? Ours were filled with birthday wishes and tiki drinks and home-made carrot ginger cake.  Our girl Alix is, I’m hoping, lounging in her bed drinking peach mimosas to settle her own birthday blowout this weekend.  Happy birthday my darling co-editor! I adore you more than I can say, Miss Alix!

I wish there were more rad pants like these for boys to wear.  A nice alternative to jeans or khakis.  Actually these vertical stripes remind me of the outfit Bart Simpson wore to make himself look taller.

This little jumper…  oh, this little jumper.   I don’t know if I love the navy with jaunty red buttons more than the the plaid and polka dotty tree. Or the wee white kitty with matching flowers.  I think it is jumper nirvana.

Pity this little sweater doesn’t come with pegged pants, short pointy boots and a little baby vespa, eh? Well, it is still awesome on its own.

I love the green with pink dots chiffon background to go with the woodland mushrooms to boot on this little dressie. Sooo sweet, dontchathink?

Come ON! This is just too cute for words!  The HealthTex jumper could work for either boys or gals because either would rock this leopard tiger bonanza hardcore. Hmm, or are they ligers?

Any little skater punk or punkette would be all over this sweet windbreaker to show off their diamondz moves.  A great find from one of our favorite Etsy sellers, 3 Ring Circus.

What little girl wouldn’t jump for joy if they could wear such an adorable vintage  sweater dress like this one? Sorry—lollipop not included.

Admittedly Howdy Doody was totally before my time, but this shirt is genius!  Awww—even the little guy wearing looks like he and Howdy woulda been grand friends indeed!

Oh, this is one of those fantastic vintage shirts for a girl that I wish I could make a machine that either shrunk me or made clothes bigger.  Where is that machine?

Yes, I’m totally jumper obsessed. Those little shift dresses are so simple in design, but so charming, wearable and different based on fabric choice. And this jumper version is so mid-century wonderful.  Perfect wear on these waning days of summer.

And in prep for going back to school, I found these swell vintage Snoopy mini coloring pencils. I think I would have traded my entire puffy sticker collection for a pack of these gems back in the day.  “Light blue is cloudless sky.” Perfection.

Happy Monday! And please try to squeeze every last bit of summer out of this week!

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