A blush-free Super Bowl? Nah. Not really.
Spring Fashion
Written by cjhammon in Features, Life in Yesterday's Clothes, Style
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Here’s a sneak peak at my vintage Valentine, a dress giveaway that ends on February 1. I paired this with my new evening bolero for a lovely look that’s a little more modest. This is a very old dress. The bust is 33 to 34 inches. Waist is 26 inches. Hips 36 inches or so.
I need your help growing the site, so this time, let’s make a trade. To enter: send an e-mail with a citation of any post you have shared with your Facebook or Twitter friends. Your shares do much to help grow our list of followers. I’ll draw the winning entries from the the e-mail entries on February 1. Email me: crystal [at] dressedherdaysvintage.com May the most enthusiastic vintage fashionista win!
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Super Bowl ads cool the sizzle. –USA Today, January 2013
I don’t usually follow or comment on pop culture. It’s not my thing. But this headline in USA Today caught my eye and I was encouraged enough to read further. Wow. Some marketers are veering away from their ultra-racy images. Good. I like that idea. There’s nothing more embarrassing than sitting next to your father-in-law while a Victoria’s Secret model is spilling out of her bra in high definition.
Things went off the rails for me in the fifth paragraph of the story. “It’s about intrigue and desire,” says Noreen Jenny Laffey, president of Celebrity Endorsement Network, which links celebrities with marketers. “It’s not what you see; it’s what you don’t see –– but you know is there.” Well, that was sure a short walk around the block. Back to sex, it seems.
And then there was this quote by supermodel Bar Refaeli who will star in Go Daddy’s tamped down version of the Super Bowl ad: “I am a model who is well known for her body and feminine image. I’m not here to make people think I’m the next Einstein.”
Bar missed a golden moment to say something profound. But, as my favorite fictional president Jed Bartlet would say, “You say it well, my friend.” Yes, perhaps you speak the truth, Bar. I can see that, indeed, you may not be the next Einstein for you do not wish to be known for your brains.
If you were interested in that, you might have voiced any number of views that would have been a credit to humanity.
- You might have said something about the art and inspiration for the designer dresses you’ll be wearing in the ads.
- You might have commented on how it feels to be part of a shift in cultural values aimed at ending the objectification of women.
- You might have expressed your utter delight at being part of something that suggests there’s more to life than being beautiful, sexy and desirable to the eye.
I’m no Einstein either, but even I can drum up something to say that adds to the conversation about why marketers are choosing to throttle their sexy messages. Could the real reason be that after you’ve shown everything, there’s nothing left but to cover the body and start undressing it all over again?
That’s my Friday social commentary. Now that I’ve got that off my chest, here are three things I want to share:
After my post about the Palmer House Brownies, it dawned on me that you might like the recipe, which came with the brownies. I copied it for you on this half-page pdf. Palmer House Brownie Recipe
After my post about neckties, my reader and friend Maureen shared some necktie inspirations. I also found a great style post on bow ties. Be sure to check out these links.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/102564056/necktieartisticviolettullsilkretrovintag
And finally, ya’ll know how much I love scarves. Check out Playing With Scarves. This site has a wonderful set of tutorials on working scarves into your wardrobe. You’ll want to give up buying clothes and go for scarves instead. There’s an idea that would trim my wardrobe budget!
Hey, what are you doing for the Super Bowl?
Life is short. Wear the good stuff.
19 comments
Cassie Brand said:
January 11, 2013 at 11:27 am
Such a gorgeous dress! Now if only I could pull off that color or waist size. 🙂
cjhammon said:
January 11, 2013 at 11:30 am
Oh, it’s a doozie, Cassie. Me too. I keep buying things that are the size I USED to be. For years, I was a stick. Not so much anymore. But that’s okay. It just takes some getting used to! Hope you’re doing well. What’s next on your sewing list? I’m thinking about a leopard print pencil skirt.
Cassie Brand said:
January 11, 2013 at 12:52 pm
My sewing list is so very very long. I have no idea where to start. I already have fabric for a vintage pattern 1920s dress, 2 ball gowns, 3 cocktail dresses, and a 4 piece suit (pants, jacket, vest and skirt). Now I just need time and a better sewing space!
cjhammon said:
January 11, 2013 at 1:04 pm
Cassie, I feel your pain on that space issue. You should see my cramped little office. I’m constantly looking around, trying to figure out how I can make the most of the space. Your list is even longer than mine! I’m concentrating on hemming two things before I start anything new. It frustrates me when I have scads of unfinished work!
Cassie Brand said:
January 11, 2013 at 1:11 pm
At this point I’ve just gotten used to having a huge back-log of sewing. I’ve been knitting more than sewing lately because all I need is my comfy arm chair and not to clear out the entire living room so I can use the floor as a cutting surface!
devon r said:
January 13, 2013 at 8:46 pm
Oh wow! This dress is gorgeous!
cjhammon said:
January 14, 2013 at 5:54 pm
Yes, it’s kind of a standout! Glad you think so, too. I hate the fact that so many vintage clothes are teensy weensy!
Lori L said:
January 11, 2013 at 12:08 pm
Fantastic article!
For the Superbowl: I hope I will be watching Peyton Manning and the Broncos…and will probably be making and eating these Palmer House brownies which in turn will “disqualify” me for the lovely dress give-away 🙂 & 🙁
cjhammon said:
January 11, 2013 at 1:04 pm
Hey, those would make good Super Bowl goodies, wouldn’t they? I’m thinking this recipe is among the richest I’ve ever seen!
Jill said:
January 12, 2013 at 10:12 am
What a beauty! It is just a tad small for me. Well maybe more than a tad.
I will be happy to send a twitter message about your blog. Please don’t enter me in the contest. I can’t possibly wear the dress.
cjhammon said:
January 13, 2013 at 6:31 pm
Oh, thanks Jill! You need to keep me up to date on how I can help you target friends for your site.
Maureen said:
January 12, 2013 at 11:07 am
Love the (wee tiny)dress! Alas, I haven’t been that size since I was 11. Heh.
More importantly though, I couldn’t get the link to the brownie recipe to work! 🙁
cjhammon said:
January 13, 2013 at 6:30 pm
I KNOW !!! Mercy, I wish I were that size! Thanks for telling me about the link. I’ll check it out AND make sure you get a copy!
Playing with Scarves said:
January 12, 2013 at 7:33 pm
Hi Crystal:-)
Thanks a lot for mentioning my website and my scarf cd. That is very kind of you.
What a lovely dress you shared with us and what a fun post! I also laughed a lot reading the quote from Bar Raphaeli. She is probably more clever than she pretends to be … woman’s strategy…
About the Super Bowl: I still need to learn from my American friends. I am better at scarf styling than at understanding football!
I wish you the very best with your lovely blog. Thanks again.
Cheers,
Anne Touraine (Playing with Scarves)
cjhammon said:
January 13, 2013 at 6:28 pm
Oh my goodness, what a thrill to hear from you! You are a genius with your content AND your style. You are probably right about Bar–she is too young to realize how far her voice will travel! On football, I second that. I spent the weekend with friends who live and die around the game. To me, it is comforting background noise, despite having 3 brother who played the gAme. I never quite got it!
Deborah Sweeney said:
January 13, 2013 at 9:41 pm
Beautiful!
cjhammon said:
January 14, 2013 at 5:53 pm
Isn’t it though? Thanks for stopping by and commenting…I’m planning a trip over to your site later this evening, Deborah!
Ashley said:
January 14, 2013 at 12:44 pm
Oh! This dress is beautiful!! I’ll have to search through your blog and share my favorite posts on twitter & facebook {and perhaps my blog}, as I really want to win this dress to wear this spring and summer.
cjhammon said:
January 14, 2013 at 5:52 pm
Oh, wonderful, Ashley. You’re right! This one is a beauty and it would be adorable on you!