Pith Helmets, Khaki, and some Implications to Consider When Wearing Adventure Ready Styles

Reading Wikipedia's article for Pith Helmet, it says:

"The pith helmet (also known as the safari helmet, sun helmet, topee, sola topee, salacot or topi[a]) is a lightweight cloth-covered helmet made of pith material. Pith helmets were often worn by European travelers and explorers, in the varying climates found in Africa, Southeast Asia, as well as the tropics, but have also been used in many other contexts. They were routinely issued to European military personnel serving overseas "in hot climates" from the mid-nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century.

The pith helmet became associated strongly with the British Empire. However, the pith helmet was used by all European colonial powers, and for some time even by the United States. It was commonly worn by non-indigenous officers commanding locally recruited troops in the colonial armies of France, Britain, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Imperial Germany and the Netherlands, as well as civilian officials in their territories. As such it became something of a symbol of colonial rule. Helmets of a similar style (but without true pith construction) continued to be used, as late as World War II, by European and American military personnel.

Such was the popularity of the pith helmet, that it became a common civilian headgear for Westerners in the tropics from the end of the 19th century. The civilian pith helmet was typically less decorative and more practical, not as tall as the military counterpart, and with a wide brim all round. It was worn by men and women, old and young, both in formal and casual occasions, until the Second World War. "

hmm, to read the full article click here

It is really easy to spot the inherent racism in Urban Outfitters naming products Navajo, in Valentino calling their "African" (as if it is a monolith) inspired collection both "tribal" and "primitive" (they actually used these words...yikes), and the hundreds of other blatant examples of cultural appropriating in the fashion industry. But what about explorer/safari style?

Just as I don't agree with the politics associated with a polka dot 50's "housewife" dress, I also think the ideas behind colonialism/imperialism and the horrors which accompanied such campaigns are truly disgusting. So why do I think its okay to wear a pith helmet? Do I actually think it's okay to wear a pith helmet? ...is it rather cringe actually? Why had I never considered the cultural implications of such a storied accessory before just recently?

I love the Indiana Jones films, and Adele Blac Sec, and the adventurer/explorer style I wear often here on the blog. I would like to think of such individuals, civilian adventurers and archaeologists as different from the colonizers and the khaki clad western armies of say the British Raj for example. However, seeing as most 20th century archaeologists "discovered" things only to take them back to the British Museum, and plundered the places they explored for notoriety and profit at home...the differences between civilians and occupiers seems to blur. The only bastion of hope I have for finding an example of safari style worn without implications of terror and occupation would be that of tourists. Still, now when people go on safari they go to see the animals, in the past they went to shoot them, which is yet again another practice I think is horrid and honestly, immoral. So why should I wish to wear the styles from that time? When going on a shooting party and killing gorgeous animals was thought a delightful vacation? Why do I still think safari suits are super endlessly stylish even while these realizations are rolling through my mind? Urhhhg.

I wore a straw version of a pith helmet in the ruins of Tulum in Mexico, a country which my own home nation continues to disrespect on the daily. Why couldn't I see the implications of colonialism in doing so, how on earth could I have been so blind until this moment? This was just a few months ago, dear past me--- think before you wear! In my bubble of white privilege, I had never thought of adventurer styles in this way, and now that I am thinking about it, I wonder; when does saying "oh I just love the aesthetics" start to sound too similar to the absurd "heritage not hate" that racists spout about their horrific confederate flags? In wearing safari fashions, or as they are called in interior design quite blatantly-- colonial styles, it is true I am not appropriating other cultures. No indeed instead I am wearing the styles of my own ancestors, often horrible and very misguided ancestors.

In some ways, I also do that all the time? All of the retro styles I wear, no matter what era they came from, it was no doubt an era when I (being a modern and rather biased liberal leaning creature) didn't agree with the majority of what was going on politically/culturally. We retro style devotees love vintage style, not vintage views on morality, or social justice, or colonialism. That 1950's "housewife" dress represents a lot instantly visually for many people. It represents a time when women were less free, to be outside the home, or even just to be themselves. All vintage style hearkens back to a time less equal. Have modern day vintage wearers, pin-ups, and burlesque stars fully shattered the old implications of vintage style? When I wear a 1950's outfit, I am certainly not trying to imply I want to be treated like women were in the 1950s. Were I to wear a pith helmet, I would certainly not wish to imply that I agreed with the 19th century imperialism in various tropical climates worldwide. Are pith helmets and other "colonial" inspired styles actually just offensive alone?

The men in khaki uniforms and pith helmets who came to conquer, to plunder, and sometimes just to fight someone else's wars on very foreign soil also have something in common that should perhaps be considered alongside all this musing, and that is their overwhelming maleness. I don't think there were many ladies rolling up and colonizing places (they came afterwards, for teas?), so does khaki and a pith helmet mean something different when worn by different genders? Then again, Queen Victoria was "empress" of India??? Yikes. Is it not just a bit off when white people wear such styles? Am I overthinking all of this, or have I been incredibly insensitive promoting adventure/safari style all week long?

Are all so called "colonial" style things, clothing, furniture, architecture, the Disneyland Jungle Cruise ride, so inseparable from their history as to be only offensive? Can one ever truly enjoy the aesthetics of something wholly independent of its historical implications (and in the case of imperialism, continued legacy)? I'd like to hope so, but my opinion isn't really valid because of course these things don't immediately offend me, I am descended from the colonizers, not the colonized. I have existed only within my privilege, and require constant reeducation to dismantle the veils my own twisted culture upholds. My opinion on whether something aesthetic pleasing is offensive or not does not matter.

I would love to hear opinions (especially opinions from people who say aren't, you know, white, but also everyone) on this, because I truly don't know where the line is on this particular style. It seems like something that should at least be considered deeply before delving into such styles, styles I have loved mind, and have been wearing here on the blog just this week. Please consider the comments below to be an open discussion on this topic, and also, please be civil in doing so.

Some links to other discussions of this topic or things relating to it:

British Colonial Co: Outrage in Australia over theme restaurant

Open Thread: Is Taylor Swift’s Video Really A Racist Nod To Colonial Africa?

NPR's article about the same video

UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS: SAFARI ICONOGRAPHY AT BALMAIN 2014

Valentino show inspired by ‘wild Africa’ sparks controversy

ARE THESE FASHION ADS RACIST OR HARMLESS?

Book Review: Wild Company, The Untold Story of Banana Republic

I worked for Banana Republic for over a year and always loved the safari and travel clothing heritage even if it was barely to be seen in the modern incarnation of the store. When I saw a book by the founders of the company Mel and Patrica Ziegler, I knew I had to pick it up and discover the Banana Republic that had disappeared long before I was a part time sales associate for the company, or indeed before I was even born. 

Wild Company details the origins of the company and the ethos behind the founders choices that made Banana what it was in their own words. Written by both Mel and Patrica, the married founders who decided to leave journalism and illustration for business in order to try and fund their own adventures, the book is a delightful read. Who can say how much of this rather fairy-tale (if not a bit of a tragedy in the end, but I'll get to that) story is embellished or made rosy by either design or the haze of hindsight, but in any case it sounds like the Zieglers set out in business as complete armatures in order to eventually fund the travels they dreamed of and they ended up doing just that. 

With just 1500 hundred in capital and a great early sense of brand identity and integrity the Ziegler's bought their first batch of military surplus clothing in the late 1970's and set up shop in a tiny location in San Francisco. They ended up washing every one of those first products (Spanish paratrooper shirts with defective too-short sleeves) in their own home washing machine. The first products were entirely well made but discarded military surplus from various countries and campaigns. They noticed how much care had been put into these pieces of clothing that would have to withstand constant rough use, usually being made from fine natural fiber materials. They bought sleeping bags for the sheepskin linings, re-purposed belts into hat bands, and made entirely new items from the fine fabrics they could find amongst the piles of otherwise useless surplus. This was recycling at its best, but they new eventually there would be a big problem, the surplus would run out. So they began seeking out the old factories, the smaller places barely holding on thin the "modern" 1970's world of polyester. They worked to find the best of the old factories to essentially create more brand new surplus-like items.

It was only when Gap offered to buy the company and leave the founders in control in 1983 that the company could finally access the capital needed to fully flesh out an in house label of clothing. A five year period of growth and great clothing and collaborations with factories and artisans followed the acquisition, but in reality it was the beginning of the end for what had made Banana Republic special. The Gap people began to get antsy, untrusting of the Ziegler's unconventional methods of ignoring trends and focus groups, buying and stocking what they liked and believed in rather than what was trendy. Gap was opening new locations of Banana stores weekly, diluting the brand image and the carefully planned uniqueness of each original location. They had failed to recognize what had made Banana Republic successful, too afraid of the safari trend dying out and taking their profits with it. The Zieglers decided with all the interference not to sign another contract and left the brand they build to it's new business minded owners. How disgusted they must really be with what Gap have since done to their original concept. The story of the Ziegler's is inspiring, but the story of the brand is rather tragic.

Banana Republic, like Gap itself, now finds itself struggling to survive. After abandoning every bit of what made the store experience special, stocking basics in polyester that set few hearts aflame and fall apart within a year, every part of the original Banana Republic has vanished into memory alone. Authentic charm replaced by inconsistent sales and clothing often as bland as the clean store designs that were swapped in for the antique WWII jeeps and weathered wood long ago.

Not to mention the discontinued hand drawn and zine-like catalogs that had helped Banana Republic grow to be noticed by Gap in the first place. While a fiber glass zebra and astro turf flooring would look incredibly kitsch and tired today, the idea of themed stores certainly has continued and evolved with stores like Anthroplogie now at the top of the store experience game. Who's to say a modernized version of what the old Banana Republic had going on wouldn't do well? A chicer version of the safari style they had in the 1980's, perhaps some campaign furniture, canvas upholstery, bamboo, and authentic imported pieces (even the odd piece of elegant taxidermy) could go a long way in giving the store some long lost charm. Bring back some of the unique travel inspired styling, the devotion to natural fibers and clothing made well enough to actually earn it's price tag. Gap failed to realize what had made Banana Republic so successful, they had a strong authentic brand image and passionate founders who wouldn't compromise their vision until corporate got so annoying they had to leave. The key to successful business isn't appealing to the most people possible, it is finding your niche and your customer, and then staying loyal to that customer and that niche!

I promise I'm not just bitter because I really selfishly still wish there were still such a shop as a safari outfitter...except that I kind of am. It also is just sad any time a big corporation crushes creativity out until nothing unique remains and then wonders why their customer flock somewhere else. Isn't it obvious?

Wild Company may end on a bit of a sour note for safari style fans, but the Ziegler's don't seem to be that bothered. They went on to start a specialty tea company and have other ventures, but more importantly they accomplished their original goal of making enough money to travel. They could have never known just how successful their little surplus store would become before they had to leave it behind, but they seem to have come out on top in the end.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the old Banana Republic, or just wants to learn about creating a consistent and well loved brand. My biggest take always were unintended business tips, curate your brand, stay loyal to your customer, don't grow too fast, and make and sell only what you yourself love. As a former fashion student who still harbors a dream of having their own brand of clothing or accessories someday, I found the story of Banana Republic both inspiring and cautionary.

Have any of you ever read Wild Company? Do you have any memories of the old Banana Republic? I know I will continue to keep an eye out always for some of their older pieces online or in thrift shops!

Fieldwork

I doubt pencil skirts would be very useful when doing field work of any kind, and this ensemble turned out much more glam-safari-guide than archaeologist adventure chic-- but either of those two descriptors work for me. I did indeed go on a bit of an adventure today, including attempting to find well hidden treasure. However, the treasure in this instance was by beloved cat Cleo who was hiding (I looked EVERYWHERE!) and the adventure was taking her to the vet. Her mighty roar (okay, scared screech) was pulling at my heartstrings the whole drive there. I am such a cat lady!

Compared to the cat adventures, documenting this outfit was a breeze. As summer is drawing to a close I have to get the last few safari-ish outfits out of my system before my khaki shirts are put away till next year. Are there winter safari's? I didn't bother to do much to my hair today, this is its natural texture when left to its own devices. I feel like it was curlier when I was younger, now it is sort of just a bit wavy. It's funny to think that way back in 2013 when I started this blog I had a bob haircut! Luckily both my hair and blogging/writing have grown a lot since then!

Shirt: Thrift Shop (LL Bean)
Skirt: Made by me
Shoes: Amazon (here)
Brooch and Bracelets: Vintage
Earrings: National Gallery Gift Shop
Belt: Banana Republic
Sunglasses: Camden Market

Adventure Style : Vintage Style for Travel, Safari, & Exploration

I present to you my favorite style in the summer time, that's right, it's adventure style! Safari style, adventure wear, whatever you call it, I call it a darn cute look. So enjoy this excess of khaki and cotton twill and I can finally move onto my next adventure! 

The script at the very beginning is from the radio loop played outside of the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland :)

It was a wild ride indeed, but the video is finally done. Two weeks of entire days spent making faux wooden crates, over $100 dollars spent on craft paint alone, four hours to film the final footage, and thirteen hours of editing and script writing, and here we are. I need a nap :)

It would mean extra special much to me if those of you who enjoyed this video could share it with someone else you think may like it as well.

I put this in a pinned comment as well, but I also want to suggest that any of those in a place to do so please consider donating to Unicef and/or Save The Children to help with their ongoing and emergency work in Sudan. Stay aware of the goings on in our wide world, please practice empathy, and stay safe out there.

Music from Epidemic Sound.

River footage from Taman Negara on flickr, https://www.flickr.com/photos/phalinn/31245275712/

All of the clothing in this video is either made by me, vintage, or in rarest of cases from fast fashion brands I no longer support and is therefore many seasons old.

I can however, link you to some of the shoes I wear in this video:

The first pair in canvas and leather are Evelyn's from Royal Vintage Shoes and can be found here : https://www.royalvintageshoes.com/1930s-vintage-shoes/evelyn-retro-oxfords-tan-brown-royal-vintage

Next we have Garnet's from Remix Vintage Shoes in black suede : https://remixvintageshoes.com/products/garnet

Then the style Peggy from Royal Vintage again : (currently unavailable but I think they might bring them back)

The brown croc finished pumps are Carmen's from Remix : https://remixvintageshoes.com/products/carmen

The yellow heels are from Chelsea Crew : https://bit.ly/2x8fVmK

The cognac leather sandal heels are from BAIT footwear :  https://www.baitfootwear.com/product-page/loraine-tan

The navy and ivory t-straps are Chelsea Crew don't seem to be available in navy anymore but here they are in red and white which I also have (and so did Peggy Carter on the show...just saying) : https://www.amazon.com/Chelsea-Crew-Gatsby-Tone-Heels/dp/B01AR1TP5C

The lipstick I have on is Coloupop's liquid matte lipstick in the shade Season 10, the highlighter is their super shock highlighter in Flexitarian.

Hounds Teeth

You didn't think I'd miss a change to get in one more safari ready ensemble before summer truly ended now did you? :) Alright, in truth these photos are from a few weekends ago when summer still felt fully in swing, but as this outfit felt a bit too autumnal somehow to post right away, I held off posting them for a little while. Houndstooth seems odd in summer somehow, but this suit is the perfect weight for any season!

This must be a very boring suit to see again for those who visit this blog regularly, as I wear it all the darn time, but it is so comfortable and can be styled in so many different ways! This time I paired it with a soft green silk button down blouse and brown accessories for a more safari leaning style. This hat was a snap judgement purchase, as I saw it pop up on Etsy for such a crazy low price I barely thought before I snapped it up. When it arrived I feared it would be too country/western in shape for my liking and thought I might re-sell it first thing, but goodness did I change my mind after this first wearing! It reminds me of Sylvia Fowler in the Nevada scenes in The Women for some reason, and for that it will stay in my collection.

It has finally started to cool down a little bit this week and I am so excited to start putting together some ensembles for fall! I have a little trip coming up at the end of next week...and I have my Mickey's Halloween Party tickets and Blue Bayou reservations all ready to go! I feel like a little kid getting excited a full week out, but it's always nice having things to look forward to right? ;)

Suit: Made by me
Blouse: Banana Republic
Shoes: American Duchess
Handbag, Brooch, & Hat: Vintage
Earrings: Made by me
Belt: Target

Scouting Style

Something about this little scarf makes me feel like a girl scout, but though I am wearing khaki here and have a yellow silk kerchief, I have not been an actual girl scout in a very long time.

Instead this outfit is more inspired by the ensembles worn by Grace Kelly and Ava Gardner in the film Mogambo from 1953. I have worn very similar adventure or safari inspired outfits here on the blog before, as they are a summertime staple for me. This time I paired my trusty Banana Republic safari shirt with my newer olive green cotton sateen circle skirt that I made earlier in the year. Finished with cognac leather accessories, I was ready to face the great outdoors! I'm only kidding. A paved path was easily navigable in my favorite Bait high heeled sandals ;) I am more of a city girl as we could probably guess from my propensity for heels right?

It's back to more sedentary adventures for me, as I have a lot of work to do this upcoming weekend! I love my work though, nothing is better than writing and editing, though I do have some sewing to finish as I actually cut out a dress last week! I have been so lax in my sewing this year. Shall we call it quality over quantity? Sure, yeah...let's go with that.

Shirt: Banana Republic
Skirt: Made by me
Belt: Target
Shoes: Bait Footwear
Clutch, Earrings, Scarves: Vintage

Trefoil, Thorn, and Thicket

Sun blaring enough to sting my eyes, but instead of warmth and the smell of flowers in the air there are only cold winds and dirty black piles of snow still melting slowly in every parking lot. The duller days of winter, after the charm of the snow has melted away and it becomes more inconvenience than ideal, and that's only when there is snow at all. Even snow is preferable to dead grass and a leafless world. Perhaps I can pretend my world of dead trees and tan grasses is actually the dry season of someplace much more exotic. Early spring always triggers my love of safari style somehow, it must be all the tall dry grass.

I am well overdue for making a new pair of jodhpurs, and since Butterick came out with a new pattern, I imagine I'll get around to making some proper ones soon. The pair I have on here have no stretch, and though perhaps they are more accurate for it, I feel like if ladies of the 1940's had the option of some slight stretch in their jodhpurs they would have taken it! So my next pair will be a twill with a bit of stretch, because it sounds much more comfortable. Still I do quite like the look of jodhpurs so I continue to wear these and this time I paired them with the jacket from my black 1940s suit. I still cant believe I own this suit sometimes, it's just my dream suit and I'm so lucky to have it! The little hat I have on here was featured in a thrift haul video of mine from ages ago and originally had very dusty bright blue netting that I removed and replaced with vintage clover flowers and a bit of black netting. The hat base is such a good little shape, I think it was possibly something semi-homemade originally; that the owner would have bought the base and trimmed it herself as there is no trace of a label inside. I know I'd love to have a few more colors of this little hat base to pile flowers and trimmings on!

Sure something about jodhpurs does feel a little costumey. There is this debate about being "in costume" when wearing vintage that I don't really buy. Everyone is wearing their costume, choosing one that happens to be anachronistic is just a little more fun.

A very rude costume supervisor (for a very small inconsequential opera house, just saying) once told me I had no place in applying to their summer internship as costuming and fashion design had nothing in common. She could have ignored my application, but instead she emailed me a rather odd response to my resume stating that there was no crossover between the two and she basically told me no self respecting costume department would ever even consider an apparel designer. Forgive me for continuing to disagree. Obvious transferable sewing skills aside, what is a fashion designer if not someone creating a costume for a character conjured out of pure imagination? Just because a costume designer gets to see the script doesn't mean the fashion designer (or stylist) doesn't have a character in mind as well. We all remain the costume designers of our own lives, choosing the right garments for each occasion and beat of our story. Some days are build for comfort sure, and other days an ensemble can suggest an entire narrative of its own. A rider without a horse perhaps, a safari in winter. The more stories the better I say.

Jacket, Gloves, Scarf, Brooch, and Hat: Vintage
Jodhpurs: Made by me
Boots: JCPenny

Cataloging Catalogs: More from Montgomery Ward Spring Summer 1943

Welcome to the second installment of what will now become a series, cataloging catalogs-- AKA I photograph/scan old mail order catalogs before the paper literally falls apart and share the pages with all of you! While I was planning to post all of the fashion pages from the first catalog I bought, Montgomery Ward spring summer 1943, I now have acquired two more catalogs! Both are again Montgomery Wards, this time spring summer 1949, and fall winter 1947/48 :) So while I already had a ton of images of 1940s fashion to share, now I have three times that original amount!

When the other two catalogs arrived looking much nicer and cleaner than the first, it made me realize just how bad the catalog from 1943 had deteriorated in comparison. The cover had already come off the front, several of the pages were near falling out, many had corners torn or eaten (?!) away, and strangely the pages were almost dirty? Like after handling the catalog and turning the pages my hands were grey with dust/dirt/ink. I also had been having a hard time determining how to digitize the pages, I had first tried merely photographing them at a high resolution, but I'd have much rather been scanning them. So I did something rather rash and well...I cut the binding off and separated all of the pages so they could be scanned flat individually. I know, I know! It's a bit sacrilege, cutting apart this wonderful catalog that had made it 74 years intact, but it was in bad shape already and I wanted to make sure the fashion pages were archived. I understand if you disagree with what I did, and I certainly won't be doing the same to the other two catalogs I have as they are in much better shape, but sometimes tough decisions just need to be made!

So scanning each page individually in two halves (as my scanner isn't large enough) meant I had to piece each page together in photoshop. Which is why, though I wanted to put up this post on Friday naively thinking the scanning and piecing wouldn't take long, I am instead posting this on Sunday! It may be time consuming work, but I still think it's worth it! These pages are such an amazing resource <3

So today I have another dozen or so pages for you all to peruse. As usual the images are huge so feel free to save them and zoom in on the details and text!

Here on page 26 we have some little summer sets that I was so happy so see as I have made a few similar sets in cotton before! Most are in a fabric described as linen-weave rayon and cotton, which I assume is a rayon cotton blend made to look like linen. The three in the top image come in linen green, natural, red or linen brown, while the suit on the bottom comes in royal blue, brown, or red and in either striped or check. As usual I'd like one of each please, but that goes for every page!

How perfectly safari ready is dress G above? (top far right). Notice the woven belts here, and there seems to be lots of decorative top stitching too! These are all dream dresses for me, I'll have to copy one and make it up this summer!

Gorgeous dresses, and wonderful details like the flower shaped buttons on the first dress and subtle gold jewelry being worn. The dress in the lower right would be perfect for a make-do and mend copy with the two fabrics used together. Great for stash busting today, it would be easy to use left over fabric from other projects together in a similar way! I really hope you all view these images larger and zoom in on the details, they are super inspiring as a reproduction seamstress!

The first dress here comes in beige, and again would be perfect for my more safari fashion leanings in summer. More things to note here are the contrasting thin leather belts proving one needn't always make a matching belt with covered buckle for every dress, and good thing too as the cost of those kits adds up fast these days!

I love the simple to make self fabric bow belt on the first dress here! Another good design for left over fabric from other projects in the lovely striped number in the top right. Notice the pockets on the middle dress in the top row too, they seem to be shirred! The endless varieties of the shirtwaist dress are reminding me that I don't have a single one, and I should probably fix that! 

Another page in color! Check out the size of those white buttons on the first suit! The styling here is nice and matched with the suits paired with coordinating hats and gloves. I'd like the brown beret style hat from the suit of the right thanks :)

And more color on the reverse! "Peony red...as subtle and as wonderful as the flowers in your garden this summer. Wonderful alone, as the special Dress to brighten your Beau's home-on-leave hours. Wonderful beneath the princess coat, to complete your spring ensemble." Well, the copy writer obviously thought this dress was wonderful.

More sets! "Bright little tulips on a short-jacketed collarless suit for your relaxation time, when you want to look your prettiest. Bright stitched bands curve across jacket front, match separate dickey, Young dirndl skirt so right for a junior figure. Fine linen-weave rayon and cotton." 

I'll take dress D please, love the high square neckline with lace, and the lace on the pockets too! 

That first dress! (view F) So cute, goodness. It may be for juniors but I still want it for myself. The long dresses make me wonder if girls had the both-show-up-to-the-dance-in-the-same-dress issue already in 1943!

View A. "Checked Rayon Jersey Casual...so young, so cool, so wearable. Without a wrinkle, it will see you through many a big moment....dates, teas, bridges. Stitched high neckline buttons to the waist in back. Fullness between pockets gives skirt the new peg top look. Has a contrasting grosgrain belt. Colors: Navy, Black or Brown checks--each with white." I'll take the navy thanks! I'd like view D too in that pretty floral <3

 The center dress above has a belt "studded and felt appliqued for winning casual". View F is actually two pieces, and I love how the print is used as an accent. It would be the prefect design for a vintage novelty print remnant piece! The polka dot suit in the bottom right is super cute too! Luckily these juniors fashions are sophisticated enough for modern women of today too :)

That's all for today! I'll get back to scanning and we will pick up again soon with more lovely juniors fashions! I hope you enjoy seeing these pages, I feel like each is a treasure trove of information, but then again I am a total nerd about these things so my enthusiasm may be a bit higher than average ;)