It's been awhile for
Sepia Saturday to make a Saturday post here on CollectInTexas Gal. However, in this coming New Year with a renewed interest in my Family History Blogs, it's back.
For this first Saturday in January the 'Photo Prompt' features a model wearing the latest style of winter wear from coat, to gloves, to heels. Notice, as well, the two boys.
They appear to be not quite so well fitted in their perhaps hand-me-down over coats, baggy short pants and sagging socks. Just guessing, but I'd bet this photo shoot picture did not make the cut for the models coat advertisement.
But, look, it made it's way to Flickr and now to CollectInTexas Gal and my Grandmother's Fur Coat.
In 1952
my Grandmother Estella from Anchorage, Alaska, came to Texas primarily to visit her Texas children and grandchildren...and probably to get away from the Alaska winter. It had been close to thirty years since she had been to Texas in January, so it was only natural that she arrived in her accustomed Alaska attire including a 'Fur Coat' the likes of which we had never seen.
Everyone took turns modeling the 'Fur Coat', including my Dad. In the high style of Texas, he donned his Stetson, tucked grandmothers clutch purse under his arm and stepped up on a platform in his Tony Lama Boots for the 'Fur Coat' photo shoot. Then it was my Mother's turn. As an Iowa born and raised girl, wearing the 'Fur Coat' was second nature, and posing as a model quite natural...even though it was probably closer to Texas' 65 to 70 degrees than Alaska's whatever below.
As for the style in Texas' January winter wear...you can see it didn't take long for the 'Fur Coat' to be stored in the trunk...of my Dad's Nash Rambler. Pictured here in our winter wear are: myself (5yrs), brother (4yrs), our Mom, Great Aunt Mary Ella, Grandmother Stella and Aunt Betty.
I wish I'd gotten to model Grandmother's Fur Coat!
My son, DIL and granddaughter live in Anchorage. Strangely enough, Anchorage is usually about 10 degrees colder than Chicago in the winter. We were there for 3 weeks last February, and it wasn't too bad, other than they don't plow the snow, so you drive on snowpacked roads. They do get more snow than Chicago area does. I like Texas winters much better.
ReplyDelete( Psst- By the way, your link at SepiaSaturday goes to SS, not here)
ReplyDeleteWhat a funny story of everyone modeling the coat. Even though the coat was out of place in Texas, your grandmother was probably glad to have it handy when she returned to Alaska. One time we were on a flight from Atlanta with kids returning to Virginia from the Caribbean. They were in shorts, tank tops, and flip flops. Yes, fine for the Caribbean, but I'm sure they were covered in goosebumps when they stepped into the 40 degrees of wintery Virginia.
ReplyDeletelove the pics and coat story.
ReplyDeleteI've seen a few you tube video that people dress in certain time peroid.
ReplyDeleteThought it would be fun.
Coffee is on
A fun memory to write about! What kind of fur coat do you think it was? It doesn't look like a fox, mink, etc. Coming from Alaska, maybe seal? last winter my 88 year old mother found a great faux fur coat at Goodwill. She had always wanted one and the short fur texture imitated caribou skin I think. It has a hood and we jokingly called it an Eskimo coat.
ReplyDeleteSo glad the link worked this time! I was wondering (like Mike) what kind of fur it was. Not that it matters much, since these days there are so few fur coats worn. I love that she brought it to Texas where your family got such a kick out of it. That reminds me, I have a grandmother photo in Houston at the airport with my sister and myself, and she might have had on a fur coat...I'll have to check. It would have been strange as she lived in San Antonio.
ReplyDeleteThe photo of your dad is tré stylish! Probably never took any ribbing for that.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of different folks modeling Grandmother's fur coat was a hoot - including your Dad who was a fun good sport about it as well. :)
ReplyDeleteLove the fur coat photos. Such coats may have been rare enough then -- an investment of sorts -- that their novelty made them photo-worthy. Great match for the prompt!
ReplyDelete