fashion – Ruth E. Hendricks Photography

Spring Hats Evoke Another Era to Me

When I was visiting the family in Ohio for an extended stay, one of the last days I was there we went to Von Maur, a lovely department store in Columbus at the Polaris Mall.

Maura and I saw all the elegant Spring/Easter hats on display. She tried on a gray one that matched her Ohio State Swim shirt. A gracious salesperson asked if we needed any help and of course, we did not. But she didn’t seem worried about trying on a hat.

(*see Men’s Hat Posts below the photos)

Growing up, almost all women in church wore hats.

.The Kentucky Derby, the first Saturday in May, is a place to wear a fashionable hat. Or a Derby party as you watch the race on TV. You see Royal Wedding attendees sporting stylish hats. I wish I’d looked inside the hats to see where they are made. Do you own a hat and on what occasion do you wear it?

Putting on a hat can change your whole persona, help you feel dressed to the nine. The epitome of dressing up in style.

“To the nine” is an English idiom meaning “to perfection” or “to the highest degree” or to dress “buoyantly and high class”. In modern English usage, the phrase most commonly appears as “dressed to the nine” or “dressed up to the nine”.

* And not to leave the men out of the hat post.

I posted Meyer the Hatter in New Orleans in 2009

and the Bleecker Street Hat Shop in NYC post in 2012

April 24, 2019 by Ruth Categories: fashionTags: church, Columbus OH, design, dress to the nines, Easter bonnet, fashion, granddaughter, hat, Kentucky Derby, Maura, men's hats, New Orleans, New York City, royal wedding, shopping, Spring, store display, style, VonMaur 11 Comments

I Learned to Sew in the ‘60s with Simplicity Patterns

Saw this Simplicity Patterns display at the local JoAnn store.

Immediate recognition of “the look” and then some nostalgia surfaces.

I took Home Economics at Morris Plains Borough School in the mid 60’s.

Mrs. Phelan was our teacher.
I remember one project being given a B instead of an A because I didn’t take care of all the loose ends of thread inside my blue and red polka dot dress.

Mortifying. I think of her when I weave in loose ends of yarn or tie knots in threads and trim them oh, so neatly.

We made an apron, a skirt, a blouse, shorts, a dress and the other half year we cooked and baked. I graduated to Vogue Patterns eventually but I think all of my early basic efforts were Simplicity.

March 24, 2019 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: apron, childhood, fashion, pattern, photography, Pittsburgh PA, postaday, sewing, simplicity, travel 26 Comments

Mend

Mend.

No, it’s not the word of the week. And I haven’t done much mending lately.

It’s just that Mark asked if I could mend/repair his beloved Dude Cowichan Sweater. Both elbows were worn. I brought it home with me from Ohio.

There’s an incredible sense of satisfaction in having accomplished this task.

I got some yarn and mended the holes first, and then I ordered elbow patches and stitched them on using a blanket stitch. The tiny perforations weren’t easy to get the needle through and I wish I had my mother’s thimble. It’s in my house but I didn’t look too deeply.

Mark’s sweater looks brand new.

No, I didn’t knit it. I mended it.

Just repaired the holes in the elbows and added the patches.

Scroll down to listen to Al Green sing-

and thanks to dictionary.com

Mend- to make (something broken, worn, torn, or otherwise damaged) whole, sound, or usable by repairing: to mend old clothes; to mend a broken toy. 2. to remove or correct defects or errors in.

‎On the mend · ‎Mend one’s fences · ‎Mend one’s ways · ‎Commend

And Al Green sings How Can You Mend a Broken Heart ?

How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?

Did people really reserve a whole day to mend?

Early Thursday morning was the day reserved for mending according to the nursery song Here We Go ‘Round the Mulberry Bush

January 9, 2018 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: Al Green, All Around the Mulberry Bush, clothing, Cowichan sweater, family, fashion, knitting, Lebowski, mend, mending, patches, Pendleton, photography, postaday, repair, sewing, sweater, yarn 16 Comments

Snippet of Lace and a Tiny Flower Tattoo

My sister gave me this vintage apron years ago.

It’s a conversation piece. I don’t know who made it.

Most of my aprons hang inside the pantry door and aren’t vintage. That will be another post.

This half apron is fun to wear when hostessing,

Just lift up the skirt of the dress for the unexpected.

A bit of lace and an embroidered flower. The fabric of the midriff is worn and there is a hole right where the navel would be. Maybe it is one of a kind?

And of course it it all trimmed with good old rick- rack.

Vintage_Apron_Close-Up OoooooLaLa

January 8, 2018 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: apron, cooking, embroidery, entertaining, fashion, flower, fun, humor, kitchen, lace, photography, postaday, rick-rack, sewing, vintage, vintage apron 20 Comments

I’m Knitting as Fast as I Can

We’re down to less than six full days before the 25th. Should I title this post Procrastination is an Art Form? Last year I gave my son-in-law a box of balls of yarn. He asked for a sweater. I’ve inflicted my hand knitted gifts on numerous unsuspecting recipients so when I get a specific request, it’s a thrill. My one son said”Ma, I think we’ve got enough hats.”

To blog it not to blog last night? Priorities? I’m getting three grandkids as houseguests starting today. I can’t knit a patten where I have to check the chart and the count very well while hostessing . Mindless knitting I can do in the company of others.

So it’s crunch time. I was determined to finish those sleeves before I went to sleep. Phew. I’m pretty sure one is a bit wider than the other.

James will get this sweater by Christmas. It can’t be in pieces. Joanne told me how to cast on the fronts and back and knit all at the same time so no side seams.

Plus, I’m headed to photograph the house moving adventure.

Will I make it? Stay tuned

Did I mention I’ve one full ball of yarn left?

The color is called “concrete ”

It’s time to play Yarn Chicken, too.

December 19, 2017 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: Christmas gift, family, fashion, gift, gift giving, handmade, knitting, photography, postaday, procrastination, sweater, travel, yarn Chicken 34 Comments

Nutcracker Suite on a Snowy Day

The Columbus City Ballet School Production- Saturday December 9th

Maura was in two dances The Tea Dance and The Russian Dance. A couple of the moms helped me out as Maura’s mom was with her siblings at a swim meet. Suzanne watched her while I ran to get lunch after the morning dress rehearsal and I’d left the makeup bag on the kitchen counter so Shelly added the finishing touches to Maura’s stage look.

Norma Garrison in charge of Costumes

Maura Lydia and Annelise

Two Grandmothers and a Pap from Virginia

Annelise and Elena with their Mom

Aunt Lala

Annelise and Elena with their mom Aunt Lala and Maura 24082980847_dc5432be62_k What a fun day. Great performances by all. Thanks to Shir Lee Wu, Artistic Director of the Columbus City Ballet School.

December 9, 2017 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: ballet, Columbus City Ballet School, costumes, dance, family, fashion, holiday, music, Norma Garrison, nutcracker, Nutcracker Suite, photography, Shir Lee Wu, snow, weather 10 Comments

Lacy Stocking

Light through the lace curtain fell on my leg.

October 1, 2017 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: fashion, lace, lace curtain, lacy, light, photography, postaday, shadow, stocking 10 Comments

Paper Dolls Found in Downtown Pittsburgh

The other day I took a bus downtown (Senior Citizen perk= free bus pass) and went to S.W, Randall Toys Store on Smithfield Street. I climbed to the the doll floor on three, looking for a fresh doll outfit for a 14 year old doll when I came upon a two sided display of a variety of paper dolls.

I remember cutting out paper dolls when I was young. So careful not to ruin them and cut off the little white tabs you needed to fold over to hold the clothes onto the doll. Sometimes tape was involved.

A looooong time ago. I had no idea all these different paper dolls were available in 20I asked the sales clerk if I could photograph them and she said sure but now I’m wishing I opened them up and peeked inside and photographed the dolls and clothes. Going to have to plan a return trip downtown.

I considered buying a book of them- many choices. Wondered who is playing with paperdolls nowadays.

Do kids even know about paper dolls? I talked with a friend today and she said she cut out magazine fashion and made up clothes out of the magazines. I relied on the printed and dotted lines to cut around. I can picture a little doll with a full white slip on- waiting to be dressed. Modest!