Last summer my mom found a gorgeous 50's sort of Danish-modern-looking chair upholstered in black leather and two 60's Lucite side tables. K and I found an old pull-down school map of Europe there for only $35. My graduation present from grad school was a beautiful sheet-music cabinet from the 30's with numbered drawers. And this past Christmas, I came away with a few sweet things:
I've been eyeing this purse for a few years, and it was still there, so of course I had to buy it. It looks as if it's barely been used, has a lovely peach-satin interior with a matching coin purse and pocket with a mirror:
And it has a satisfying, monumental click when closed (what item made today can make that sound?).
I used it the other day, when I met a friend for coffee. It holds the important things, but since I usually carry more than most women need to carry, it didn't hold my bulky set of keys (which still have some obsolete piano-practice room keys on there from school...). I was wondering what women from the 60s usually carried. Were their wallets slimmer? Did they carry cash in the coin purse instead of carrying a wallet? Were their compacts smaller and more economical (i.e. could they carry not only powder but a tube of lipstick and a pack of cigarettes with a fold-out ashtray? I can definitely say yes on that one--I've seen one just like it and wanted it sooo badly but didn't want to pay $80 to get it).
Here's another purchase:
Lovely little faux topaz gold clip-on earrings. They were only $6.50 so I couldn't resist. I've been thinking about clip-on earrings lately, and actually wore some big pearly ones to a cocktail party a month ago. But I got the idea from watching a documentary about John Lennon (which I loved). There were some scenes of John and Yoko walking in the park where they were both wearing somewhat matching black leather jackets and her hair was pulled into a ponytail with the little yellow balls that little girls wear (you know, the thing you wrap around, and you pull one ball through the loop) and diamond clip-on earrings that looked so elegant and so simple and I loved it juxtaposed with the girlish hair band (yes, I notice strange details like that).
Anyway, I was thinking I could wear these as a new accessory, even though I have pierced ears, because they look so sweet and charming. But I tried them on after I bought them and they are a little too pinchy. But interestingly, I found that my left ear can take the pain more than my right one, so I thought I could just wear one with my regular earrings so it looks like I have one side pierced (a look popular in the 80s and 90s?). Or is that too corny? But I really want to wear them...
Then, the last thing I bought was a book called The New Standard Business and Social Letter Writer: Business, Family and Social Correspondence, Love-Letters, Etiquette, Synonyms, Legal Forms, Etc., from 1908:
Dear Miss O'Neil:--
For some time past, I have been anxious to make my feelings known to you, but have not had an opportunity of doing so. I therefore think it best not to delay any longer, but to tell you by letter that I very much wish to make you my wife, if you think you could be happy with me. We have seen each other so often the last two years, I am quite sure I should never like any one but you; and want you to express the same favorable opinion about me, and say that your heart is mine, dear Mary. If this is so, the sooner we are married the better.
The legacy of $600 received from my late master, added to my own savings of the last ten years, will enable me to take a boarding-house in a good location, and have already seen one which no doubt would answer very well; but I cannot decide upon anything until you accept me as your husband, and if I have not greatly mistaken your sentiments I believe you will.
Believe me ever, my dear Mary,
Your fond lover,
Thomas Black.
There are also letter suggestions for: marriage proposal from a gentleman of small means (with favorable and unfavorable responses); From a gentleman to his fiancee, complaining of her coldness; from an elderly gentleman to a young lady, offering her a birthday present; inviting a lady to pay the writer a visit at the seashore; from a son to his father, expressing dislike of his present occupation; and from a lady, excusing herself from keeping a dinner engagement:
Dear Mrs. Wilde:
I am very sorry to say we are prevented having the pleasure of dining with you this evening, and must ask you to kindly accept our excuses, late as they are. My husband was telegraphed for this morning, and started by the 9:20 train for town, where I fear he will be detained several days.
Believe me,
Very truly yours,
Maria Whimple.
There are also different samples of handwriting for different occasions:
I thought this book was quite apropos for my new year's resolution to write more letters, and now, if I have to write to an Invalid, from a Stranger, Offering her Fruit and Flowers using the vertical handwriting, I'll know how to do it.
