Our Parents, the Style Icons--1950s East Coast Classic

One of the great sites that has sprung up recently is My Mom, the Style Icon.  Curated by Piper Weiss, it began as a tribute to her own mother, Marilyn, and her stylish way.  With the blog's popularity, though, it quickly expanded to include submissions from her readers as well.  Whereas GlamAmor looks at the origin of fashions in classic cinema, My Mom, the Style Icon looks at how real women wore those fashions and interpreted them with their personal style.  It's a great opportunity to look to our family's past for vintage inspiration as well as the likely seeds of our own style.  Here's photographic evidence from my family that proves this to be true.  Lucky magazine now ends every issue with an example from My Mom, the Style Icon and you'll see one below.

My own readers at GlamAmor have begun to be much more interested in what their parents were wearing when reminded how much the fashion from classic cinema continues to be reinterpreted today.  I've received many emails from people with fantastic family photos and thought I would finally start sharing.  Since I just did an article on Robert Redford and his 1950s classic casual cool from The Way We Were, I thought the timing was perfect for Jon Karkow's photos of his father, Edward.  Edward also generously shared the details of what he was wearing with GlamAmor along with his own thoughts on fashion then and now.  He's definitely an inspiration for the timeless nature of classic style.

Thanks to both Jon and Edward!  Keep those photos coming and I'll continue to share from time to time on GlamAmor.

ABOVE:  Edward Karkow in uniform (with his Jaguar Mk IV) during Naval Officer's Candidate School 

Newport Country Club, Rhode Island, 1952

Brooks Brothers tweed jacket and gabardine pants

Villa of Gracie Fields on the south coast of Capri, Italy, 1956

Edward tells GlamAmor, "Regarding dress in the 1950s, there was of course a social class thing, but as a rule I was just going along with the prevailing style.  For example, men (even children older than say...ten) were not allowed entry into the better restaurants without a coat and tie. And one never flew on an airline without a coat and tie.  The airlines were for a while considering imposing a dress code to prohibit warm-up suits and the like, but the masses ultimately prevailed.  And fashion, as a requirement for social acceptance, started going out the window in the 60s."

Brooks Brothers suit

Grand Hotel in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, 1959

"My entire getup, except for the shoes, was from Brooks Brothers.  I still have the jacket and, in fact, wore it when we went to Denmark in 2005.  It fits me just as well today, and is just as fashionable as it was when it was bought."

Wedding of Edward and Kirsty Karkow

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, June 1959

Of course I love Kirsty's white 50s wedding dress as well!

GlamAmor-ous Men of Style--Robert Redford in 1973's THE WAY WE WERE

Robert Redford is a favorite among men and women alike for his strong sense of personal style.  Somehow no matter what he's wearing--be it a sweater or a suit--there is always a certain ease about him.  No doubt that came to him early in life since he was born in Santa Monica and raised in Southern California.  Combining lessons learned from Steve McQueen with his own innate style instincts, Redford would be responsible for helping establish the California Cool of the 70s and a casual classic look for men that continues to this day.

In my opinion, 1973's The Way We Were was what really announced his style to the world.  This was especially true in the scenes that took place out in California where many of the locations were close to home, such as the Beverly Hills Hotel and in and along the water of Santa Monica Bay. His style would continue to evolve in his next movies The Great Gatsby (1974)--costume design by Ralph Lauren--and Three Days of the Condor (1975).  These three movies still inspire designers today who love WASP style, including Tommy Hilfiger and Michael Kors.  Both frequently reference Redford's style in their men's collections.

The Way We Were is the romance between Hubbell (Robert Redford) and Katie (Barbra Streisand), spanning their college years during the radical 1930s through their experience with the Hollywood blacklisting of the 1950s.  Streisand's Katie is an outspoken and passionate cause-driven liberal who falls in love with Redford's Hubbell, a popular and soft-spoken WASP writer who admits to always enjoying an easy life. Unfortunately life ceases to be easy when he falls in love with Katie, and it forces Hubbell to make a difficult decision about their relationship. Though romantic, the movie definitely ends by taking a much more realistic look at the challenges of modern love.

Because the film spans a couple decades, we see the two stars in many different looks.  But you'll see that it is when the couple moves to California that Redford really hits his style stride.

First wearing youthful sweaters for the East Coast prep college years of the 1930s

Serving in the military during World War II in the 1940s

Redford shows just how sexy a white t-shirt can be

With the move to California, it's West Coast prep for tennis in Beverly Hills

1950s beach casual in Malibu and Santa Monica

Classic ivory fisherman's sweater for the beach

At ease on the ocean

Classic suit for 1950s New York network television

Out and About--the Historic Jonathan Club and Los Angeles Athletic Club

Whereas many people may know what preppy looks like, I am lucky enough to truly live it.  After all, you really can't get much more preppy on the West Coast than a Squash Tournament at the Los Angeles Athletic Club and team celebrations afterward at the Jonathan Club downtown.  For those of you who follow GlamAmor, you know that honoring the history of Los Angeles is something that I love and I was very excited to visit both venues for the first time.  To make the day even more divine, we drove downtown in the 1972 Le Mans convertible on a perfectly sunny 80 degree day.  

West Coast Preppy Chic:  1980s white lace sheath dress, 1960s yellow wool coat (shown in other photos), 

yellow silk and cashmere cardigan from Victoria's Secret, yellow Charles David strappy stilettos, Barr + Barr camel leather satchel, 

tiger's eye and silver beaded necklace custom made for GlamAmor, and silver hoop earrings

Cheering on my friend, Wes, who won his match and advanced to the finals as the #1 amateur in the tournament

Watching the professional league play during the squash tournament was an incredible experience.  Julian Illingworth is from Yale and the number one squash player in America.  Ryan Cuskelly is from Australia and just won the bronze at the Commonwealth Games, which is Olympic-level athletic play.  With this kind of skill and talent, it should be no surprise that both men were on fire and the speed of the match was mesmerizing.  

For those who don't know, squash is the pre-cursor to racquetball and infinitely harder.  There are areas that are considered "out" and the sport is played with a "dead" ball, which means that there's not much bounce to it and you have to move with lightning speed to keep it effectively in play. You can see how low the ball is often played in the photo below.

Another player from the Ivy League cheering in the stands as USA wins the match

After the squash tournament, everyone headed over to the Jonathan Club for cocktails and dinner on the outdoor terrace high above the city.  The Jonathan Club holds a long and distinguished history in Los Angeles.  Its inception dates back to 1895 and has been in its current location at the corner of Figueroa and 6th since 1924.  The architects of the building were responsible for other impressive structures such as the Biltmore Hotel, also in Los Angeles and the first home of the Oscars, and the famed Grand Central Station in New York City.  

The Jonathan Club is one of the best private clubs in the United States and many "important decisions have been made within its walls by the power elite."  The top businessmen, politicians, and Hollywood royalty have been members and some have even lived here.  Much of the Jonathan Club has an apartment structure so that members may either temporarily stay as hotel guests or permanently stay as residents.  It also includes ballrooms, an extensive library, indoor pool, the Sky Bar, the Tuscan Terrace, and other impressive features within its oh-so-private walls.  I was lucky enough to experience many of them, so join me on a rare tour of the Jonathan Club.  It was everything I hoped it would be...and more.

Two early images of the Jonathan Club--undated above and in black-and-white from 1957

The grand Italian-inspired lobby

Hallway leading to the library

Entering the library

Hallways are adorned with images of former members (including silent screen stars, above), old city maps (below), and museum quality artwork

Kevin and I making ourselves comfortable inside Weston's room at the Jonathan Club

The indoor pool



Entrance to the Sky Bar and Tuscan Terrace, where we heard the strains of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin throughout our summer-like evening

Wes and I kicking back with a cocktail in the Sky Bar

Wes and I kicking back in the room at the Sky Bar where members store their cigars

Cocktail party getting underway at the Sky Bar

Dinner set outdoors on the Tuscan Terrace

What a view!

After hours of celebrating and an absolutely amazing day, we were finally ready call it a night