Beautiful video celebrates 100 years of IBM's achievements

✯ Day 34 of Vintage 365 ✯

 

It's scarcely a secret that the world has evolved from a technological standpoint in staggering leaps and bounds over the past century. Whereas cars were still new-fangled "horseless carriages", telephones were only beginning to become commonplace items in households across the country, and television sets hadn't even seen the light of day yet in 1911, that year one company burst onto the scene with the goal of helping to further advance technology in a myriad of ways.

International Business Machines, more commonly called IBM, is one of the most well known companies in the world today, and for a full century their concepts, inventions and innovations have a profound impact on many aspects of human history. From pioneering the punch code system to launching some of the very first ATM machines, this discovery-driven company has contributed a substantially to the vastly technology-driven world we call home today.

To honour a hundred years of innovation and accomplishment, IBM recently released one of the loveliest corporate history - called A Century of Achievements that changed the World - I've ever scene.

What makes this elegant video standout most for me in the creative way in which people of all ages up to 100 years old, share facts about the IBM's diverse history as the film’s narration. Shot as beautifully as though it were a movie and teaming with vintage images, this video is so touching and informative that I watched it back to back, and highly recommend setting aside a few minutes to share in celebrating some IBM’s amazing discoveries and technologies that have helped shape the world we know in 2011.

Vintage 365: Sourcing affordable seamed stockings part two

✯ Day 33 of Vintage 365 ✯

 

Hi sweet dears, last week's post about an online source I found for reasonably priced seamed stockings received a number of comments, including one by the lovely Brittnay Va-Voom, in which she shared a second source for vintage inspired hosiery.

As the site (Lady Jojo's Boutique) in my initial post is a UK based seller, and many of us (myself included) are located outside of merry ol' England (or another part of the UK), I wanted to share the excellent link to Stockingstore.com that Brittany posted in her comment with all of you.

This US based online retailer sells quite a decent array of seamed stockings in both classic hues (black, beige, ivory) and more adventurous colours like red and plum (which I think would actually be quite easy to pull off with everyday looks, especially if used in place of black stockings).

 

Though Stocking Store carries thigh-high stockings in a broad range of prices, many pairs come in at under $10.00 (which is usually where my budget caps off for one pair of tights or stockings, so anything under that is a pretty good deal in my books), such as Juanita Black Cuban Heel Stockings (see photo above), which feature a delightful black seam running elegantly up the back of a sheer nude pair. A wonderfully old school Cuban heel and blend of nylon and spandex further help boast the appeal of these classically styled stockings (which retail for $8.95 per pair for "regular size" and $9.95 for "queen size"). Couldn't you just picture these beauties with a bevy of the skirts and dresses in your closet? I certainly can! :)

While some styles of stockings have elasticized stay-up bands at the top that help hold them in place, other lack this feature (or, as I've found often over the years, they sport it but the staying power leaves much to be desired and the stockings end up slouching down your leg as the day wears on) and call for a wonderful garter belt (a point which another commenter, Sally Van Nuys, brought up). Fear not, Stockingstore.com has you covered there, too, with their nice assortment of pretty garters spanning a budget-friendly $12.95 for a simple white four strap garter belt all the way up to $109.95 for a twelve strap Victorian suspender belt (that I have to admit, I'm rather smitten with!).

Thank you very much, Brittany, for informing me - and all of Chronically Vintage's readers - about Stocking Store. It's always terrific to have an array of affordable options when it comes to sourcing vintage style stockings, and this great site certainly helps to make that possible.

Vintage 365: Classic 1940s Homemaker's War Guide

✯ Day 32 of Vintage 365 ✯

 

It was the charming illustrations, bold colour palette and multi-columned layout of this vintage Homemaker's War Guide that first captured my eye (when I spied it in x-ray delta one's Flickr stream), however it takes but a moment more to see that there is much to appreciate about the earnest, straightforward advice it offered American civilians during WW2.

Though targeted at homemakers, the practical "make do and mend" tips this handy guide (for a larger, easier to read version click here) offered no doubt applied to men, women and children from all walks of life during the challenging war years.

With everything from suggestions on how best to make rubber items last (don't store them in hot, dry places) to what kinds of rags and fabric cast-offs could be donated to the war effort, this information packed page would likely have been one that could be found in many homes of the day.

Today the Homemaker's War Guide stands as a poignant reminder of some of the many ways in which a nation once rallied together to help ensure a victorious outcome to a horrific war, and is the sort of highly meaningful piece of history that I never tire of encountering in my online vintage travels.