Today we’re leafing through the August 1942 issue of Ladies’ Home Journal. Although it’s just one magazine, it contains a wealth of information about women’s lives in World War II-era America: from hot fashion trends to newly available manufacturing jobs. There are beautifully illustrated soap advertisements, fiction by Pearl Buck, and a column in which First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt answers readers’ questions about why she never changes her hairstyle. Some of the content reads as humorously archaic today, while other sections could fit right into this month’s Vogue. Join us for a deep dive into homemaking on the home front in this victorious new #brattlecast.
Brattlecast #195 - Railroad Timetables
All Aboard! It’s the episode you’ve been waiting for: vintage railroad timetables. Despite the potentially dry subject matter, it’s a surprisingly scenic ride. Dating back to the early 1900’s, many of these schedules are illustrated with smaller-scale (and more affordable) versions of gorgeous travel posters—advertisements for the destinations themselves, but also for the relatively new concept of train tourism. We’ll look at routes to Lake George, Pikes Peak, the Adirondacks, and many other destinations on this timely #brattlecast.
Brattlecast #70 - Fashion Collections
A collection of French fashion magazines from the 1920’s sends us off into an exploration of fashion magazines in general. They contain a lot of good outfit ideas, sure, and some have gorgeous illustrations, but they’re also a fascinating record of everyday life. The history of hemlines and purses can also be read as a history of women’s freedom and independence. Echos of the most outlandish haute couture design eventually percolate down through the culture into the clothing pages of the Sears & Roebuck catalog. All men wear hats everyday, until one day they don’t. Join us for a stroll down the runway and into history in this very snappy #brattlecast.
