Feature Friday: Scrunchies!

Oh, the scrunchie. A must-have accessory in the 90's. A big debate starter. Yay or Nay? A love-hate relationship. What do you think?

Did you ever wonder how the "scrunchie" got its name? Today's "Feature Friday" will answer!

There are two stories floating across the internet regarding the scrunchie's emergence.

Some websites indicate that the scrunchie was invented by Phillip E. Meyers for a family bearing the name "Scrunci" in 1963.

However, other websites claim that Rommy Revson, the woman who eventually patented the product in September of 1987, named it after her poodle.

So even though we don't know who really came up with the name, we do know that the word "scrunchie" caught on from "Scrunci" because the fabric "scrunched" up.

According to the U.S. Patent, the scrunchie was invented to "add a decorative fabric covering to the rubber band to further enhance the look of the person’s hair.”

But as we all know, scrunchies weren't just holding hair in the 90's, they were worn on wrists too. They became multi-purpose fashion accessory.

Scrunchies began to fade by the 2000's and some people consider it a huge fashion DON'T. But as much as there are haters, there are lovers too.

Scrunchies are slowly re-emerging today in different colors and fabrics today. Girls are starting to wear them again, included celebrities. They haven't made there way back on wrists yet, but only time will tell.

Sources:
https://triviahappy.com/articles/the-inventor-of-the-scrunchie-had-a-second-idea-that-was-even-weirder

http://www.spectatornews.com/showcase/2007/01/25/history-of-the-scrunchie/

http://sjhelium.com/2009/09/08/the-history-of-the-scrunchie/

Feature Friday: Stripes!

Did you know there are different kinds of stripes? Click the chart to read about each one!

Stripes were a very controversial print when it was first worn. Originally thought of as "the devil's print," it was associated with criminals and prostitutes during Medieval times.

In 1310, a cobbler (shoe maker) was sentenced to death for wearing stripes. Yes, DEATH! He was a member of the local clergy and wearing stripes was seen as a major crime.

Thank goodness that the passage of time changed the view of stripes because then we wouldn't be able to wear them today!

It was around the 18th century, during the American and French Revolutions, that stripes became a home decor option. As opposed to the horizontal stripes in the Middle Ages, most stripes during this time were vertical, which may have had something to do with society's view of them. Stripes were now considered "chic."

In 1846, Queen Victoria dressed her four-year-old son, Albert Edward, in a sailor suit to board the Royal Yacht. Ever since then society fell in love with a child in stripes.

Stripes were also popularized by Franz Xaver Winterhalter’s painting in 1847 showing a boy wearing striped marine jacket. No one knew that the sea-to-land look would be a mainstream trend that would span more than 150 years.

From there, swimmers also adopted the style, wearing navy blue and white striped bathing suits.

The striped shirt became popular in the mid 19th century. A navy blue and white shirt with 21 stripes, symbolizing each of Napoleon’s victories, became the uniform for all French navy men.

In the beginning of the 20th century, Coco Chanel took a trip to the French Rivera. There she saw the workers in the marina wearing their knit navy and white striped shirts. Chanel loved the print and the minimalism to the pattern. After returning home, she took the pattern mainstream and started selling them at her store in France.

There was no question about it after that: Stripes were in. Everyone began wearing them, even celebrities from Audrey Hepburn to John Lennon to Kurt Cobain.

So, what's your favorite kind of stripe form the chart above?

Sources:
"When Fashion Decreed Stripes a Capital Crime," NY Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/06/09/books/when-fashion-decreed-stripes-a-capital-crime.html

"A Brief History of Stripes in Fashion," Harper & Lewis Vintage
https://harperandlewisvintage.wordpress.com/2013/08/30/a-brief-history-of-stripes-in-fashion/

Feature Friday: Valentines, Great Buys, and Upcoming Events!

Tomorrow, February 14th, is the LAST DAY to pick up a Valentine at the studio for a special coupon on your next visit! Feel free to stop by anytime during business hours today and tomorrow for your Valentine. The basket is located right on the front desk ledge as you walk in the door. Good luck!

Also - MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!

SATURDAY, MARCH 14th

An Event page has been created on Facebook, if you haven't seen the link on our FB page, click the link below to RSVP! We are STILL adding items to the sale = more items will be there than listed on the flyer, so be sure to stop by - you might just find a new treasure!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1050108175015607/

Wishing Everyone a great Valentine's Day

& Fabulous Weekend!

Feature Friday: "8 Things You Didn't Know About Color That Almost Seem Too Ridiculous To Be True"

Our workroom supervisor, Brittany, forwarded me this article that discussed eight very interesting (and somewhat crazy!) facts about colors. 

Courtesy of The Huffington Post

1. Until 1925, a common shade of brown was made from the flesh of Egyptian mummies.

2. The royal purple made famous by the Romans and Cleopatra was created by soaking thousands of rotten shellfish in urine.

3. The iconic yellow paint Van Gogh used in many of his paintings may have actually been partially to blame for his mental state. (Lead Paint!)

4. Red light might cause people to become stronger.

5. There was spray painting in prehistoric times.

6. The person who invented the color for Levi's blue jeans was only 21 years old.

7. Napoleon might have died because his room was green.

(The color, which was also common in kid's bedrooms, contained arsenic.)

8. A red used in royal tapestries was created with ox blood and cow manure.

I bet you didn't expect any of that - us either!

To read more about the history of colors, click here!