Friday, April 1, 2016

Up, Up, and Away in a Rocket Skirt From Girl In A Whirl

As anyone who reads this blog knows I'm a quite a fan of science fiction, particularly Star Trek.   What I most love about Star Trek, and other mid-century science fiction, is the hopeful optimistic attitude towards science and exploration.   I really feel that in the 1950s and 60s more Americans where excited about Science and optimistic about exploring outer space then are today.  


 Below is an excellent you tube video of one my personal heroes, astronomer Neil deGrasse Tyson talking about 1960s NASA and the  importance of investing in NASA:






Personally, as someone who is fascinated by Science, and by space exploration in particular, I think it is very sad that so much enthusiasm, and essential funding, for space travel has been lost.   I truly wish we could recapture some of the hopeful dreaming about the future that Americans in the 1960s experienced through the space program.    


 That spirit is perfectly captured in one of my favorite children's books This is The Way to The Moon by M. Sasek



M. Sasek was a talented illustrator who wrote a series of children's travelogues about major cities such as New York, Rome, London, Venice and others.  




 His books are absolutely dripping with mid-century charm and reading them is like a trip back in time.  My favorite of  his books though is not a traditional travelogue, its a story about Cape Canaveral Florida and America's quest to reach the moon.  Sasek's illustrations perfectly capture atomic age space enthusiasm.  You can really see that he was inspired by actual photos of the time.
























































When I discovered that Girl In A Whirl, the talented seamstress who made my pug and poodle skirt, made skirts inspired by the works of mid century artists I started thinking about a skirt based on my favorite M. Sasek book.  I sent here a photo of the book and together we came up with the color, deep navy, and the design (a copy of the book's cover).  As you can see its a perfect match











Mr. Tuvok even seemed to like it:





I paired my skirt with my 1950s swell dame blouse, a cardigan I was gifted, a gold lucite box purse, gold re-mix shoes, atomic jewelry from Etsy shop the Alamo Basement and my Star Trek pin that a lovely blog reader sent me.  






I really love the graphic primary colors in the skirt so I added a big stack of my bakelite bangles.  (Im also holding a Star Trek plate just because).









This is such a happy uplifting skirt if fills me with a mid-century enthusiasm to go exploring.  Up, Up, and Away!




Outfit Details:
Skirt-Girl In A Whirl
Blouse-Sell Dame
Cardigan-A Gift
Lucite Box Purse-
Atomic Earrings and Brooch-The Alamo Basement
Star Trek Pin-Blog Reader
Bakeloite 
Shoes-Remix










15 comments:

  1. It is sad that we have lost the pioneer spirit that space travel gave us. Thanks for helping us remember those times.

    The skirt, the whole outfit, is incredible.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Adore..adore adore! Another amazing skirt. It's funny that you posted about space travel as i was just talking with my family over the Easter Weekend about how Space Travel is really no biggy anymore and that when something goes up there, nobody really takes notice. Which is a real shame because it's so cool!

    Enjoy your skirt :)

    Liz

    ReplyDelete
  3. The navy skirt looks really cool. She sure does a great job
    Lily & Edward

    ReplyDelete
  4. Those are amazing illustrations by M. Sasek! I'm not familiar with that artist but it's great being introduced to him. And wow! Another gorgeous skirt from Girl in a Whirl! Such amazing attention to detail! <3

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a pretty skirt! I think deep navy is a great choice for this design. Love your blouse, too!

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a fun skirt! Our auntie and uncle saw a space launch once, but we think they were only wearing tracksuits.....
    We think Tuvok is glad he isn't a white poodle after seeing your new header....bwahaahaa! We think he's safe from dyeing.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great skirt! She does a wonderful job
    hugs
    Mr Bailey, Hazel & mabel

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a fabulous skirt! I love the idea of a novelty skirt based on a book cover. It is an amazing job too.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh Kate, this is absolutely, jaw droppingly incredible. I'm in love, super impressed, and seriously smitten!!!

    ♥ Jessica

    ReplyDelete
  10. That skirt is amazing! What a talent she has!

    I think the 50s/60s were more optimistic partly because they were not bombarded by today's never-ending negative media coverage. It is nearly impossible to escape bad news and the added hype the media applies. Those were definitely more innocent times although I imagine the folks back then had their own worries.

    This was a great post yet again! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I really love the skirt! I have actually not heard of M. Sasek before, but will definitely check out the books.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Wow, what a fun-looking and totally one-of-a-kind skirt!

    -Love,
    Sid.

    ReplyDelete
  13. That is just such a fabulous skirt. It looks marvellous.

    ReplyDelete

Link Within

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...