Author Archives: Jonathan

About Jonathan

Jonathan Walford is a fashion historian and co-founder of the Fashion History Museum in Cambridge, Ontario. The FHM maintains a collection of nearly 12,000 artifacts dating from the mid 17th century to the present. Jonathan has authored various books and museum catalogues, including The Seductive Shoe, Shoes A-Z, Forties Fashion, 1950s American Fashion, and Sixties Fashion.

The Year in Fashion – 2019

Posted on 2019-11-15 by Jonathan

If you read fashion magazines you probably think 2019 was all about the colour lavender, floral prints, bicycle shorts with blazers, tartan, equestrian boots, capes and trench coats, asymmetrical plunging necklines, Gucci logo belt buckles, and sneakers, sneakers, sneakers. But … Continue reading →

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Joseph Carrier with sample shoes, Carrier Shoes, Toronto, 1949

Posted on 2019-11-14 by Jonathan
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Nylon vending machine, Paris Metro, 1955

Posted on 2019-11-10 by Jonathan
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Canadian Fashion Connection – Lola Leman

Posted on 2019-11-06 by Jonathan

Little is known about this Canadian knitwear designer/retailer. Olga was born in Yugoslavia on July 29, 1924 and came to Canada with her family sometime before the mid 1950s when her mother opened a knitwear shop in Toronto. By 1980, … Continue reading →

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Barneys (1923 – 2019)

Posted on 2019-11-03 by Jonathan

Founded in 1923 by 29 year old Barney Pressman, the men’s clothier grew to become a New York institution. Barney originally acquired his stock from bankruptcies and manufacturer overstocks, offering deep discounts to his working class clientele. Barney’s son Fred … Continue reading →

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Canadian Fashion Connection: Milli Gould (1935 – 2019)

Posted on 2019-10-28 by Jonathan

Hamilton retailer Milli Gould passed away October 13 after operating one of Hamilton’s premier women’s clothing stores for more than half a century. With a $5,000 loan, Milli opened her first shop in Hamilton in 1964, moving to her present … Continue reading →

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AND MAYBE THE LAST Knitting Song – Jim Henson Muppets (1983)

Posted on 2019-10-27 by Jonathan

It’s neat and it’s sweetIt’s a ding dong treatKnittin’ socks for little feetJust sittin’ with your knittin’ all day longYou know knittin’s friendlyAnd knittin’s funKnittin’s good for everyoneAnd that is why we sing this knittin’ songWell it’s knit one pearl … Continue reading →

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And ANOTHER knitting song: Knitting – Arthur Askey (1939)

Posted on 2019-10-25 by Jonathan

Comedian Arthur Askey was born in Liverpool in 1900 and served in WWI where he also performed in army entertainments. After the War he went into the theatre and eventually built a career on the radio, becoming well known by … Continue reading →

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ANOTHER Knitting Song – Sophie Madeleine (2009)

Posted on 2019-10-23 by Jonathan

I’m going to knit myself a sweater.A sweater that will keep me warm at night.Just how many days here must I weather?Just biding my time…’cause when I call you on the phone,I’m still lost, I’m still alone.Who’s going to make … Continue reading →

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Fashion in Song – The Knitting Song (1964)

Posted on 2019-10-22 by Jonathan

Bill Oddie was one of a trio of British comedians known as The Goodies – the other two Goodies were Tim Brook Taylor and Doctor Graeme Garden. Oddie’s The Knitting Song was released on Parlophone (R5346) in 1965. That same … Continue reading →

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