Toyota Avalon Travels Back in Time

What do you guys think about these new retro kitsch Toyota Avalon commercials? They are part Mad Men, part vintage advertising, and part stepford wife creepy.

At first i thought they totally missed their mark, trying to be vintage but not going far enough with the aesthetic, lighting or film stocks, but the more i see them, and think about the two of them as a campaign rather than individual spots i get the kitsch factor much more and kinda really like them. I also like the idea of travel as a luxury rather than a given or a right, it's a nice change of perception. thoughts? Mr. Sandman bring me a dream?

Happy Birthday Elvis

In honor of Elvis' would be 75th birthday i thought i'd remember him through some of the advertising appearances that help keep him alive.

Energizer



Lipton



Audi



ipod

Saturday Night Live Take a Cue From Mad Men

I caught some of last Saturday's SNL with January Jones (Betty Draper) as the host. I felt some of it fell short but this sketch of A Ladies Guide to Party Planning is everything ridiculous i love about housewives, cookbooks, and etiquette from the 50's and 60's.

Harley Davidson Enlists a Pin Up Girl for Veterans

If you've been to YouTube at all today you've probably noticed the pin up girl inspired salute to the military from Harley Davison in the form of a banner ad. A trip to the Harley website offers more videos, photos, and even a contest for bike riding vets. I'm loving the retro pin up love on this veterans day.

Sesame Street Turns 40

Yep, the lovable educational muppet show is 40 and still one of the turn to television programs for children. To celebrate here are some of my all time favorite segments.

Dear Creatures Channels Girl Scouts of America

Los Angeles based Dear Creatures has just about the cutest fall look book I've ever seen. I love the girlscout meets golden books aesthetic, and the retro futurism combined with natural elements? amazing!






































The images are all from photographer Yudi Ela, better bookmark her right away, can't see what else she does!

Now I Wanna Be Your Dog

Love this "subversive take on the casting process" from Legs and Georgie Greville. The aesthetic is somehow perfect for the song, isn't it?

I Wanna Be Your Dog from LEGS on Vimeo.

Chaquita Banana Commercial Animated for a New Age

Late last night I saw a new Chiquita Banana commercial! So good, i got excited and I had to share. And of course revisit the original Disney animated spot from the 40's. Enjoy!

Hitchhiking Coming Back into Fashion?

Last night i saw two separate corporately dressed hitchhikers looking for a ride out of the city during rush hour while I was on the way to class - i love it! Maybe it's Jack Kerouac or stories from my hippie parents about hitching rides to protest rallies that have romanticized my views of the freeloading traveler but I would love the country to turn back to a place where need takes precedence over want and the rides are shared (of course watching out for men with hooks for hands and not traveling alone as a single woman, or picking someone up while driving alone as a single woman, but still!)

Circus Zoetrope for Temperley London

This has got to be one fo the coolest things I've seen in a long long time. Directing collective Legs created a Victorian circus Zoetrope for Temperley London to showcase their Spring 2010 line (also circus themed, hence the inspiration) at fashion week. I love the creepy beauty that the old time circus aesthetic has.

What's a Zoetrope? It's a wheel of still images in succession that when spun produces the impression of movement, basically the origins of film and animation as we know it today. The tecnology inspired the innovators of the medium such as Eadweard Muybridge, ( but you film school kids already knew that!)

Check out the Zoetrope in motion below and for more info about the making of process see here.

Temperley London Circus Zoetrope from LEGS on Vimeo.

..and speaking of Zoetrope's and advertising, just last year Sony Bravia landed a spot in the Guiness Book of World Records for creating the largest Zoetrope. Very cool. Check it out.

Mad Men for Vanity Fair Shot by Annie Leibovitz

I know, I know, it's Mad Men mania. After last night's repeat Emmy Wins, today's Oprah special, and yesterday's killer episode it seem s like its all Mad Men all the time. So, I'm going to continue to add to it! Check out these spreads from the September issue of Vanity Fair from famed photographer Annie Leivobitz.



Don't they make you want to jump into that world and steal Don and Betty's wardrobe (or furniture depending on your shopping fetish!)

Looking Back at Canada Dry

Don't you love the little commercial fun facts you get as bumpers to some of Mad Men sponsors? I'm loving the vintage Canada Dry they've been showcasing and couldn't help but to find some more.


This first one featuring Ann Margeret is very Mad Men, it reminds me a bit of the Patio/Bye Bye Birdie spot that Sal directedt...



One gulp is for thirst, the others for kicks...


The taste that's less sweet...

Seu Jorge does Bowie

My friend Sue has got some Bowie up on her blog today, what a good way to start out the morning? Since i'm a little sleepy I'm feeling a little more like Seu Jorge does Bowie myself.

Puff the Magic Dragon

So sad, another iconic loss this week, Mary Travers has passed away.

Sea Monkey Revival

Or did they never really go away and it's just that I grew up? The weird little shrimp that have been fascinating kids and grossing out parents for 40 years have a new print campaign. The illustrations haven't changed much - which is good for them - it's their greatest marketing tool. I know I wanted a cute pink illustrated Sea friend on my dresser, and presumably unlike the masses i was disappointed with the creepy alien bugs that hatched and never turned pink or sprouted fun accessories.I heard the news on adfreak, and was happily surprised to find out the agency behind it was Gertrude - they seem to be one to much churning out more and more good work.

Craving some vintage Sea Monkey Love? Here's some of the weirdness...

The Latest Lego Video Game Hommage

Since three people have sent this to me today and it's only noon I have to share. Check out this incredible stop-motion Lego feat, 8-bit Trip. What is it with Lego fans and retro video games? Why have the two become so tightly linked?


Thanks to Mike, Xandy and the other Facebook friends to share this with me today - check out some more Lego video game fun here.

Joe Cocker Little Help From My Friends Translation

Just a final Woodstock tidbit to make you smile before the weekend. This video translates Joe Cocker's Woodstock rendition of Little Help From My Friends, guaranteed to make you smile.

Three Days of Peace and Music

It's hard to believe that it's been another 10 years, but it has - this weekend marks the 40th Anniversary of the Woodstock festival held August 15-17th 1969. To celebrate LIFE has been featuring a fantastic photo array - check it out, it's a visual time capsule.
...and my personal favorite performance from the weekend, The Star Spangled Banner from Jimi Hendrix.

Oliver Peoples Catches a Tuesday

Oliver Peoples Eyewear brings Zooey Deschanel and one of my favorite musical artists, Matt Costa together in a short promotional film, Catch A Tuesday, directed by photographer/director Autumn De Wilde.

I am in love. From the seventies double exposed film aesthetic to the retro-indie styling, i WANT to live in that world.
Thanks Andrea for sharing it with me!

LA Gear Campaign Says...

"Your strut's been missing the 80s since the 90s..." I'm in love with this accurately retro inspired multiplatform LA Gear campaign from Gertrude Inc.

The animated video components spoof classic 80s video games (as we know already - i love!) with the hero sporting a boom box and chucking cassette tapes rack up points.






Gertrude has also planted USB Cassette tapes at LA Gear retailers aroudn the country - yep cassette tapes. The tapes are actually USB drives full of LA Gear goodies in the classic retro shell - i love it!
AND...as if this wasn't enough LA Gear throwback goodness -they have brought back the lights - I know... here's more info.