Weird Wednesday: Little Kids Shoes

Every now and then I get around to adding images to this blog that were published before 1923 and thus are in the public domain. And every now and then I find a strange image and I try to remember to post those on Wednesdays--Weird Wednesday.

Well, today I have a doozy for you.

This is an ad for some business/product called Shookids from the year 1919. And in the ad the children are shoes. Not kids wearing shoes. They are shoes. Sitting around a dinner table about to be served--turkey? Mama Shoe looks very surprised about something. Maybe because she and the kids have all turned into shoes? Totally weird. Disturbing even?

I have not much to say about this image. I feel like I am having a weird dream. I want to wake up now.




This image is free of known copyright restrictions.

Weird Wednesday: Periscope Hat

I like to call this the Vixen Starlet Steampunk Periscope Top Hat--because the way she is drawn reminds me of a silent film star, and the star on the periscope makes me think Hollywood glamour "star" too. But of course the periscope and the top hat makes me think of "steampunk."

This wacky fashion statement comes from a 1915 newspaper. The article claims appearances of this fancy hat had been made in New York and Chicago. It explains the style and its use this way, "A tiny mirror is tucked at an attractive and innocent angle in the bonnet so it reflects the actions of pedestrians behind the wearer." And would be used to avoid unwanted male attention, should some chap come up behind the lady looking like he wanted to flirt. I think there are much more interesting uses for it than that though.






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Weird Wednesday: Creepy Lady

Welcome to the first Weird Wednesday on the Vintage Snips and Clips blog!

What is that? Well, I keep coming across things like weird ads or other weird illustrations and thought I'd try sharing them on a regular basis. (I'm really good at procrastinating though, so we'll see how well that goes.) Since I have also been trying to gather Halloween stuff, I thought the first one I would add was something that is weird, but also kind of scary would do.

Obviously this ad for shoes from the year 1912 was not intended to be weird and creepy at all. I really think the people who created this ad did not realize how utterly creepy this woman would look once the drawing was translated into ink pressed onto newspaper. The style of make-up for that point in time, drawn in ink and then printed on newspaper...didn't translate so well in the instance.
 
Her eyes are dark, surrounded by dark, thick lines, and seem almost hollow. Her eerie smile is somewhat reminiscent of The Joker from Batman (but I think those are really supposed to be dimples). She is rather haunting, in my opinion. And what is up with her one hand? It's like an alien's hand or something.

In case someone wanted to use this for a sign, invitation, or other such purpose, I tried editing the shoes and text out and left it at the original size that I obtained it as.

This image is free of known copyright restrictions.