7.27.2010

have you met wendy...

Published in 1969, Crossroads to Charm was my childhood bible.  Like many young girls in the early 1970's, I went to charm school at Montgomery Wards in my local mall.  Just typing that really cracks me up. 

"Charm School" was a series of classes about how to set the table, style your hair and properly introduce people and I loved it.  The classes ended with a fashion show at Montgomery Wards, which for some reason or another, I was unable to participate in.  That is certainly the reason my career as a runway model never materialized - nothing to do with that fact I am only 5'4" tall. 

So, I recently came across my Crossroads to Charm handbook and I was giddy.  Yes, I still have it because, as I said, it was my childhood bible.  It was a hoot to flip through and I thought you might enjoy some of the illustrations. The girl in the illustrations is Wendy Ward, Wendy guides you through the world of charm.  I think they still kind of rock the casbah...

Totally true and perhaps should be made into a poster...


This one is in here simply for my daughter, 'nuff said...


would you like to know which hairstyle would best suit your face shape...


funny, I wrote "dull" by the dress - have no idea why...


I wrote "Marsha" next to the top one because I thought the girl had the Marsha Brady look...


I totally wanted to be the "Thoroughly Modern Millie" on this page (kinda still do)...


and have my closet look like this...


I actually learned a lot from this book and it gave me endless hours of enjoyment.  It was kind of like my precursor to fashion magazines.  There is this one thing I must have missed- this was in the "no no" section...


and I'm here to tell you, my everyday purse is about this size.  Perhaps I need to flip through the book again but first I'll take a hint from good old Wendy...


and take a bubble bath first.

22 comments:

Claire Kiefer said...

Oh my goodness gracious alive--this is hilarious (and a little disturbing that not long ago AT ALL women were trained to be domestic little darlings)! I think you wrote "dull" beside that dress because, well, it's dull--haha! I'll stick to the luxurious bubble bath as well. Much more up my alley. :)

p.s. I wonder how charm school would feel about a southern girl who moved to San Francisco, is focused on her career, talks openly (and often) about sex, and sometimes drinks a bit too much wine? haha.

Maria said...

How fun! That is what I call a real "Blast from the Past"! Now so much more about you makes sense! ;-D LOL!

Reya Mellicker said...

Am I the only one who finds this kind of scary? My mother was definitely against the idea of being fashionable or charming so we didn't get any training. Maybe that's why I still wear only jeans and t-shirts. I blame it on the fact that I'm an old hippy, but maybe I'm wrong about that.

Wow!!

jeanette from everton terrace said...

You know it was more about having manners than so called "charm". I LOVED this class and I wish more children, boys and girls would attend some type of "manners" school - something that seems to be sorely lacking as of late.
I feel bad you guys aren't feelin' the love for my poor little Wendy.

Henley said...

I'm voting (if there is a vote going on) with Jeanette on this one. My friends and I have had many discussions about the children and oftentimes adults we meet and their poor manners. Some of my employees have no idea how to properly introduce people or which fork to use. I would love to send many of them to charm school.

Megan (Best of Fates) said...

My parents never sent me to Charm School at all - what a rip off!

MJM said...

I couldn't agree more Henley. Why don't people learn to act with grace or decorum anymore? And yes, I have terrible posture!

Mom said...

Fancy you still having that book! Actually, not surprising at all. Glad you enjoyed the course.

bronwyn said...

I am DYING here! The illustrations and captions are amazing!I love the elfish pixie look. Manners are good. I think the only issue is that "charm school" leaves little room for individuality (in the instruction at least - it's up to the individual to be herself) but that wasn't valued as much as it is today. It is all so sweet and a bit naive. I wonder what a modern day "charm school" would be like. I really, really love Wendy. Thanks for sharing.

Unknown said...

That is toooo cute! I love it, you should totally frame these pages and make a little vignette! Adorable!

OneCraftyFox said...

This is hilarious, I had no idea these kind of thing existed!!

Anonymous said...

Ok I seriously think maybe girls nowdays should go through this. Maybe they'd learn to not be so rude. I ran into a rude prolly 15-17 year old a few weekends ago. She needed a huge attitude adjustment!

Ren- Lady Of The Arts said...

What a great book- I have never heard of it but I sure do like the pictures- I agree- they would make a fantastic poster.

Jillian said...

this is perhaps the funniest post I have read in quite some time.

Sienna said...

This is just great. I'm on board with the kids need more manners nowadays but I'm more into the graphics here. I'm surprised you haven't framed these yet after seeing all the other things you have framed. I would love copies. They are charming.

Andrew H. said...

I'd like to see the one for little boys (if it existed). That would be pretty funny.

The graphics are cool. Especially that shot of our daughter slouching over...

pamela said...

great images. i don't ever recall seeing that or did i know about the ward's classes!
great that you saved it.

Maria said...

Yep - I'm with Henley also. When trying to hire office staff for our practice I often found myself thinking "what is wrong with your parents???". The most basic of social graces just not even visible. Customer service - they had NO idea how to offer it! No notion of politeness, putting others first, or even how to properly speak or interact with another person - never mind the proper forks!

KR said...

One can never be too polite!

Brandywine said...

Jeanette - I'm a WW charm school alumni also!!!! I had to beg my mother to send me. I thought it was so cool. I even put bows on my closet rod. I can't imagine you needed it having an English mother and all - Me I grew up in a pack of boys - I needed all the help I could get. The only thing I remember is where to place my feet when standing & sitting, and I can pivot 'n turn.
Love it - Thanks for the blast from the past! :)

jeanette from everton terrace said...

HOW DID WE NOT KNOW THIS?? I am flabbergasted but it does kind of all make sense now don't you think? This is astounding.

Brandywine said...

We should have known!

Too funny.