Mama Wore Go-Go Boots

Was chatting with mom on the phone the other day when she dropped this bombshell:

"Do you remember my white boots?"
"White boots? What white boots?"
"Well they were white, and had a square toe. And I wore them with miniskirts. But I didn't show much thigh."

silence ensues, as I think you had a pair of white go-go boots and didn't keep them? . . . and then . . . you showed thigh?

Anyway, mom didn't recall the boots' material--if they were directly inspired by the ones pictured, by Courreges, they were most likely vinyl or plastic, either calf or knee-high, with a low heel. He designed the original versions as part of his spacewalk inspired Fall 1964 collection. As this interesting history on Wiki details, pre-go-gos, women didn't wear high boots as a fashion item; they were more typically used in foul weather or for horseback riding.

The word go-go, by the way, came from France, where it meant something along the lines of "till you drop", as in bop till you drop at club Whiskey à Go-Go.

As far as I know, mom hasn't been there.

Stealth Brands: Je-Dol Sunglasses

Another new discovery early this morning on eBay, an accessory I've never seen before: the amazing, ultra-emblematic Je-Dol sunglasses.

When even Wiki has nothing to say about it, you know an item's arcane. As far as I can piece together on the fly, these sunnies--made in Lansing, Michigan--date to the happy decade from the late sixties to the early seventies when Mod made its way across the water from England and began infusing the American design ethos with clean graphic shapes and a healthy sense of humor. Think Austin Powers, American style.

Then check out these shades. The chains sling back over your ears, holding the frames on your face. Meanwhile, the discs dangle like big bold earrings midway between lobes and shoulders.

There are just a few examples going on eBay and they're pretty pricey -- worth putting a search on if you're interested in a style archetype; the kind that belongs in a museum collection. (Not to mention a conversation-starter extraordinaire!)

Here's another fab version from the online retailer Modern Handbag: