Kitsch by way of Puerto Rico

Our cosmopolitan chum Dave recently embarked on a whirlwind trip to Puerto Rico and brought back these foodie treats dressed in vintage packaging. Let's deconstruct the look and feel. Dulzura Borincana is a well-known PR sweets purveyor boasting the milk and coconut confections above and the gofio snacks below (toasted corn). I love how the palm tree smartly serves as the letter "i" in Borincana; likewise, the "i" in "gofio" comes in the form of an ear stalk. There's something pleasingly arts and crafts about how the gofio is snugly wrapped as cones in purple and pink construction paper. Unravel these trim shapes and the once taut gofio spills over like sand. The buxom goodie in this tropical gift set is Yaucono coffee, bundled in a lovely color scheme of red, black and yellow. These pieces are like a work of art that deserve a shelf life of infinite years.

-Dani

Taylor'ed for stardom

Add one more item to your list of Jersey "must do's." Also known by its generic name "pork roll," Taylor ham is a New Jersey "natural resource" celebrated across the Garden State at diners and breakfast tables. Invented by New Jersey businessman John Taylor in the 1950s, this offbeat meat's texture can be described as a cross between good old-fashioned bacon and Canadian bacon. Upon the first bite, you're hit with a salty sensation followed by a sour finish. When fried in the skillet, this circular ham curls up and resembles a flying saucer. Those in the know will cut slits on the side to help it maintain its flat shape. Founded by John Taylor himself, Taylor Provisions in Trenton packages its slices of pork roll in this kitschy 1960s box. Bold type and the charming logo of a sausage with slices falling like dominoes make Taylor's pork roll jut out among its breakfast competitors at the grocery store. The nostalgic photos on the back remind us of images found on the pages of 1960s cookbooks. We're sure there's a cookbook devoted to Taylor ham recipes lurking around somewhere.

-Dani

Get Ping'ed

New York's Chinatown is brimming with neon signs that showcase nostalgic type reminiscent of make-up brand lettering from the 1940s. These beautiful pieces contribute to the neighborhood's restless energy and accidental artful scene. This stunner announcing Ping Seafood Restaurant looks especially illuminating when set against an onyx canvas. I love the contrast in colors of the vertical strip that sprouts from its horizontal counterpart. The colors are vibrant, but welcoming and the cursive script so basic yet fashionable. The only missing element is a 1940s pin-up girl standing beneath all this shocking brightness powdering her nose with a Max Factor compact.

-Dani 

Ants in the Plants?

I found this box of Valentine's Day cards at a small auction in Jennerstown, PA. As this was my first time at this particular auction, this gem was definitely not something I would expect to find. After a brief bidding war with an Antique store owner, I walked away with 10 of these cards for $14. I have no idea what I will do with them, unless Dani wants the same Valentine's Day card for the next decade!

-Matt

Ring-a-ling-a-ling

 

 

We nabbed this old-fashioned ringer at Mischler's auction in Hollsopple, PA, for only $80. Patented in the late 1890s, this visually appealing piece harbors all the tears, scratches and crevices one can only dream of enjoying in such an authentic piece. Even the leather straps attached to the back have a raw and weathered look to them. It's the perfect accessory to mount on an office wall. At just the slightest nudge, it makes a prominent "ding" sound quite pleasant to the ears.

-Matt and Dani

Tourist attraction

Though customers initially gravitate toward refurbished chairs and old-fashioned stoneware at Bird's Nest Farm in Bedford, PA, they'll eventually fixate themselves upon another shop attraction. Dangling from the engraved tin ceiling of this antique store is an eye-catching tin sign geared toward travelers. Shop proprietor and longtime friend Huston Godwin, explains it's an original piece from the 1930s. The typography, especially the italicized letters, certainly reflects a style that was wildly used during the golden age of travel. Bon voyage....

-Dani

About face

I stumbled across this sultry vixen while criss crossing through the dichotomy of Manhattan's Lower East Side and Chinatown neighborhoods. In a rushed state as always, I quickly snapped this picture and didn't bother to inspect the purpose of this shop. Though I can't translate these Chinese characters, I suspect this joint is a beauty salon or make-up purveyor of sorts. Our cover girl boasts pouty lips, a barely-there nose, heavy eyes (one fringed by a couple of eyelashes) and thinly arched eyebrows, all framed by a curvy bob. It's a look that evokes the late 50s then segues into the early 60s. Our stunning mademoiselle looks like she stepped out of the publishing offices of The Best of Everything and hopped into the conference rooms of Mad Men...and ultimately, into the arms of Don Draper.

-Dani

A dandy original

Starring screen legend James Cagney, Yankee Doodle Dandy is a 1942 musical film that regales the jaunty life of George Cohan, more colorfully known as "The Man Who Owns Broadway." Though I haven't seen the movie yet, I was ecstatic when Matt surprised me with this original print as I've always coveted an authentic film poster. He scored it at an auction in Armagh, PA, for a staggering $5 and later had it laminated and framed, thereby protecting its fragile texture. I love the faded blue color, lively type and collage of jovial movie scenes. Now I must see the movie to experience the full dandy effect of this classic!

-Dani

Introducing Retro Confidential!

Welcome to our insight into living the throwback lifestyle! We possess a healthy obsession for all things vintage, everything from tarnished gas station signs to weathered Brownie cameras. Even a dilapidated box of old Crackerjacks makes us giddy (though we dare not consume the contents). Our shared propensity for such kitschy but stylish items warranted a blog that we launched to chronicle our purchases and experiences. We also love to park ourselves in front of the Turner Classic Movie channel so expect some recaps of old movies and the fellas and starlets who grace them. We'll also talk about retro-inspired things like cool type and graphics that seem to be all the rage on packaging these days. Some of you reading this love vintage stuff, too, so please, we encourage you to contribute an entry and send us your pics! Thanks for dropping by Retro Confidential! Isn't life just simply glam?

-Matt and Dani