This time of year brings out the familiar images of Santa and his red suit and his large coca cola bottle. What strikes me every year about the jolly fat man is his some what vintage looks! Of course, its easy to explain, since Coca cola really came into its own in the 1950, when it became part of the every growing youth culture that had previously had not existed. Children and young adults did and wore the same as their parents and elders, only smaller. But that's besides my point, when the cold wind blows and winter time with Christmas time comes along we hark back to simpler times when a family unit consisted of one father, one mother and children. Its a trend we see every year, looking back to yester-year to the cosy fireplace hung with stockings and the children with their parents. Before the complicated relationships and lives we live today. We look to the Victorian's, the originators of the Christmas tree, or well the ones that decided to bring it indoors and decorate it with candles, anyway. The enchantment of the blazing fire and family atmosphere with simple but happy entertainments, the yule log, chestnuts roasting, and an extravagant meal etc. Suddenly at this time of year we found ourselves surrounded by 50's housewives making the perfect Christmas dinner, and the panick sets in. It must be perfect! Everything looks backwards, "It's A Wonderful Life", "A Christmas Carol" and all the rest of the feel good morality movies that are traditionally shown at this time of year. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, I love the vintage from Victoriana to the 1950's, I love to see the pictures, the 50's skaters, the victorian children. It just struck me how much we yearn for those simpler times, how much we long to have a little piece of that nostalgia at Christmas time, cooking shows tell us we can achieve it and interior design magazines show us how to create the mood. The Pin-Up style has hit the run way this year, but really its always been with us, hiding in our memories of Christmas experienced by our parents or grandparents. The dior skirts and the twin sets, the perfect housewife and her perfect family with her perfect husband enjoying the perfect yuletide. Mad men brought us the 50's/60's stylings but the last 20 years or so we have idolised that ideal for Christmas in those era's. So I'm personally going to enjoy the three day weekend we have this Christmas with the cute 50's images surrounding me!
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