Plus Behind the Ball, all about the NYE Times Square tradition

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Rejuvenate your closet for 2021 with Hemet's pinup & rockabilly wardrobe basics! We love this fun indie label from southern California for their classic styles, quality construction, and unique prints, all made in the USA. 


We're spotlighting some of our favorite Hemet pants and capris here, to solve your "I love this top but what can I wear it with??" quandaries. Meet your new favorite pants!

Pinup Spotlight: Miss Natalie Nautical

We got a chance to catch up with our friend Miss Natalie Nautical and have a little Q&A session!  


GGR asks: "This holiday season we were able to commission quite a few really gorgeous hair flowers from you! What got you started with these creations? What fuels your inspiration?" 


Natalie says: "I started on this creative path as a way to uplift women of all shapes, sizes, backgrounds, etc.! My goal when making each piece is to customize it to the doll receiving it so they feel at their absolute fiercest while wearing it.  I am constantly inspired by the strong vamps whom I see every day, from healthcare workers, to stay at home moms and dads, to the vamps working so hard just to stay afloat. I adore customizing beautiful pieces to fit YOU to embody who YOU are!


I would describe the aesthetic of my pieces as very “whoville.” In other words, I love my pieces to have a ton of extra fixins, because life is too short not to be just a little extra!"

Banned 'Walkabout' Short Petticoat, $52

Length: 20-23"
Suggested for: minis, skater skirts, and other shorter skirts

Banned 'Starlite' Classic Length Petticoat, $64

Length: 24-26"
Suggested for: below-the-knee dresses and skirts. This is the most common petticoat length!

Banned 'Lifeforms' Tea Length Petticoat, $67

Length: 28"
Suggested for: mid-shin dresses, or if you like the look of a petticoat peeking out under the hem of shorter dresses. This the highly coveted (hard to find) TRUE tea length petticoat.

The Times Square Ball Drop

Publisher Adolph Ochs of the New York Times was responsible for turning this into an annual American tradition. He had been hosting a large gathering of revellers in Times Square to celebrate the new year since 1904, but was denied a fireworks permit for the 1907 festivities. Turning to maritime tradition, he commissioned a large wood and iron ball from a local signmaker, covered in 100 light bulbs. This signmaker, Artkraft Strauss, continued to be responsible for the annual ball-lowering until it was completely remade for the Millenium celebrations in 2000.

The ball-lowering was skipped in 1942 and 1943 due to wartime blackout restrictions in NYC. Revellers still gathered in Times Square to celebrate the turning of the calendar with a moment of silence, followed by the sound of ringing bells broadcast from sound trucks placed throughout the square - a nod to the pre-Times Square tradition of gathering at Trinity Church to "ring out the old, ring in the new."


The celebrations for 2021 looked a little different as well, due to COVID-19. There have been over 1 million attendees to this annual celebration in recent years, but this year a live audience of only around 100 people was planned. This group was mostly composed of first responders & NYC essential workers plus their families as a way to recognize their sacrifices and contributions in 2020, while many others joined in by watching from home.


Here’s wishing a Happy New Year to all of you, and hoping next year’s celebrations are even brighter!

 
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