This is Scottsdale, Arizona through the lens of Life's Nina Leen.
Here glorious midcentury Western fashions are paraded about a surreal oasis; it's an absolute aesthetic paradise of '50s pastels and classic ranchwear, pink poodles and beautiful Arabian horses!
Yet there is also something unsettling, something poignantly ephemeral, in pictures like these where the blithe sprawl of suburbia is juxtaposed against the stark ancient desert (indeed, the city of Scottsdale was only incorporated in 1951). Anyway, I want to live inside these pictures, and had to share them!
Yet there is also something unsettling, something poignantly ephemeral, in pictures like these where the blithe sprawl of suburbia is juxtaposed against the stark ancient desert (indeed, the city of Scottsdale was only incorporated in 1951). Anyway, I want to live inside these pictures, and had to share them!
A smashing couple:
(Photos taken from the Life archives via Google Images.)
Wow--these are mesmerizing! The one of the lady with the poodle is especially so--considering the previous pictures of a very rough-looking desert town. Thank you so much for sharing these--a few are going in my inspiration folder! :)
ReplyDeleteI just love these! With two toy poodles of my own, I am especially drawn to the pink poodle and coordinating owner :) Thanks as always for sharing!
ReplyDeleteOh these are absolutely amazing! Thank you so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThese are amazing! Love these, thanks for sharing. I've been to Scottsdale a handful of times in recent years because my husband had work out there. It is stunningly beautiful, and I had never thought I'd be a fan of the desert. I was struck by how much the landscape and buildings have remained about the same. The photos of the people downtown, the buildings are still there and its full of tourist shops now. Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home and school are there too, and its basically a time capsule of this period.
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ReplyDeleteSo enjoyed seeing the pictures. I lived in Phoenix 30+ years ago and visited Scottsdale quite often.
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Sorry for the re-post (my "n" isn't working quite right)
Glad to spread the fun of Scottsdale!!
ReplyDeleteCasey, I don't know if you noticed but her sweater actually has little poodle appliques... so cute. It's a good thing I don't have any white pets or I'd be sorely tempted to dip 'em in pink food coloring, haha.
Heather, oh, now it's on my "to visit" list for sure!! It's been on my radar as the Arabian horse hotspot of America for a while; sounds like such a pretty place.
Simply, seriously amazing. I've scrolled through these snaps five times now and just can't get enough of them. The blend of country charm and 1950s beauty, posh and ruggedness is so captivatingly fantastic.
ReplyDeleteThoroughly fantastic collection of Life images, thank you so much for sharing it with us, sweet dear.
♥ Jessica
Oh my goodness this post is amazing! I love all of these photos! Thank you so much for sharing! I love the photo of the girls in the saddle shop and all of the outfits! Just fantastic!
ReplyDeleteAwesomeness! I love the sass in the faces of the ladies having their saddle riding lessons.
ReplyDeleteNot so very long ago, I got to visit Scottsdale and I loved it! It does look very much the same as theses pictures and like our local counterpart (Palm Springs), Scottsdale seems to have embraced the cool aesthetic combo of western/desert and mid-century. Thanks for sharing these awesome photos!
ReplyDeleteOOOHHHHH! where horses have the right of way and people wear red jeans? i'm so there!
ReplyDeleteSooo beautiful, can I live in them with you please. :) I especially love the poodles.
ReplyDeletegreat blog, I'm a new reader :)
ReplyDeleteThis looks very cool :)
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♥
ohmygod! yesyessyes this was exhilarating to see. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThough I am quite curious about the gal riding horseback away from the pool party... in her swim suit. Simply antisocial or in a fit of rebellion?
xGracie
Yeah, that one's my favorite! I like how everyone around the pool is staring at her... I like to imagine she was hightailing it out of there in a huff, throwing some sassy retort over her shoulder, haha.
DeleteLoved this so much had to repost on my blog (with proper credit/link back to you, of course ^_^)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the initial share!
xoxo,
Rodellee