In the early days comics were full of super heroes like Superman and Batman.  In the early 1940’s William Moulton Marston came up with the idea to introduce a new character to DC Comics.  The difference between this character and all the others is that it would dominate with love and not fists.  Marston’s wife, Elizabeth, encouraged him to make her a woman.

Finally girls had a woman to look up to- a woman who was depicted as not only being as strong as the men, but even superior to them. In a 1943 issue of The American Scholar, Marston wrote:

Not even girls want to be girls so long as our feminine archetype lacks force, strength, and power. Not wanting to be girls, they don’t want to be tender, submissive, peace-loving as good women are. Women’s strong qualities have become despised because of their weakness. The obvious remedy is to create a feminine character with all the strength of Superman plus all the allure of a good and beautiful woman.

Wonder woman morphed from a comic strip to a 1970’s tv show, video game, animated movie, and books.  The iconic figure was an illustrated depiction of a powerful women who used love and compassion but stood up for what she believed in.  Wonder women is a motivational figure even today, and is the first major character idolizing a woman with qualities equal to man- something those in the suffrage movement fought very hard for.

I am always fascinated by the photographs of the cities a hundred or so years prior to today. Somehow, in the rush of everyday life, we pass by these photos framed on bus stops and inside historic buildings showing street views from the 1800s. I used to live in an amazing, huge brownstone in West Philly- one of those places with a butler’s staircase to the kitchen, and I would find myself daydreaming about women leaving the house wearing over sized hats, cinched corsets, and long heavy skirts. I pictured their husband’s coming home, hopping off their horses, and wiping their muddy boots on those metal scrapers outside the door.

The photograph above is a group of women who became part of the health trend in Philadelphia in the late 1800s. Apparently health was the new craze across the nation (sad to see how little we have evolved in that arena) and women were beginning to play sports they never had. This was years before the AAGPBL plopped on the map- women were playing golf! And you can see by their outfits no one had thought to make something a little more comfy quite yet.

So keep your eyes peeled on these pics throughout your city and be amazed at where we have been…and where we are going. Remember- The Future is in the Past!

We just finished our Ladies Who Launch Incubator in Philly with a group of amazing women.  For those of you who don’t know Ladies Who Launch is a national organization providing resources and connections to women entrepreneurs.  The Philadelphia branch is led by the fabulous Steffi Freedman (check out her 2nd St Studio Corps Pilates) and the remarkable Lauren Albert (founder of Lauren Albert Communications, pr & marketing consulting).  

Our course was a two week intensive, and it was amazing being around positive women entrepreneurs like ourselves.  We hope to all stay in touch and help each other throughout our endeavors.

We just wanna give a little shout out for our ladies- so if anyone is in need of the following services we can link you with them.

Joyce is founding The Hutch Project,  an organization dedicated to raising funds to support hospice and palliative care providers, enabling them to give quality care to individuals and families facing life limiting illnesses or end of life care.  Joyce is seeking funding.

Dari owns Sutton Public Relations and is a talented food photographer.  She is seeking to build her photography business and if anyone knows of an amazing babysitting for a 3 month old in the Philly area let us know!

Betty owns and operates Philly Hops, focusing on team building in fun and creative ways. So, if your business needs some team lovin, you know where to go.

Finally, Meredith is our Philly Daily Candy gal, and will be coming out with her own novel in the future… Any literary agents out there?

Thanks again, ladies- and we’re always here for support! Women entrepreneurs- come join the fun!

As the Phillies go for their second World Series title beginning tonight against Tampa Bay, let’s take a look back when this ball club gave Edith Houghton, a chance to become the first woman hired as a first major-league baseball scout.

In 1866, Vassar College created the first women’s baseball team . In 1875, the first public game was held between two women’s teams. This first game was a form of entertainment organized by men. “The Blonds” played “The Brunettes.”

Still, baseball for women caught on. Early players took to the field in high-button shoes, high necklines, long skirts and long sleeves. Later, Amelia Bloomer would create loose trousers that carried her name.

The “Bloomer Girls” were born.The Bloomer Girls era lasted from the 1890s until 1934. Hundreds of teams; All Star Ranger Girls, Philadelphia Bobbies, New York Bloomer Girls, Baltimore Black Sox Colored Girls, offered employment, travel, and adventure for young women who could hit, field, slide, or catch.

Edith Houghton was only ten years old when she joined the Philadelphia Bobbies, a factory team made up of women, all of whom bobbed their hair. After the war, Edith wrote to Bob Carpenter, owner of the Philadelphia Phillies, asking for a job as a scout.Carpenter decided to give her a chance and the rest is HISTORY!!!!!

Vintage Blue is a vintage-inspired apparel line drawing inspiration from the 40’s and 50’s with a contemporary twist fusing old with new. The line has acquired the license from The All American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) featured in the movie A League of their Own with Geena Davis, Tom Hanks, Madonna, and Rosie O’Donnel.

Bringing 1940 to 2007- Vintage Blue designs are tailored for the trend-setting woman whose main interests and passions are sports, music, and fashion. The line will offer everything from vintage soft tees with distressed graphics from the 40’s and 50’s, as well as an abundance of tops, skirts, dresses, sweatsuits, and signature pieces like the stylish floor-length polo dress.