Wanderlust All Over the Map - Page 2

Not all of the restlessness of the magazine's stories involves changing residences. One tale, by Adriene Biondo, tells of the meandering ways of American fashion. 'Shades of Cool' takes a trip along the rise and fall of assorted styles of 1950s and '60s sunglasses.

"Besides cat-eyes, they were also called shades, sunnies, sun cheaters—all catchy names for sunglasses of the mid-century," Biondo writes. "Polaroid, Ray-Ban, Fosta-Grantly, Cool-Ray, and Schiaparelli—among a myriad of brands back then—were that era's popular leaders of the pack. There's one thing all these companies and the many fascinating sunglass models they produced have in common today—they're solidly 'in.'"

Biondo traces the route these spectacles take to being in with the 'In Crowd,' and how it frequently starts with an appearance on the faces of movie stars, from Marilyn Monroe and James Dean in the 20th century to Jon Hamm of 'Mad Men' in this one.

"Vintage glasses are functional art," professional costumer Marjorie VanderHoff tells Biondo. "Even the weight of a pair of vintage glasses transports me to another time."

Speaking of time travel, the feeling is not that dissimilar from how newcomers feel in Mountain View's Monta Loma community.

"Monta Loma is a neighborhood that will one day be considered historic for several things, including for its 200-plus Eichler homes that largely retain their looks…" writes Weinstein in his profile of the community, 'LomaLiving,' in which, a headline notes, "Eichlers spark a kinship with Likelers."

"Monta Loma is also a place where, like lions and lambs, owners of Eichlers and owners of Likelers break bread together," Weinstein observes, noting that two developers, John McKay and the Mardell Building Company, joined Joe Eichler in building out the community.

Whether you own an Eichler, a Likeler, or another style of home, the journey of homeownership is a trip every American seeks to take. It's one of accomplishment and customization, where you gain a property and tailor it to your own personal style.

One of the places that you make your own in the homeowning journey is your yard, and Biondo offers yet another way to put a personal stamp on your property in the Summer issue with 'Falling Water.'

"One of the nicest ways to add delight to your outdoor scene is by adding water by way of a peaceful pond, a sparkling water feature, or even a fire-and-water fountain…" she writes in her market survey of stylish water features. "Depending on your personal design aesthetic, you can find an array of styles, from contemporary to traditional."

And that's what we like in America: style, choices, and the freedom to exercise our restlessness. While you're pursuing those most American of freedoms, take a lead from the new Summer '21 issue of CA-Modern, now en route to mailboxes everywhere.