tried and true

tried and true is back after a short break, and this week we're getting to know a heritage brand that is celebrating it's 100th anniversary this year!

to celebrate 100 years, photographer Randall Ford is recreating vintage LL Bean catalog covers all year long! {photo by Randall Ford, via LL Bean}

the spring catalog cover- love the expression on the mom's face! {photo by Randall Ford, via LL Bean}

launched in 1912, LL Bean was started by Leon Leonwood Bean with the 'Maine Hunting Shoe', a boot that is still sold by the company today. throughout the company's 100 year history, they have added hundreds of thousands of products that are durable, affordable (especially for the durability), and classically styled, in most cases. 

{vintage maine hunting shoes and photo via The Vintagerie}

for those who may think 'lumberjack' when you hear LL Bean, you may be surprised to see what they offer. recently they even added a new premium line- LL Bean Signature- and the clothes and accessories coming out under the Signature line are wonderfully stylish while remaining durable and classic. 

{poplin dress and photo via LL Bean}

{whip cord suit and photo via LL Bean}

{canvas & leather hobo bag and photo via LL Bean}

{canvas work jacket and photo via LL Bean}

personally, i love the footwear LL Bean makes- i own both a pair of 'Bean Boots' and the 'Wicked Good Slippers'... 

my boots are now almost five years old and still look brand new. they're perfect for Seattle- since it rarely snows enough to require full snow boots, the bootie style i chose is great year round and the durable leather and rubber construction holds up nicely in the rain and mud. they're my go to estate sale shoe since you never know what you're going to encounter out there!

the slippers, a sheepskin moccasin completely lined in shearling, are like clouds for your feet. shearling, a naturally wicking material, keeps moisture away from your feet so they're comfortable on cold and warm days alike. the rubber soles keep me from slipping around our hardwood floors, and are even sturdy enough to run the trash out to the alley in!

an early LL Bean tag {photo via The William Brown Project}

have you tried LL Bean? i'd love to know what you think! and don't forget- if you have a tried and true product or brand, i'd love to feature it here- email me and we'll set something up!

if you're interested in learning more about LL Bean's history, be sure to visit their blog, where they're celebrating 100 years of LL Bean all year long! 

tried and true

today's tried and true product is actually what inspired the series in the first place! i was also pleased to see that in last week's comments, today's pick was mentioned by Brianne as her tried and true! so here we go...

it's Bon Ami powder cleanser. Bon Ami, which is french for 'good friend' has been around since 1886 and though they have updated the formula to make it even more eco-friendly than it already was, the original formula is still available as well. both products have a very small list of ingredients, and everything they contain is biodegradable. the original formula, which comes in a red can, contains only tallow and feldspar. the updated formula, which is vegan, comes in a yellow can (like mine), and is more widely available, contains five ingredients: limestone, feldspar, biodegradable cleaning agents, soda ash and baking soda. the cleaners contain no perfumes, dyes, or chemicals and is hypoallergenic. if that wasn't enough, a 14 oz (recycled and recyclable) can of the stuff costs less than two dollars!

many of you might remember Bon Ami from science classes- lab glass can be safely cleaned with original Bon Ami, but it works wonders on all kinds of things around the house too!  either formulas are fantastic on stainless steel, enamel coated cast iron, tile, chrome, and linoleum. the original formula is also especially effective for glass, and can transform vintage pyrex baking dishes that have baked on grease splatter built up over the years.

the packaging, though it hasn't remained exactly the same through the years, has a timelessness to it, and the little chick is the original. i found a great slideshow of the various ads Bon Ami has used over the years on their website, and grabbed a few images to share here.

love that they're using a man in this one! {photo via Bon Ami}

ah, if only i looked this adorable while cleaning the kitchen! {photo via Bon Ami}

amusing little play on words from the 80's {photo via Bon Ami}

do you use Bon Ami? i'd love to know what you use it for!

as always, if you have your own tried and true product, i'd love to share it here! send me an email at danae{at}gatherandhuntvintage{dot}com.

tried and true

over the weekend i was washing what seemed like an unending pile of vintage dishes, kitchen tools, etc, that are destined for my Farm Chicks Show booth and at one point i had something glass that just wouldn't come clean. in hopes of getting the rusty crud off, i reached for a cleaning product that has been around for ages and it hit me- wouldn't it be fun to share the 'heritage brand' items i use and swear by with all of you! and just like that, a new series, 'tried and true' was born. as with everything here at gather and hunt, i love featuring things you love too- so if you have a product, brand, or even homemade remedy, that's been around for at least 50 years, that you highly recommend, let's talk- i would love for you to share it with us!

today i want to introduce you to...

that's right- Bag Balm! since moving to the city i've found far less people have heard of Bag Balm than when i lived in Wyoming. i also find most people at least giggle a little at the name! well if you are one that hasn't heard about Bag Balm before, here's a little history...

i just love their beautiful green tin!

Bag Balm was developed by a druggist sometime before the turn of the century in a small Vermont town. a man named John L Norris purchased the formula in 1899 and began producing the product as we know it today. it was originally intended for use on cows udders to keep them soft and to soothe irritation after milking, but many farmer's wives noticed that their husbands hands became softer after using the product and the women began using it on chapped hands and dry skin. Bag Balm is officially a product for animals* but has been used since the turn of the century for a multitude of human needs as well, ranging from burns and zits to saddle sores and even squeaky bed springs!

we've used Bag Balm in my family since i was a child. my brother suffered from eczema as a boy and Bag Balm helped soothe his dry and irritated skin, while my mother and i used it for our parched skin in the dry climate of Wyoming. though i now live in soggy Seattle, i continue to use it for chapped lips and hands, as well as any rough patches of skin like elbows or feet. i've tried many different products for dry skin and lips and just have never found anything that works quite as well.

so, if winter has gotten the best of your skin and nothing seems to help, consider picking up that pretty green tin the next time you're at the drug store and see what you think. if you want to learn more about Bag Balm, this CBS news article has some great info about the company, and Livestrong has useful info about the ingredients and potential health implications.

don't forget- if you have a tried and true product or brand you love, i'd love to hear about it! send me a message at danae{at}gatherandhuntvintage{dot}com.

*any product endorsement made on this site is purely a personal and unpaid opinion. endorsements here should never be construed as medical advice. all products endorsed here should be used at your own risk.