It is so nice in Toronto right now, so it is pretty much impossible to stay home at night. So on one of those beautiful nights I took a walk down to my local antique store for some treasure hunting. I was pretty excited to do this because normally I'm with my husband and he is not much of antique shopper and so I usually get 5 seconds in before he starts giving me the “please can we go!” look! Not tonight though he was working so I was free to take my time.

My plan… To find some amazing 1930s-1950s real-life pictures of well dressed people as this has recently become my obsession. I just love seeing how everyday people dressed as opposed to movie stars who had lots of money and designers on demand (not that I don't enjoy those photos too, Oh I most certainly do!). Tonight though was about the regular folks and I scored huge with the following 4 images.

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Photo number 1: A wedding photo from the 1940s, clearly during war times. Don't you agree that the bride and groom are so gorgeous together that they could have been movie stars?? Sigh…so fantastic!

I am just swooning right now over the handsome groom in uniform and his equally handsome best man in his navy uniform. Love.

1940s wedding photo

Now the lovely bride. That dress is making me just drool all over my ipad right now with envy. The cut, the sequined design on the bust and that corsage..wow! Just beautiful. In my mind the dress is a gorgeous blue or maybe green! And how adorable are the peep toe shoes (on both ladies)?? This gal has style and her maid of honour is just as stylish too! I want a 1940s suit badly and honestly one like this would make my day. It is such a nice fit on her and I think she made a wonderful choice by wearing this.

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Photo number 2: 1940s woman. This photo was the first image I found and I nearly died from how amazing this image was. Like seriously, how could you look at this photo and not think “Wow that woman has style!”? I don't think it is possible and that was the exact words that came out of my mouth.

1940s woman in dress

First off her 1940s gown fits her like a glove, look how tiny her waist is? The detail at the hip adds to the slim look of her waist and I'm just loving it so much (great undergarments I'm sure are helping too). The fabric is just as wonderful with the random flower detail and I envision this dress to be black with the flowers and dots to be silver (do you agree?).

Now let's talk about her hat. Yes her hat is one amazing work of art with a giant pouffy flower (I think) as the embleshment. Even with the giant beautiful corsage on her dress I don't think the hat is too much. Ohh I have a thought! Maybe she is the mother of the bride to the couple above?? Most likely not but she is going some where wonderful enough to wear long black gloves (question: are they gloves if they have no hand part?) and I'm sure will be the hit of the party.

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Photo number 3: 1940s gentleman. This image when I saw it, reminded me so much of Cary Grant or Clark Gable and I just knew he had to come home with me. I was also really drawn to how well his suit fit and how he paired it with a bow tie and two toned oxfords, classy! The hand in the pocket says “yup I'm a man of style”. And yes mister handsome well dressed man, the Vintage Inn agrees.

1940s man in suit

Photo number 4: The final image I found of this 1950s woman playing with her cat, made me want to buy it for 1 reason and 1 reason alone….her saddle shoes. Yes I know saddle shoes are not rare in images from the 50s but what intrigued me even more was the fact that I believe this woman is not a young girl but much older then that.

You don't see very often older woman wearing saddle shoes, in fact I have never seen it and was always under the impression that that style was for the “younger” generation. Now that might be true but clearly this lovely fun loving lady does not care and she is rocking them anyways and for that, I love her style and she deserved to be in this post.

1950s housewife in saddle shoes

So there my wonderful readers is my most recent vintage shopping find. I hope you enjoyed looking at the images as much as I did when I bought them.

Have a fantastic day!

Liz 🙂

 

 

 

 

12 Comments on My Recent Vintage Store Finds

  1. Such great photos, I love the wedding photo in particular. I always pick them up if I see them when treasure hunting, I love looking at the fashions.

    • I loved the wedding one too! It always makes me a bit sad though to think that someone lost the photos, had no family to pass on the photos too etc. And they end up in antique shops. But then I perk up when I think that I will be bringing them second life by treasuring them so.

      Thanks for stopping by 🙂

      Liz

    • Hi Cate! I’m a dreamer when it comes to those kind of things, so I do imagine what they were thinking, doing etc. I think that is part of the fun of looking at old photos. Sure I will stop by your blog now 🙂

      Liz

  2. this is like the best post ever!!!! I adore the idea for this collection, photos of real women in great vintage clothes are so much better then vintage star photos. The stars are nice of course but the every day women are so much more practical for every day inspiration. I particularly love the second lady and the genetleman both look so happy and full of fun

    retro rover

    • Thanks so much! When I saw these pictures I was just so thrilled and had to scoop them up. I agree with you on every level about using every day women as inspiration. Now I’m eager to find more fun photos in stores 🙂

      Liz

  3. These are fantastic! I think the second lady might just be my sartorial spirit animal. 🙂 Seriously though, I she was one heck of a sharp, glamorous dresser and really carried off that chic look well. What an awesome treasure, as all these photos are, to have in your collection now. Way to antique store shop, dear gal!

    ♥ Jessica

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