It’s that time of the month again….It’s May Vintage Magazine Covers!

If you are a regular reader of my vintage blog, you know that I have started a “vintage magazine cover” series for each month. It’s been really fun, to see what was popular topics and images on these covers from the 1920s to the 1950s.

Shall we browse this months selections?

Source: Vogue – See the full magazine HERE

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. 

May Vintage Magazine Covers

1920’s -1950’s

Maclean’s – Canada’s National Magazine May 1st 1920.

Read the full vintage magazine HERE.

Source: Internet Archive

The May 1924 issue of Inspiration from the Women’s Institute in Scranton PA offers insights into Spring and Summer fashion from 1924, including women and children’s wear.

Source: Etsy – TheModernDelineator

Elite Styles, May 1921 fashion magazine featuring an illustration of two stylish women with bobbed hair and 1920s dresses perfect for Spring.

Ladies Home Journal – May 1930. The Fashion Illustration of a woman in a 1930 hat is by Dynevor Rhys.

Source: Etsy – LoveDoveTrading

Physical Culture – May 1930. Health, Happiness, Beauty. Magazine cover painted by Carl Pfeufer.

Articles inside include Cold Hands and Feet, Glenna Collett Golf, The Body Beautiful, Canoe Trip, Lost and Found Wife by Faith Baldwin, Recipes, Menus, and more.

Source: Etsy – Gibsonbooks

Vintage L’Illustration magazine, Special Edition: Intérieurs modernes, May 27th, 1933.

Here is a little sneak peak inside to showcase examples of fancy 1933 interior design (I like the bottom right).

Source: Etsy – OldButGoldCrafts

Modern Mechanix, May 1937. This one caught my eye for the beautiful sailboats with their sails up. I love sailing.

Read the full vintage magazine HERE.

Source: Internet Archive

A friend of mine has an incredible collection of “Star Weekly at War” on her website, Elinor Florence. Here is one from May 1st, 1941 entitled “Air-Raid Warden”.

Source: Elinor Florence

The Highway Traveler, April-May 1941, featuring an illustration of a pinup in spring fashions (not sure what this has to do with highway travelling but it sure does get your attention).

Example of an article in this vintage magazine:

“Vacationing in War-Time Canada”: Never before has such an effort been made to have citizens of this nation (the United States) visit Canada, and the residents of Canada have just about made every effort possible to insure every is having a good time.

Source: Etsy – CuriousBookShop

May 1949 – EVERYWOMAN. Featured article that goes with this beautiful image of a young 1940’s bride…”A Wedding in the Family?”

Note: This vintage magazine is an E-book so you can purchase and read it anytime HERE.

Women’s interest features include:

– Marriage: from the spiritual, moral, and material angles
– Bridal beauty
– Wedding planning
– War-widowed motherhood
– “A cap to match” (pattern diagram and instructions for a draped cap, and a crochet Juliet cap)
– Choosing a school
– Furnishing your first home (specifically: chairs)
– Refashioned make do and mend fashion [note: clothes rationing was still very much in force in 1949 Britain]
– Trousseau with a difference
– Learning how to manage a family’s rations
– “Housework can make you prettier”…AND MORE.

Source: Etsy – tuppencehapenny

The American Legion Magazine – Volume 40, No. 5 May 1946.

Read the full vintage magazine HERE.

Source: Internet Archive

Early 1950s / Japanese sewing magazine w/ patterns, May 1951.

Example of stylish early 1950’s fashions you can make for yourself in Japan.

Source: Etsy – OldRosedesign

The Home Craftsman Magazine -May-June 1951. The magazine for practical home-owners.

“Kitchen Flooring Easily Laid”.

Source: Etsy- JasperstreasureStore

1950’s housewife attempting her first cake. Illustration by renowned American Illustrator, Stevan Dohanos, for the cover of The Saturday Evening Post dated May 21, 1955.

Source: Etsy – LetterKey

JET Magazine – May 17th, 1956 featuring on the cover ‘Milwaukee’s First Lady Alderman, Mrs. Vel Phillips‘.

Vel Phillips was the first Black woman to graduate from the University of Wisconsin Law School; the first African American, as well as the first woman, elected Alderwoman to the Milwaukee Common Council; and the first Black, as well as the first woman, to serve as a jurist in Wisconsin.

Source: Pinterest

American Home, May 1956. Featuring on the cover Academy Award-nominated, Tony Award-nominated, and Emmy-winning Irish stage, film, and television actress, Geraldine Fitzgerald and her daughter Susan.

What fun pink bedroom decor.

Source: Biblo

I hope you enjoyed May’s vintage magazines. It was another fun post to do especially since May is my birthday month (May 4th). Please share in the comments section whatyour favourite cover was.

Thanks for dropping by!

FURTHER READING:

• Vintage Magazine Posts
• The Vintage Ads from a May 1950 Good Housekeeping Magazine
• Vintage Advertising from a May 1939 Better Homes & Gardens Vintage Magazine

Liz