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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Hi everyone! For my first official blog entry I thought I would start with a favourite event of the Lindy Hop season in Toronto called “Swing out to Victory” It’s a 1940’s Big Band dance in an airplane museum in Hamilton, Canada and it’s lots of fun.
At this dance dressing up in 1940’s fashions is while not a must, is encouraged to take your dance experience to the next level. Plus it looks great posing with those vintage airplanes. However I do realize that not everyone knows how to dress in 1940’s fashions for an event like Swing Out (or whatever event your attending), so I thought I would help get you started with a post about the ‘Key Looks of the 1940’s’. It’s a post filled with loads of vintage images, illustrations, and links to get you inspired and shopping.
So sit back, relax and have a read and then at the end I have supplied shopping options for Vintage & Vintage Reproduction clothing that you can take home today (or close too).
Have fun!
Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy ,eBay, Unique Vintage, RocknRomance Vintage& Collectif are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Key Looks Of The 1940’s For A Night Out Swing Dancing
1940’sWomen’s Suit
II faut ‘skimp’ pour être chic’, you must skimp to be chic – Vogue Oct 1941-
The war was on and rationing of materials was in full effect. Gone were the days of silk and wool, women were left with materials like rayon, synthetic Jersey, and gingham to create their clothes. Elaboration was out and a pared-down elegance was becoming the norm. The main look of the decade: Was broad shoulders and a streamlined, slim look.
Women’s “Utility Suit” or “Victory Suit” or “Clothing by law” was fashioned to resemble the military style of WWII. The suits had a boxy, broad-shouldered (aka shoulder pads) jacket. Peplum at the bottom of the jacket was also used to give the illusion of volume (see pic below). Blouses were normally solid coloured with details around the neck. Skirts were shorter (knee-length) and either straight or A-lined and had a front and back pleat.
Accessories even during the war were still very important to a 1940’s women. Pair the suit with an asymmetrical or angled shaped hat with unusual trimmings (whatever could be substituted or used during the war. Ex: materials from older hats).
Add Stockings with the seam or you could do what many women had to do when stockings became rationed which was to paint some light colour to your legs and draw the seam up the back.
Shoes: Peep Toe and T-straps (1” in height) were fashionable (and saved on leather) as were Cork platforms. Don’t forget a basic purse. Lastly add your red lipstick and curl your hair with a pin curl set.
Pants were also becoming part of women’s everyday wear as they had to wear them to the factories. These slacks were often high cut or at the waist and would have a single pleat down the front of the pant, and wide legged. Jeans and overalls were also being worn much like our favourite “Bomb Girls” did.
How to wear this look:
Top the pants with a form fitting blouse or sweater tucked in, add a “mans cut” jacket or Bolero. Add the “Rosie the Riveter” scarf to your hair if you want or a snood with victory rolls and don’t forget the red lips. Shoes were sturdy and practical, often flat or you could pair them with a wedge shoe.
1940’s Dresses
Shirtwaist Dresses: This style of dress you can easily find today (Trashy Diva has a few they make). The simple dress features a button down style top often seen with a flared or A-line skirt. Just like everything else during this time it was considered useful for most daily activities.
How to wear this look: Pair it with a pair of saddle shoes (and bobby socks-they appeared in the 40’s first) or wedge or peep toe shoes. Hair in victory rolls or try a pin curl set. Add a ribbon, Flower or a snood to the hair. Once again…put on those red lips.
Rayon Dresses were very popular during the 1940’s as it was the dress “that never creased and had silk-like quality to it” and made going from day to evening very easy. Many of the dresses would be in colourful prints, knee-length and very simple cuts. Bolero and fitted jackets were added to the dress to create more outfits. This style was very popular for swing dancers.
How to wear this look:
Vintage Photos & Illustrations shown here lon this post are super examples. Or you visit my archived content on Women’s Fashions – Vintage Styles.
1940’s Dress Features:
Cap sleeves (sometimes with a small slit on the side for ease of movement)
Puffed up sleeves with gathers at the top
Dress necklines: Cut-outs (got to loves cut-outs!), Square, keyhole, V etc.
Sequins & beads: Not rationed by the war, sequins were sewn on dresses, jackets and shawls to add drama to day wear and evening wear.
Evening Dresses “Long”: Were Strapless (elegant and saved on material!), spaghetti strapped or halter topped, draping from the waist was seen as well.
Evening Dresses “Short”: Women would wear cocktail dresses (Little Black dress made its way to the scene) or Suits. This look was very popular during the height of the war.
Now for something a little different….
Sportswear & Ready To Wear
(Originated from New York Fashion Industry)
Highlights (but not limited too):
Shirtwaist dress (mentioned above)
Pinafore Dress-often seen in Gingham
Sundresses in cotton
Plaids, checks and stripes were often seen in Ready to wear outfits
Beachwear or Swimsuits (Maybe you would like to go as Pinup, Betty Grable)
One piece suits were form fitted, Halter or V neck with bottoms that were like shorts (but went to the top of the thigh) or skirt shaped.
2 pieces swimsuits were not like what we know today. They were high-waisted, and the top was the same as above. Note: The Bikini was invented in 1946.
Playsuits: Very short dresses that wrapped around a swimsuit. Also playsuits with long skirts and front buttons with a snug leg under panties and bra-like top.
Pinafore Dresses
1940s Playsuit
How to wear these looks:
If you are going for the “Sportswear” look think of a “younger look”. Simple pageboy hair style, no hat, saddle shoes, peep toe shoes or wedges. Ribbon in the hair if you like. Cute and simple. Red lips!
For Swimwear: Look to the Pinups of the time for style inspiration. Betty Grable, Ava Gardner, Jane Russel. 1940’s hair style and 40’s shoes and your good to go. Oh! and a flower in the hair always helps (As everyone knows or now knows…I’m a big hair flower fan.
With the styles above, 1940’s hair and makeup is a must. Add flowers…lots of flowers to one’s hair. Pile on the Bakelite bracelets for extra effect.
Peasant tops and playsuits again
Sarong Dresses-MY FAV!
Christian Dior’s “New Look”-1947
With the war over, materials available and France open for business again a brand new look was created for women called “New Look” by Christian Dior. The idea was to let the curves of the women’s body be molded by the clothes. Highlights:
So there you have it, a high-level overview of what you could wear to any swing dance/event you wish to attend. I hope this has helped you get your brain going on what you could wear to your event. ENJOY!
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