Spring has officially arrived and I am so ready for a change in temp. I used to love winter but as I have gotten older, it’s been pushed to the back. I’m just tired of being cold, bundling up in 60 million items of clothes (okay a total exaggeration but sometimes it feels that way), and I miss all the beauty of trees and flowers in bloom. I’m just tired of it. AND I would not be a true Canadian if I did not complain about it, ha!

For today’s post I wanted to cheer myself up and maybe some of my readers who are in the same boat and share some lovely Vintage Spring magazine covers and advertisements.

Ready Friends? Lets Polka into Spring!

1950s vintage ad for Avisco showcasing a couple in 1950s fashions dancing together. Ad is from April Harper's Bazaar 1959 — April Harper’s Bazaar 1959. Source: Flickr

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

Vintage Spring Advertising

1940’s & 1950’s

June 1950 vintage ad – “Spring is Motorola Portable Radio Time”.

1950s Motorola portable radio featuring an illustration of a couple together. Print Ad is from a "Coronet" magazine ad June 1950 — Source: Pinterest

April Showers-1944 Saturday Post. Illustration by Alex Ross.

1940s vintage magazine cover: Original 1940s Saturday Evening Post cover art by Alex Ross — Via Etsy

Scary clown alert! Thanks 1950’s Texaco, now I won’t be sleeping for a month but I will remember to take my car in for a spring check-up.

1950s vintage ad for Texaco featuring an illustration of a clown — Source: Found in Mom’s Basement

Spice Berry Layer Cake recipe from “Woman’s Day” magazine-April 1956. This is so spring! The ad is right!

1950s Vintage Ad for Spice Berry Layer Cake recipe from Woman's Day magazine APRIL 1956. — Source: Pinterest

This ad is actually from 1938, but the desserts (for different kinds of Shortcake) look so yummy and the ad is all about “Spring” that I thought you would forgive me for adding it. Crisco Shortening Ad – 1932 From the May 1932 issue of Better Homes & Gardens.

1930s Vintage Ad featuring a 1930s Dessert Recipe: Crisco Shortening Ad - 1932 From the May 1932 issue of Better Homes & Gardens. The Vintage recipes are from Shortcakes

Source: Flickr

Easter was traditionally a time, when women and men donned their best “Easter Bonnet“

1950s vintage ad for women's Easter Hats — Source: Pinterest

1930s Catalog Page: “Spring Begins with a New Hat!”. Which one would you chose?

1930's Vintage millinery, fashion catalog page. 1930s women's fashions. — Source: Pinterest

Stetson Hats 1940s vintage ad.

Vintage Stetson Hat 1940s vintage mens clothing ad — Source: Mister Crew

April 1944 cover of Harper’s Bazaar Magazine. “Spring Beauty”.

1940s vintage magazine cover: April 1944 cover of Harper's Bazaar Magazine — Source: Pinterest

April, 1947 Life Magazine Cover featuring two young women holding spring flowers wearing 1940s hairstyles.

1940s Vintage Magazine Cover: April, 1947- Life Magazine Cover – Vintage Ladies Holding Dogwood Blossoms — Source: Etsy

Life Magazine Ford Advertisement from 1947. It features the latest Ford Sedan (I will take 2 please).

1940s Vintage Ad: April, 1947- Life Magazine Ford Advertisement – Vintage Ford Automobile Ad — Source: Etsy

1950’s rain gear for the whole family! For more images like this, check out my blog post “What to wear when it’s Raining“.

1950s raincoats for the whole family vintage ad

Women’s “Spotlight on Prints” Dresses-Sears & Roebuck Spring and Summer Catalog from 1938.

1930s vintage catalog: Sears & Roebuck Spring and Summer Catalog from 1938 featuring women's 1930s dresses — Source: Flickr

Ahhh I feel so much better, after putting together this blog post and I’m ready to put this winter behind me. How about you? What is your favourite season? Share in the comments below, I love when my readers reach out.

FURTHER READING: Vintage Advertising 1920s-1960s (Archived Blog Post)

Have a great day!

Liz

What to wear when it's raining-1930s to 1950s inspiratiion

When the skies darken and the rain starts to pour, chances are you’ve asked yourself the age-old question: what should I wear? If you’re looking for inspiration that’s fun, practical, and rooted in history, the fashion trends of the 1930s to 1950s have something for everyone. From classic trench coats and chic ponchos to quirky rain hats and sensible rain boots, discover the 1930s to the 1950s best pieces for staying dry and stylish in any storm.

Note: At the end I provide vintage shopping tips on where to get your own vintage rain gear.

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

What To Wear When It’s Raining-1930s to 1950s Inspiration

Vintage Rain Gear Advertising & Vintage Patterns to Inspire:

1930s Vintage Catalog Page for Rain Coats: I’m a big fan of the transparent raincoat (top on the right) which you will see a few more times below. Your outfit will never be hidden! Honestly though all those coats are pretty fantastic in this ad.

Source

This is a early 1930s Canadian ad for a slicker called “Whooppee Slicker”. Comes in fun patterns I must say.

early 1930s Canadian ad for a slicker aka a women's rain coat called "Whooppee Slicker".

Source: eBay

1940’s raincoat and rain hat vintage sewing pattern illustration.

Source

1940s Vintage Sewing Pattern for a women’s raincoat with hood.

Source: Etsy

Here are your transparent rain coats for both men and women made from Vinylite Plastics-1946 ad.

Another plastic transparent rain coat from Follow me Quietly, 1949.

Follow me Quietly-plastic raincoat 1949 vintage photo. 1940s Fashion.

Source

Rain coats for the whole family in the 1950s! The green coat is so beautiful and did you notice her boots?? What a cool Fashion Frocks ad.

1950s Fashion Illustration from Fashion Frocks for Raincoats for the whole family!

1950s Vintage Sewing Pattern for Kids Rain Coats and Fall Jackets.

Source: Etsy

Looking for some vintage rain boots that are also transparent?? Look no further than these darling “Rain Dears” with bow! Can I have 10???

1950s vintage ad for women's rainboots that are see thru called "Rain Dears".

1950s raincoat and rain gear ideas as seen in a 1950s Sears Christmas Wish Book catalog. What would you buy?

1950s raincoat and rain gear ideas as seen in a 1950s sears christmas catalog.

Source: Sears Wish Book

1953 ad for Firestone Velon Plastic. Love that even the dog has a rain coat 🙂

1953 ad for Firestone Velon Plastic featuring all the uses, like raincoats for humans and dogs.

Source

I cannot end this post without referencing some great rain-wear photos from “Singin in the Rain“.

I want Debbie Reynolds boots in this picture.

1950s Singin in the Rain Movie Poster featuring rain coat fashions.

“Girls: Protect your curls!” 1950s vintage ad for a rain bonnet.

You can’t go wrong with a cute plastic rain bonnet (you can find lots of versions on Etsy, which I have shared some samples below).

I recently did a video on a rain bonnet and how they work on TikTok. Take a look below!

@tovintagelizzie Hairstyle tip: How to protect your hair when it rains #hairtip #vintagehair #vintagetip #raining ♬ original sound – Liz Gruening-Vintage Lover

Here are some examples of vintage rain gear items you can take home and enjoy

(updated Feb 2024)

Vintage Shopping: I have put together an Etsy Collection that I update monthly of “Vintage Rain Gear“.

NOTE: If you click on any of the items featured below and they are not available, don’t fret! Hit the search button and see what else is on the websites. There are 1000’s and 1000’s of items being listed daily.

Do you love the transparent rain coats I posted above? Well Etsy has a bunch of new and vintage styles, just hit the search button and pick what works for you. To get you started here is a vintage 1970’s clear vinyl raincoat with white polka dots (avail as of Feb 2024 HERE).

What to wear when it's raining: A Vintage 1970’s clear vinyl raincoat with white polka dots

Source: Etsy

RocknRomance Vintage is a brand that makes REPRODUCTION 1940s & 1950s fashions (aka modern sizes and fabrics), they have a cute ‘Semi Transparent’ raincoat that you can purchase from their website (this one is made to order). Take a look by clicking HERE or the image below.

1950s Fashion: 1950s Semi Transparent Raincoat in modern day data-lazy-sizes from RocknRomance Vintage. Made to order, perfect to cover up your vintage styles.

1950s overshoes. These black rain boots are two-tone glossy and matte rubber with cuban heels. They slip on and are just below mid-calf (avail as of Feb 2024 HERE).

1950s Fashion: vintage overshoes from circa 50s. These black rain boots are two-tone glossy and matte rubber with cuban heels. They slip on and are just below mid-calf

Source: Etsy

Late 1950s Baby Rain Jacket that features a bright yellow trim with a clear body with yellow poppies and white daisies.

Source: Etsy

Look at this adorable 1950s rain bonnet box with a surprise inside..the rain bonnet itself! LOVE THIS! The seller has more styles, that are just too cute!

Purchase from Nkempantiques