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Month: January 2014

Liebster Blog Award-Fun Question and Answers

I was very much sleeping when the most lovely Blogger “Jessica from Chronically Vintage” bestowed the Liebster blog Award onto myself a couple of months ago. Thank you Jessica for doing this, such a fun idea 🙂

Liebster Blog Award

What is said award? In the words of Jessica herself …”general premise being that the person who receives it answers a set of questions from the previous recipient (the person who in turn gave it to them), and then creates the same number of questions to be answered by those that they pass it along to. This is done as a way of both getting to know your fellow bloggers better and also letting your readers in on more about yourself, your blogs, and your thoughts on various topics.”

Game show 1950s

Here are the questions Jessica asked and here are my responses:

1. What are three of your favourite things about blogging?

  • Sharing my love of vintage with others who share the same passion
  • Meeting other wonderful bloggers and readers (that has been truly a wonderful surprise)
  • Learning as I go. I love the research portion of my blog as history has always been something I loved.

2. What kind of sagely advice would you give to a blogger who is just starting their first ever blog today?

Make sure you are blogging about something you just 100% love or you won’t stick to it. I have tried to blog before about..I don’t even know what and I think I posted 3 blog posts and that was it. Now that I have found my passion, blogging is easy and I look forward to putting each post together.

3. Do you find yourself drawn more towards creating word heavy or image heavy posts, or do you prefer a fairly even mix of the two in each post?

I am not a writer and I will never pretend that I am. If you have read even one or two sentences from my blog, you might cringe at my use of the word “Awesome” all the time and how I spell “alot” like that lol! So I try to make my posts a nice even mix of writing and pictures but sometimes if I’m feeling lazy that week I will lean towards a picture heavy post.

4. What is your favourite ten year span (note, this doesn’t have to be a specific decade, such as the 1930s, you could pick 1925-1935) of all time from a fashion standpoint?

I use to think it was the 1950’s(1949-1959) but lately I find myself going full on 1940’s with my wardrobe and even my blog posts. I just love the way that women were able to make their clothes so beautiful during a time of war and rationing. Truly awe-inspiring.

5. If you could go on a shopping spree (and money was no object), what are five vintage wardrobe items that you’d buy today?

  • Hands down in a second a “Alfred Shaheen” dress from the 1950s. If I could find a sarong then I would buy that but I won’t be picky
  • A vintage mexican skirt. They are so pretty!
  • Bakelite, Bakelite, Bakelite…oh and more Bakelite
  • 1950s Lucite Purse
  • 1940s mint condition dresses..gowns preferably 🙂

6. What are five of your favourite savory foods, and five of your favourite sweet ones?

Savory

  • Grilled Cheese
  • Poutine (it’s a Canadian thing)
  • Nachos
  • All Dressed chips
  • hot dogs

Sweet

  • I’m not much of a sweet person, but once in a while I crave ice cream and pumpkin pie

7. What’s your favourite place you’ve ever lived? What are some of the reasons that makes this spot so near and dear to your heart?

I have only lived in two places. My home town of Sarnia and now Toronto.

I love Toronto for so many reasons. The fact that it is a huge city so there is always something to do. The live music scene here is incredible and super awesome for a Lindy hopper like myself. The food options! I can eat authentic Vietnamese food for breakfast, Ethiopian for lunch and Dim Sum for dinner and never have to walk more than 3 blocks from my house, amazing!

Greetings-from-Toronto

8. If you could go on an all-expense paid vacation for two weeks to anywhere in the world, where would you go and what vintage clothes would you bring with you?

Tahiti and I would bring that Alfred Shaheen dress I just bought with the imaginary funds I have above lol! 🙂 Also my vintage bathing suit and every single Tiki/Hawaiian outfit I own (tops, skirts and dresses).

9. Currently, what are your three favourite colours? Do you wear these colours often or simply enjoy them in general?

Blue, Red and Green. I do wear them often, finally got out of that all black period.

10. If you could attend a concert from any musician/band throughout all of time, who would you pick to see live?

I would love to see Glen Miller Live during the 1940s as it was his music that got me interested in Lindy Hop . It would be truly wonderful to be able to stand/or dance on the dance floor with his big band just pounding out the tunes.

11. What’s your favourite time of the day (morning, dusk, etc) and why?

I like Mornings because of the excitement that the day can bring/will bring.

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1940s Miss America

Now for the bloggers I’m passing this award onto…

Shermy from Shermette

Wendi from Hauté Rockabilly Fashionista

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Here are your questions ladies, Enjoy!:

1. Why did you start blogging?

2. If you could only keep one vintage item that you own what would it be?

3. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live and why?

4. What person in history would you go back in time to meet if you have a time machine and why?

5. What has been the hardest thing about running a blog? ex: time to write etc.

6. Do you wear vintage/reproduction to work everyday?

7. What is the one activity that you want to learn/do etc. that you just have not gotten around to doing yet?

8. Favorite genre of music? Least favorite genre of music?

9. Favorite designer,vintage or current?

10. How did you come up with the name of your blog?

11. Favorite city you have gone vintage shopping too?

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There you have it dear readers, hope you enjoyed learning a bit about me and thank you again Jessica for this fun award 🙂

Liz

Ladies Winter Hats-1940s Style

When the thermometer dips to the -30’s here in Canada I often get to wondering what the lovely ladies of the 1940s would have worn on their pretty well styled heads to keep them warm? Did the opt for unstylish toques that wrecked your hair in 30 seconds flat? Or did they go with fashionable hats and worried about frost bite late? Lets see shall we?

First up here are some tips on what you might see in a 1940s winter hat 

  • The hat material needed to be something that would not spot in the rain or snow
  • Protective brim was often seen
  • Fur was popular
  • Velvet
  • Dark hats with heavier weights
  • Felt hats
  • Gray wool felt hats
  • Knitted/crocheted hats

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. 


1940s Winter Fashion: Ladies Winter Hats

Lets start with this cute Dutch Bonnet. Looks like it will keep your head warm and your hair looking super fabulous at the same time.

1940s ladies hat -Dutch Bonnet knitting pattern.

Early 1940s Fashion (possibly 1930s as per the style in the image but close enough for this gal!): This beret is adorable and popular but not for -30 weather. Warmer winter days…yup!

1930s vintage photo of a a knitted Beret

Some winter ski outfits. The hats are more practical for winter I see but I’m unsure how the toque on the right is staying on her head lol!

1940s vintage photo from a 1940s vintage catalog of women's Ski Outfits and 1940s winter hats.

Well technically not a hat a warm 100% wool head scarf will keep the chill off. You can chose a ‘Spun Rayon Triangle with knotted wool fringe”, a ‘Sheer new wool triangle’ or several others. Have fun with it!

Further Reading: A Vintage Guide to 1940s Hair Accessories

1940s winter hair scarf made out of wool or rayon to keep your head warm.

Here is the 1940s head scarf in real life action in this vintage photo of ladies building a snowman.

1940s fashion - 1940s Winter fashion as seen in a 1940s vintage photo of 4 women making a snowman, wearing winter jackets and winter hairscarfs.

Source

1940s vintage ad for Stetson Hats. Stetson did not just make mens hats, but also women’s as seen below. These are darling winter hats but your ears would be cold no?

1940s vintage advertisement for Stetson Hats for women featuring an image of a women wearing various styles of Stetson Hats for winter time.

Source

The 1940s images below are clearly stating that it is cold outside but their stylish hats I’m sure are not keeping their pretty heads warm (and the shoes neither).

They are I must say extremely stylish winter ladies and I would have paired any of those hats with those coats as well, even if I froze my head off!

1940s vintage photo of a four 1940s women in 1940s winter coats and 1940s hats. Stunning 1940s fashions!

Source: Etsy

Some amazing 1940s hats in this picture and some of them actually look like they are bit warmer then the ladies above. My favorite is the lady on the Left. Her outfit is divine!

1940s vintage photo of Four women with suitcases and in stunning 1940s winter coats and 1940s hats posing before heading out on trip. Super 1940s fashions.

Source: Etsy

Now this is a darling number from the 1940s-Fur and Felt. Winter hat must haves crossed off the list.

1940s Fashion: a 1940 women's hat with  fur fringe and a felt bow.

If you watched the now cancelled (sniff sniff) bomb girls you would have seen some pretty fantastic winter hats in the show. Here is Vera in her brimmed hat.

1940s fashion as seen in the TV Show Bomb Girls. The image features a man in uniform with a Bomb Girl in a blue 1940s coat and 1940s hat. Perfect winter style.

1940s vintage hats you can buy right now (at time of post).


NOTE: If an item you clicked on is no longer avail, don’t fret! Etsy is updated daily with new vintage items, so you are bound to find something you like.

Nov 2023 update: I have started a collection on Etsy of Vintage Ladies Hats (Winter & Other seasons), that you can shop in, right now.Happy Shopping!


An iconic 1940s dark green felt bonnet cloche hat with velvet trim and dark green and gold feather tufts on the right side panel. The hat sits on the back of the head with a rounded crown and a short asymmetrical brim. STUNNER!

1940s Fashion: A 1940s Hat Dark Green Felt Bonnet Velvet n Feather Trim
1940s fashion: a 1940s Hat Dark Green Felt Bonnet Velvet n Feather Trim

Source: Etsy

An adorable 1940s Tam!
This hat is styled as a darling halo tam, done in a rich coffee brown soft wool. The hat features two bow details at the rear that are in fact straps that can be pulled through to adjust the head size of the hat. Practical and adorable!

1940s Fashion: A womens 1940s vintage hat-a 1940s Brown Tam

Source: Etsy

1940s Wool Tan Ladies hat with the most interesting look. Your head would be warm in this beauty!

1940s Fashion: a 1940s Tan Wool Hat, Ladies Wool Hat/

Source: Etsy

Vintage 1940’s Grey Velour Halo or Bonnet Style Hat with Black Plumed Feather.

1940s Fashion: Vintage 1940's Grey Velour Halo or Bonnet Style Hat with Black Plumed Feather

Source: Etsy

Stunning 1940s hand-knit lush forest green beret hat.

1940s Fashion: Stunning 1940s hand-knit lush forest green beret hat

Source: Etsy

Exquisite 1940s dark green wool hat by Berkshire made in USA.

Exquisite 1940s dark green wool hat by Berkshire made in USA Mohn.

Well as you can see the hats were both practical and not so practical in their designs but we can all agree that they were gorgeous even if you turned blue while wearing some of them.

Question:

When it’s cold outside do you go with style or comfort?

Further Reading: Vintage Fashions 1920s-1960s (Archived Blog Posts)

Liz 🙂