>

Category: 1940s

1940s Fashion, 1940s Photo, 1940s History 

Vintage Photos of Canadian Women on the Home Front during WWII

This Friday is Remembrance Day, so for this week’s blog posts I am going to focus on Canada during WWII. That means today’s Vintage Photo Tuesday (collection of vintage images blog posts) are 1940s vintage images of Canadian Women on the Home Front, doing their part for their Country.

1941 vintage ww2 photo of a canadian woman working on an airplane part for the war effort vintage photo

Further Reading: I have done MANY posts on the topic “World War 2 Women’s Contributions & Homefront Posts” that you can read by clicking on the link.


War production and savings poster regarding a variety of goods for reuse or repurposing as war supplies, 1940 / 1941.

1940s Vintage Poster: canadian WW2 propaganda poster for War production and savings poster regarding a variety of goods for reuse or repurposing as war supplies

Source: Collections Canada

1943-Time to punch in and begin your service for Canada.

1940s vintage photo of a woman in a floral 1940s dress punching in to a time clock to do her job for the War effort in Canada.

Source: Library and Archives Canada

January 1943-Mrs. Mackay using a Riveting gun at a shipyard in Pictou, Nova Scotia.

1940s vintage photo: ww2 canadian woman working for the war effort -January 1943-Mrs. Mackay using a Riveting gun at a shipyard in Pictou, Nova Scotia.

Source: Library and Archives Canada

Defense workers on the line.

1940s vintage photo of women defense workers working at the factory in their factory uniforms.

Source: Library and Archives Canada

Not all women during WWII were working on items for overseas, there was regular upkeep needed of items already made in Canada. Like the train pictured below.

1940s vintage photo of Canadian Women during WW2 working on trains for the Homefront War Effort.

Source: Library and Archives Canada

Female worker Margot Bourassa shellacs the body of a fuse in the breakdown room of the Cherrier plant (Montreal) of the Defense Industries Limited.

1940s vintage photo: ww2 canadian woman working for the war effort - Female worker Margot Bourassa shellacs the body of a fuse in the breakdown room of the Cherrier plant (Montreal) of the Defense Industries Limited.

Source: Collections Canada

At the same plant mentioned above a woman sews cordite bags. On a vintage hair note, check out that style. Wow!

1940s vintage photo: ww2 canadian woman working for the war effort - a woman sewing cordite bags

Source: Library and Archives Canada

Dominion Bridge Company – Two women working in shell manufacturing plant.

1940s Vintage photo of Dominion Bridge Company - Two Canadian women working in shell manufacturing plant.

Source: Library and Archives Canada

It was important in some factories that the workers minds did not go idle, so music was played to help combat this. The below picture is of 2 women workers selecting the music to be played from their central control room at a Montreal factory.

1940s vintage photo: ww2 canadian woman working for the war effort - picture is of 2 women workers selecting the music to be played from their central control room at a Montreal factory.

Source: Collections Canada

Female munitions worker Françoise Corbeil turns out parts while listening to the piped music in her factory.

1940s vintage photo: ww2 canadian woman working for the war effort - Female munitions worker Françoise Corbeil turns out parts while listening to the piped music in her factory.

Source: Collections Canada

Break Time! Group of female workers enjoying a break from their work at a munitions plant.

1940s vintage photo: ww2 canadian woman working for the war effort - Group of female workers enjoying a break from their work at a munitions plant.
Source: Collections Canada

Source: Collections Canada

Testing lenses, at the Instruments Division of the Canadian Arsenals Ltd. optical plant. On another vintage hair note, nice to see hair that looks like mine when I style it (not perfect!).

1940s vintage photo: ww2 canadian woman working for the war effort -Testing lenses, at the Instruments Division of the Canadian Arsenals Ltd. optical plant. Cute 1940s hairstyle.

Source: Collections Canada

The Perry Sisters, employed at the Dominion Arsenals Ltd. plant, armed with rake, watering can and pitchfork, help look after the vegetable garden where they are working (looking mighty cute I might add).

1940s vintage photo: ww2 canadian woman working for the war effort -The Perry Sisters, employed at the Dominion Arsenals Ltd. plant, armed with rake, watering can and pitchfork, help look after the vegetable garden where they are working

Source: Collections Canada

1943-Women of the Aluminum Co. wait in line to get an autograph from famous Canadian fighter pilot ‘George “Buzz” Beurling‘. Helen Fowler is the lucky lady first in line.

1940s Vintage Photo: 1943-Women of the Aluminum Co. wait in line to get an autograph from famous Canadian fighter pilot 'George "Buzz" Beurling'. Helen Fowler is the lucky lady first in line.

Source: Library and Archives Canada

After a hard day in the factory there is nothing better than catching a few rays with friends. French-Canadian women at Dominion Arsenals (Personal Note: I adore this image).

1940s vintage photo of 3 women taking a break after working in the factory. They are catching some sun in 1940s swimsuits and 1940s summer fashions. Cute 1940s hairstyles.

Source: Collections Canada

Hope you enjoyed the images of our hard-working Canadian ladies of the 1940’s. Thank you for your service!

If you would like to see more images of our Canadian women during WW2, check out my Part 2 post HERE.

Liz

15 Fashion Tips from Chatelaine Magazine-June 1947

A couple of weekends ago at the Toronto Vintage Clothing & Antique Show I purchased two Vintage Chatelaine Magazines from a favorite vendor.

While browsing the June 1947 copy over coffee later on that day, I discovered a great feature called ‘Fashion Shorts‘. In this piece the magazine discusses fashion tips to make your June a fashionable success. These tips are wonderful insights into a time period of fashion that many of us love and I knew that I just had to share it with my readers. PLUS 1947 was a turning point in fashion with the ‘Dior’s New Look‘ making its way onto the runways only a few months early.

1947 Fashion Tips for Women as seen in a vintage Chatalaine Magazine

So without further adieu lets begin!

15 Fashion Tips from Chatelaine Magazine – June 1947

1. Lovely the Bride (it is the June Magazine)

Lovely the bride this June’s sun shines on. For she’ll wear her traditional satin-and in abundance. The generous yardage makes possible hoop skirts, and wide, wide trains, and arch little bustles.

1947 Fashion Tips for June Brides/1947 Fashion Tips for Women as seen in a vintage Chatalaine Magaine.

Perfect Example: Princess Elizabeth II and Prince Philips November 1947 Wedding.

1950s vintage photo of Queen Elizabeth  II Royal Wedding to Prince Philip
Photo: Royal Collection Trust/© Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2014.

2. Marquiesette Gowns are a must for the bride and her attendants

They’ve found out that many a girl marching to the altar is still a junior miss. So for her and her excited attedants there’s the youthful spun-sugar look of bouffant marquisette. Which spins at formal dances later on.

1940s Fashion Tip for the June Bride and her Bridesmaids. 1947 Fashion Tips for Women as seen in a vintage Chatalaine Magaine.

What is Marquisette?

Marquisette is a sheer, lightweight mesh or net fabric with a leno weave.  It can be made from almost any fibre: silk, cotton, wool, rayon, nylon, polyester and a blend of any of the above.  It is used for dresses, curtains, and mosquito netting .

(Source)

Note: For a more detailed description please check out The Dreamstress blog post on this interesting fabric.

Now the below dress is not from 1947 but it is a beautiful example of a 1940s Marquisette gown,

1940s Fashion: an embroidered marquisette 1940s evening gown.
Source: Vintageous

3 & 4. You’ll want a striped cotton and yellow in your wardrobe

You’ll want a striped cotton this year. Because it’s cool. Because it’s become sophisticated. With a canny arrangement of stripes to give the long waisted look.

1940s Summer Fashion Tip: Stripped Cotton and yellow in your wardrobe. 1947 Fashion Tips for Women as seen in a vintage Chatalaine Magaine.
1940s fashion: A Striped Cotton Day Dress
Source: Pinterest

Yellow, rich as butter, gay as sunbeams. The big shade in every fabric of the season…chambray, linen and the prodigy of returning chiffon.

1940s Summer Fashion Tip: Stripped Cotton and yellow in your wardrobe. 1947 Fashion Tips for Women as seen in a vintage Chatalaine Magaine.
yellow

5 & 6. Order ribbons on a lapel are all the rage, and playsuits are not just for the wee ones

Order of the day: wear an order ribbon on a suit lapel or under the collar of a tailored blouse. It must be as authentically striped as a Knight-of-the-Garter’s. And clasped by an antique brooch or insignia pin.

1940s Fashions for Summer: Order ribbons on a lapel are all the rage, and playsuits. 1947 Fashion Tips for Women as seen in a vintage Chatalaine Magaine.

Examples of versatile playsuits.

1940s Fashion: 1947 women's playsuits and rompers.
Source: Vintage Dancer

7 & 8. From work to play or sometimes just to play

Back and neck go venturesomely bare on a summer night in an off-the-shoulder chemise dress. But skilfully concealed by a bolero during office hours. Happy is your date, happy your boss, and happy you who don’t have to rush home to change.

Variation on the al fresco theme. Back decolletage lightly veiled by sheer chiffon in a V-inset. The dress of tissue faille. Better start from home with this home.

1940s Fashion Tip: Back and neck go bare, but wear a bolero during the day. 1947 Fashion Tips for Women as seen in a vintage Chatalaine Magaine.

Vintage sewing pattern example of an strapless gown (bare back and neck) and the bolero you can add to it.

1947 vintage sewing pattern for a 1950s dress with bolero.
Source: Pinterest

9. New York and its high style

In New York more illusions of nudity. With dramatic black lace over nude rayon crepe. In short or full-length dinner dresses. The lace with the delicate air (example below).

1940s Fashion Tip: In New York more illusions of nudity. With dramatic black lace over nude rayon crepe. In short or full-length dinner dresses. The lace with the delicate air. 1947 Fashion Tips for Women as seen in a vintage Chatalaine Magaine.
1940s Fashion: A 1940s Rayon Crepe Dress with the Lace Insert.
Source: Pinterest

10 & 11. Bertha collars and influences from famous British salons

Softly falling bertha collars on cottons as well as crepes. A graceful substitute for sleeves. And very much in keeping with the new rounded, more natural shoulderline.

Watch for the influence of these evening skirts from famous British salons: Norma Hartnell’s gold tissue, its skirt showing six separate drapings, haremlike…Peter Rusell’s skirts with turned-up hems like those on trousers…Bianca Mosca’s melon skirt, pulled under at the hem to accentuate fullness!

1940s Fashion Tip: Softly falling bertha collars and Norman Hartnell's skirts. 1947 Fashion Tips for Women as seen in a vintage Chatalaine Magaine.

Bertha Collar Examples as seen on a vintage sewing pattern.

1940s Fashion: Bertha Collar on dresses as seen on a vintage sewing pattern.
Source: Pinterest

A Norman Hartnell Gold tissue dress..wow!

1940s fashion: A Norman Hartnell Gold tissue dress
Source: Pinterest

12. Stay much cooler than the men with your pantaloon slip!

A pantaloon slip for warm weather ventilation! The culotte doubles as panties and slip under summer dresses. While your poor men swelter in 72 articles of clothing.

1940s Fashion Tip: A pantaloon slip for warm weather ventilation. 1947 Fashion Tips for Women as seen in a vintage Chatalaine Magaine.

13. Peasant blouse & dirndls skirts for comfort and for formal occasions

It’s comfortable to entertain your guests in peasant blouse and dirndl skirt. Right, too, even on formal occasions. Because the skirt’s long, printed and ruffled, the neckline of the blouse deeply scooped.

1940s Fashion Tip: peasant blouse and dirndl skirt. Right, too, even on formal occasions. Because the skirt's long, printed and ruffled, the neckline of the blouse deeply scooped. 1947 Fashion Tips for Women as seen in a vintage Chatalaine Magaine.
1940s Fashion: peasant blouse and dirndl skirt. Right, too, even on formal occasions. Because the skirt's long, printed and ruffled, the neckline of the blouse deeply scooped.
Source: Pinterest

14. Beach Coat Time!

Beach coats are shorties. They reach just to the thing. And are hooded against the ravages to your hair of sun and salt.

1940s Fashion Tip: Beach coats are shorties. They reach just to the thing. And are hooded against the ravages to your hair of sun and salt.  1947 Fashion Tips for Women as seen in a vintage Chatalaine Magaine.
1947 vintage sewing pattern for a women's beach coat and late 1940s swimsuit / bathingsuit.
Source: Vintage Patterns

Side Note: Here is a 2022 example of a beach coat I picked up at a vintage store here in Toronto.

1940s Fashion: Wear a beach coat to the beach like this vintage rainbow striped beach jacket seen on Liz from the Vintage Inn Blog.

15. Stocking Clocks ARE due for a comeback! Wait what are stocking clocks?

Stocking clocks due for a comeback! And at this very moment colored nylons are some of the counters. In muted shades of red, green, blue, and yellow. So delicate and sheer, though, they won’t disturb your equilibrium.

1940s Fashion Tip: Stocking clocks dur for a comeback! And at this very moment colored nylons are some of the counters. In muted shades of red, green, blue, and yellow. So delicate and sheer. 1947 Fashion Tips for Women as seen in a vintage Chatalaine Magaine.

1958 vintage ad for Mary Grey Hosiery talking about “The Point of Big Return…Clocks”. (I could not find a 1947 example).

1958 vintage ad for Mary Grey Hosiery talking about "The Point of Big Return...Clocks". 1950's Women's Nylons / Stockings.

And there you have it, fashion tips from June 1947 Chatelaine.

Question Time: What was your favorite fashion tip stated above? Did you learn anything new about June 1947 fashions? Please share.

FURTHER READING:

Liz