Are you ready to take a chic step back in time to the 1950s and 1960s? When Vicky Vaughn Junior Fashions were the must-have for stylish young people around the country. From a variety of pastel-colored, boxy plaid skirts to the classic form-fitting sheath dress, Vicky Vaughn was a popular go-to designer.

In this article, you’ll learn the history of this fashion line, see the vintage ads and be mesmerized by the stunning real life examples of 1950s & 1960s dresses.

Let’s begin!

1950s Fashion: 1950s Vicky Vaughn Junior Early 50s Fit & Flare with wide strips in brown, blue, grey and white.

Source: Bobbins & Bombshells

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.

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.

Vintage Fashion Spotlight: Vicky Vaughn

Vicky Vaughn History

Vicky Vaughn was the junior division of R & M Kaufmann, Inc in Aurora, Illinois (NOT an actual designer). The Kaufman brothers began making ladies dresses in the 1920s. They built their business by producing high quality but moderately priced dresses and sleepwear. The company was able to keep prices low by mass producing garments in their own factories. In fact, their motto was “Only the LOOK is expensive.” Sales grew steadily through the use of full page advertisements in Seventeen, Mademoiselle and Charm magazines as well as the use of live television commercials on shows such as “Beat the Clock.” The Kaufmann’s also produced the Toni Todd line for misses sizes. The company was sold to Russ Togs in 1969 (Source).

Vintage 1950s & 1960s Fashion Advertising

1951 fashion ad featuring some pretty fantastic 1950s dresses.

Oh my, they are all so beautiful, I just don’t know which one I would pick!

1950s Fashion Advertisement featuring Three 1950s Vicky Vaughn Junior Dresses.

Source: Pinterest

“Campus Cottons from Vicky Vaughn”. 1953 fashion ad.

I simply adore all these dress styles (especially the green one).

Source: Pinterest

1956 fashion ad featuring dresses in the prettiest of summer plaid (checks).

1950s Fashion: 1956 fashion ad featuring Vicky Vaughn dresses in the prettiest of summer plaid (checks). Pretty 1950s dresses.

Source: Pinterest

‘Tippi’ Hedren modeling a Vicky Vaughn dress (1954).

Note: The next photo is the leaf dress for sale RIGHT NOW! It’s more stunning in real life!

1950s Fashion Ad: 'Tippi' Hedren modeling Vicky Vaughn fashion (1954)

Source: Pinterest

A 1950s black and white check sleeveless cotton wiggle dress with scoop neck. The dress features leaf shaped appliques (dress is in the above ad). FANTASTIC!

1950s Fashion: A 1950s Vicky Vaughn black and white check sleeveless cotton wiggle dress with scoop neck. The dress features leaf shaped appliques. So Cute!

Source: Etsy – Nightofjoyvintage

The bigger the skirt, the cutier the dress gets. 1955 fashion ad featuring three outstanding full skirt dresses.

1950s Fashion Ad from 1955 featuring Vicky Vaughn 1950s dresses. Big Full skirts on the dresses with the prettiest of patterns.

1958 fashion ad. The dress with the bows is so lovely.

1950s fashion Ad from 1958 featuring Vicky Vaughn dresses. A Fit & Flare Dress and a two piece skirt and oversized top.

“Red Carpet looks with a spanish feel’ – 1960s vintage fashion ad (possibly 1960).

1960s Fashion Ad for Vicky Vaughn Junior 1960s (possibly 1960s) Dresses.

Source: Pinterest

1960 ad featuring 1960s dresses perfect for spring time rides on a bike.

1960s fashion ad for Vicky Vaughn dresses featuring 1960 Fit and Flare Dresses perfect for spring time.

Source: Pinterest

1960s Fashion Ad for Vicky Vaughn 1968 jersey shift dresses.

So fun! Love the Monopoly themed ad.

Source: Flickr

Marian McKnight, Miss America 1957, in John Wolf’s Everglaze taffetized cotton dress by Vicky Vaughn Juniors for R. & M. Kaufman (Source).

1950s Photo: Marian McKnight, Miss America 1957, in John Wolf's Everglaze taffetized cotton dress by Vicky Vaughn Juniors for R. & M. Kaufman

Sourve: Digital.hagley.org

Real Life Vintage Vicky Vaughn Junior Dress Examples

Note: I have put together a collection on ETSY of Vicky Vaughn dresses that is updated monthly). eBay also has these dresses available if you don’t find what your looking for on Etsy.

1950s Vicky Vaughn turquoise halter dress with matching bolero and belt with tassel embroidery.

Source: Etsy – ScoutedVintage

1950s Vicky Vaughn Tulips dress as seen in the vintage advertisement from the same time period. I LOVE when the matching ad is found (or catalog page).

1950s Fashion: 1950s Vicky Vaughn Tulips dress as seen in a 1950s vintage advertisement.

1950s Fashion: 1950s Vicky Vaughn Tulips dress

Source: Etsy – Vintagevavavoomz

1950’s lemon meringue color, embroidered shelf-bust full skirt dress with semi-sheer peekaboo panel. Adorable!

1950s Fashion: vintage 1950's dress ...pretty VICKY VAUGHN lemon meringue color, embroidered shelf-bust full skirt dress with semi-sheer peekaboo panel

Source: Etsy – traven7

Darling vintage 1950s classic Vicky Vaughn fit and flare style dress in 2 layers – blue floral acetate/nylon with matching blue floral nylon chiffon overlay.

1950s Fashion: Darling vintage 1950s classic Vicky Vaughn fit and flare style dress in 2 layers - blue floral acetate/nylon with matching blue floral nylon chiffon overlay.

Source: Etsy – RetrouverBizVintage

1950s Vicky Vaughn turquoise blue cotton fit & flare dress.

1950s Fashion: Lovely turquoise blue cotton dress / Vicky
Vaughn 1950’s fit & flare dress - button front with side metal zipper - eyelet embroidered bodice - full pleated skirt bottom - Bloused top with full sleeves button closure on sleeves - The perfect spring summer dress in vibrant color!

Source: Etsy – DarlingDawnVintage

Gorgeous coral pink early 1950s cotton frock by Vicky Vaughn Junior. Charming big patch pockets, white appliqué.

1950s Fashion: Gorgeous coral pink 1940s/ early 1950s cotton frock by Vicky Vaughn Junior. Charming big patch pockets, white appliqué.

Source: Etsy – SkirtChaserVintageLA

1950s scarf print dress with the cutest bows on the shoulders.

1950s Fashion: 1950s Vicky Vaughn Scarf Print Dress with a full skirt and bows on the shoulders.

Source: dethrosevintage.com

1960s Vicky Vaughn mini dress in a pretty light blue with a cute bow at the waist and lace on the cuffs and waistline.

Source: Etsy – BackToCamelotVintage

Adorable vintage 1950’s zoo animal novelty print cotton day dress.

Source: Etsy- zwzzy

1950s pink floral fit and flare dress. A fantastic cocktail dress.

1950s Fashion: 1950s pink floral fit and flare dress from Vicky Vaughn. A fantastic cocktail dress.

Source: Etsy – LoQueFueBoutiqueShop

What a fun dress! A 1960’s yellow & white lace chiffon mini GoGo dress that feels a bit 1920s.

1960s Fashion: Vicky Vaughn 1960's Yellow White Lace Chiffon Mini GoGo Dress

Source: Etsy – JellyEyesVintage

I don’t know about you, but until I stumbled upon the first dress in this post online from Bobbins & Bombshells, I had never heard of Vicky Vaughn, but boy did that dress catch my attention. STUNNING! I can now say that I’m a fan and will 100% be looking for this label when I am out vintage shopping.

Question Time: Have you heard of this fashion line? Do you own a Vicky Vaughn? What dress did you love above? Share any thoughts about this post in the comments section below.

Further Reading:

Vintage Fashion Designers (Archived blog posts)
Vintage Fashion 1920s-1960s (Archived posts)

Brief History of the Letterman Sweater & Varsity Jacket

The word varsity is a shortening of the word “university.”

Varsity jackets, in general, are traced back to letter sweaters (“Letterman Sweaters”) worn by athletes from the Harvard University Baseball Team back in 1865.

Having the letter “H” stitched into the center of your sweater was a mark of honor. Back then, it was incredibly prestigious, and you were seen to be in the elite few!

Some of the best schools will only reward students with patches if they are outstanding in other academic classes, and the badges display a well-rounded player.

The letterman sweater trend eventually trickled into high schools with the earliest known example appearing on an Arizona student in the 1911 Phoenix Union High School yearbook sporting high school letterman jackets.

Varsity jackets didn’t come about until the 1930s; the sleeves were leather, while the trunk of the jacket was wool-bodied. This resulted from athletes complaining about being cold in their letter sweaters (Source).