1930s style in action. A collection of vintage photos of regular everyday people in 1930s fashions.

1930s vintage photo of a woman windown shopping in a 1930s dress, 1930s shoes and 1930s hat.

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1930’s Fashions As Seen On Everyday People

The Vintage Photos

In the 1930s, fashion saw a profound influence from films and specifically Hollywood. Men’s, women’s, and children’s styles were based on fashions seen on screen with stars like Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, and Shirley Temple among the many who directly influenced fashion. A return to conservatism after the Roaring Twenties also marked fashion during this period.
(Learn all about 1930s Fashions for Men & Women at the Fashion Institute of Technology)

Our first image is the best way to start this 1930s fashion post. From the ruffled colar on this sweater jacket to her cute beanie hat, this woman is stylish!

1930s vintage photo of a woman in 1930s fashion posing outside with a dog who is behind the fence. Stunning 1930s street style.

Source: Etsy

Not only is the photo below of a stylish 1930s family it also comes with a fascinating story.

ABOUT: Two cousins named Roberta G. Thomas and Flaurience Sengstacke (Thomas stands at the far left, while Sengstacke is seated at the far left) chronicled what life was like for two young, African American women traveling abroad. Published in the pages of the Chicago Defender, a weekly newspaper published by their uncle Robert Sengstacke Abbott, the cousins’ columns regaled readers with tales of the duo’s travels throughout Europe, as recounted in some 20 articles penned between July 1931 and August 1932 (source).

Read all about their story here ==> Experience 1930s Europe Through the Words of Two African American Women

1930s vintage photo of a stylish 1930s Black family in 1930s fashions posing together after two young women returns from their travels. The cousins (Thomas stands at the far left, while Sengstacke is seated at the far left) pose for a family portrait after returning from their trip

Source: Smithsonian magazine

This couple is probably not that “regular everyday” but I don’t know who they are, and neither does anyone else on the web so they get to be shared here. Besides why would you not want to admire her zebra stripped jacket and matching skirt and his dapper boater hat and suit? Fantastic style from head to toe!

1930s vintage photo of a man and woman in 1930s fashions. The woman is wearing a zebra print 1930s Jacket and matching 1930s skirt. The man is wearing a suit with a straw boating hat.

“1933-Mamie Smith & Virginia Flynn” pose together in their homemade dresses. Mamie is wearing a 1930s housedress and Virginia is wearing a pretty bow dress.

1930s Vintage Photo / 1930s Fashion: 1933-Mamie Smith & Virginia Flynn pose together in their homemade dresses. Mamie is wearing a 1930s housedress and Virginia is wearing a pretty bow dress.

Source: Etsy

Two friends share a moment in front of a store window.

1930s vintage photo of two young women in 1930s dresses posing together in 1930s fashions / 1930s street style.

Helene & Priscilla in 1930s coats with fur shawls posing on a boat.

1930s fashion / 1930s Photo of two stylish women in 1930s coats with fur collars, 1930s shoes and 1930s hats posing on a boat

Source: Etsy-DearMacyVintage

A group out for the day with their car, stopping to take a photo to showoff their 1930s style.

1930s vintage photo of men and women in 1930s fashions posing with a car

Source: Etsy

1935 Strolling Coats as seen in this photo from ‘James Van Der Zee’.

STUNNING!

James Augustus Van Der Zee (June 29, 1886 – May 15, 1983) was an American photographer best known for his portraits of BlackNew Yorkers. He was a leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance. Aside from the artistic merits of his work, Van Der Zee produced the most comprehensive documentation of the period (Source).

1930s vintage photo of a Black Women and a Black Man in 1930s fashions as seen in 1935. 1935 Strolling Coats.

Source: Feature Shoot

A young man in a three piece suit and black and white shoes stops for a photo on a winter day.

1930s vintage photo of a young man in a 1930s suit, black and white shoes and a 1930s hat posing for a photo.

Source: Etsy

What a stylish group of women, man and child. The 1930s hats are just wonderful and of course so are all their outfits.

1930s vintage photo of Asian women and a young girl and one man in 1930s fashions.

Source: Pinterest

1939 photo of a couple posing together in a garden. How cute is our ladies Tam hat?

1930s vintage photo of a man and woman in 1930s fashions from 1939 posing together in a garden

Source: Etsy

Lindy Hop at the Savoy Ballroom. Some fantastic 1930s outfits to admire in this photo. From the stripped socks on our lead, to the cute 1930s shoes on our follows. This image has it all!

1930s vintage photo of Black Lindy Hoppers dancing at the Savoy Ballroom in 1930s fashions.

“June 1936, Grace” poses in front of a her front steps to take a photo of her outfit of the day before heading out for some fun.

I like her confidence in this image, so that is why I decided to share it, even though her outfit is not the clearest.

1930s vintage photo of a young woman in a 1930s coat and 1930s dress posing in front of her house.

Source: Etsy

What do I love about this outfit? I think it’s the vertical lines on the dress and the pretty eyelet blouse. It just goes so well together. Feels very Art Deco.

1930s vintage photo of a pretty young Black Woman in a stunning 1930s top and matching skirt (or possibly a 1930s dress). Fantastic 1930s Fashion on display.

Source: Pinterest

“Bea, Me, Anne -January 1938”. Another lovely example of some of the coats style available in the late 1930s for women.

1930s vintage photo of three young women in 1930s coats one being a fur coat posing together. Great 1930s fashions

Source: Etsy

I hope you enjoyed taking a look at how regular people (aka not the movie stars) dressed in the 1930s. Share your favourite image / outfit in the comments section below. Also please make sure you check out my other fashions image posts at the link below.

Further Reading:

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz

You may never know if your great-grandmother was part of a sorority back in the day, but with a few clicks of a mouse, you can get a glimpse into the sorority culture of the 1920s-1950s thanks to vintage photographs that capture the spirit of sisterhood and tradition.

Whether it’s a sweet snapshot of two friends goofing around or a formal portrait of a group of girls lined up in matching outfits, these classic photos are sure to spark a sense of nostalgia.

For today’s Vintage Photo Tuesday, I was inspired by the topic of back to school and the vintage images that have been crossing my Pinterest feed of Sororites from the 1920s-1950s.

So let’s see what I found, shall we?

1940s vintage photo of a college women in a sorority in 1940s fashions including plaid fashions and saddle shoes.

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 Photos of Sororities

1920s-1950s

All the pledges for all the sororities on North Dakota Agricultural college’s campus took a group photograph on the steps of Old Main. GOSH what amazing 1920s fashions!

1920s Vintage Photo of a 1920s Sorority. All the pledges for all the sororities on North Dakota Agricultural college’s campus take a group photograph on the steps of Old Main.

Source: Flickr

1922 ‘Phi Gamma’ Sorority‘ as seen in the Queens University of Charlotte, Nods and Becks yearbook.

Source: Digitalnc.org

‘Sigma Gamma Rho, Alpha Chapter, 1924.

About: On November 12, 1922, seven young women came together in the middle of “Klandiana” to create Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated, a sisterhood that would change the world. At the time of the organization’s founding at Butler University in Indianapolis, the state was the epicenter of the Ku Klux Klan, In the middle of that hostile environment, the founders of Sigma Gamma Rho built a sorority that not only supported and encouraged Black women to pursue higher education, but was also focused on serving the Black community (Source).

Source: Essence

Heading back to the North Dakota Agricultural College, here is the 1928 Pledge class for the ‘Gamma Phi Beta‘ sorority.

About: Gamma Phi Beta is an international college sorority. It was founded in Syracuse University in 1874, and was the first of the Greek organizations to call itself a sorority. The term “sorority” was coined for Gamma Phi Beta by Dr. Frank Smalley, a professor at Syracuse University (Source).

The 1928 Pledge class for Gamma Phi Beta stands on the steps of Old Main. The women are wearing 1920s fashions including 1920s hats, and 1920s women's coats.

Source: Flickr

‘Delta Delta Delta (Tri Delta) Sorority‘ National Convention (June 28 – July 2 – 1936) yard long photograph. The photo is taken in front of the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs.

About: Although there were three women’s groups represented at Boston University in 1888, seniors Sarah Ida Shaw and Eleanor Dorcas Pond saw a need for a different organization that would “be kind alike to all and think more of the girl’s inner self and character than of her personal appearance.” It came to be on Thanksgiving Eve 1888 (Source).

1930s vintage photo: Delta Delta Delta Sorority National Convention (June 28 - July 2 - 1936) yard long photograph. The photo is taken in front of the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs. 1930s photo showcases 1930s fashions and 1930s hairstyles.

Source: Etsy

‘Alpha Delta Chi Sorority‘ as seen in the 1938 Pine Knot yearbook-Barton College in North Carolina.

About: The sorority is the only honor society on the campus and was organized in 1936. The members are selected for scholarship, character, and particpation in extra-curricular activities. Its colors are red and gold.

1930s Photo of a 1938 vintage yearbook images of the Alpha Delta Chi Sorority in their late 1930s fashions.

Source: Digitalnc.org

1942 ‘Chi Omega‘ Sorority as seen in the Queens University of Charlotte, Coronet 1942 yearbook.

1940s vintage photo of a sorority sisters yearbook photos from 1942-The Chi Omega Sorority. Super 1940s fashions in the 1940s photo.

Vintage yearbooks are one of my favourites go-tos for seeing what 1940s hairstyles actually looked like and our lovely sorority sisters in their yearbooks photos from 1942 are no exception.

1940s vintage photo of a sorority sisters yearbook photos from 1942-The Chi Omega Sorority. Super 1940s hairstyles.

Source: Digitalnc.org

“Beta Lambda”. ‘Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority‘ at Howard University in 1945 looking incredibly stylish. Fantastic 1940s fashions!

ABOUT: The Alpha Kappa Sorority, is the first intercollegiate historically African American sorority. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at the historically black Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of sixteen students led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle. Forming a sorority broke barriers for Black women in areas where they had little power or authority due to a lack of opportunities for minorities and women in the early 20th century. Alpha Kappa Alpha was incorporated on January 29, 1913 (Source).

1940s vintage photo of Black Women college students at Howard University in their Sorority photos and in 1940s fashions and 1940s hairstyles

Source: Flickr

‘Kappa Alpha Theta‘ as seen in Duke Universities, 1947 Chanticleer yearbook.

About: Kappa Alpha Theta, also known simply as Theta, is an international women’s fraternity founded on January 27, 1870, at DePauw University, formerly Indiana Asbury. It was the first Greek-letter fraternity established for women (Source).

1940s Vintage Yearbook Photo of the Sorority Kappa Alpha theta at Duke University in 1947. The women are all wearing 1940s college fashions.

1940s Vintage Yearbook Photos of the Sorority Kappa Alpha theta at Duke University in 1947. Super 1940s Hairstyle inspiration.

Source: Digitalnc.org

Shaw University 1951 Yearbook Photo of the ‘Delta Sigma Theta Sorority‘.

About: The first African-American Greek organizations, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, both chapters of national organizations, appeared in 1920.

Shaw University 1951 Yearbook Photo of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Source: Digitalnc.org

Fun Fact! Lena Horne, legendary singer/actress was also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta (Source).

1940s vintage photo of Lena Horne in Till the Clouds Roll By (1946). Lena Horne, legendary singer/actress was also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta

‘Pi Kappa Tau Sorority’ as seen in the 1951 Elon University (North Carolina), Phi Psi Cli yearbook.

1950s Vintage Photo of 1950s women in college in their Sorority Page photo seen in a 1950s yearbook (1951).

Source: Digitalnc.org

‘Rho Gamma Alpha Sorority’ at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 1956 yearbook photos.

About: Rho Gamma Alpha is the social society of Charlotte College. New members are admitted each Fall Quarter on the basis of character, personality and interest displayed in organization.

1950s vintage yearbook photos of the 'Rho Gamma Alpha Sorority' at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 1956 featuring 1950s hairstyles and 1950s fashions.

Source: Digitalnc.org

The Livingstonian College (North Carolina) yearbook from 1959 featuring the ‘Alpha Kappa Sorority‘ in their beautiful 1950s evening gowns (I had to share this sorority again because this image was just so wonderful).

1950s Vintage Photo: The Livingstonian College (North Carolina) yearbook from 1959 featuring the Black Sorority, the 'Alpha Kappa Sorority' in their beautiful 1950s evening gowns.

Source: Digitalnc.org

And that is this is the end of this post. I hope you enjoyed taking a look at this collection of vintage sorority images and learning a bit about their history.

Please share any fun / interesting comments about this topic in the comments section below.

FURTHER READING:

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz

Category: Vintage Photo Tuesday

Vintage Photo Tuesday: 1930s Fashions As Seen On Everyday People

1930’s Fashions As Seen On Everyday People

The Vintage Photos

Vintage Photo’s of Sororities 1920s-1950s

Vintage Photos of Sororities

1920s-1950s