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Tag: 1940’s mens fashion


Oct
2015

The Stylish “Regular” Folks of Days Gone By

categories: 1940s, 1950's, Vintage Fashion, vintage images

I recently did a blog post on the “The Stylish Toronto of the 1940s” and it was pretty well received, so I decided to expand my search to any location in the world for today’s post. BUT honestly what really motivated me to do a “new version” of that past post was the below image that a friend in Toronto shared of her mother when she was younger (around 1953), taking a canoe ride in England.

What stood out in my friend Ann’s mind and everyone else’s who saw this picture was the fact that her mother was not bundled up in “canoe wear” but instead chose to wear a pretty dress AND pearls around her neck. THAT is Style, don’t you agree?!

So with that, lets check out some more “regular folks” and their own fantastic fashion sense.

vintage photo of a woman in a canoe with pearls 1950s
Photo Courtesy of Ann Mayer

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 Stylish People

1940s & 1950s

At the Hair Salon

1940s Vintage Photo. Possibly these lovely women just finished getting their hair done or maybe they are the stylist themselves but it is clear no matter whether they are customer or professional they know how to look good. Their hair is perfect and I adore their simple but stylish style (especially the lady to the far right).

1940s Vintage Photo of Women in 1940s fashions sitting in a hair salon.
Source: eBay-growinggarlic101

Bows and Ruffles

When I saw the below 1940’s image while browsing the amazing collection they have at one of favorite vintage shops in Toronto-Gadabout, I quickly knew this pretty woman named “Eva” had to one day be shown to the world. How can you pass by such lovely fashion?

Her peplum blouse with its wonderful bows and ruffles is paired so nicely with a textured skirt. Excellent combo!

1940s Vintage Photo of a young women in a 1940s dress posing for a photo outside.
Vintage Inn Image Collection

Stylish Coats and Perfect Hair

This 1940s image speaks for itself. Simply Beautiful style.

1940s vintage photo of a women with 1940s hairstyle and a 1940s coat posing for a photo.
Vintage Inn Image Collection

Hanging in the front yard

I dream of owning a playsuit like you see below and to see it on this lovely photo of this pretty girl in the 1940s make me want one so much more. These playsuits are seriously the cutest and the fact that you can go from dress to shorts in one easy step makes this a must to add to my list of “stylish folks”.

1940s vintage photo of a young woman in a two piece 1940s playsuit posing for a photo on the side of her house.
Source: eBay-Darrins Car Photos

Sisters with Style

I know the rockabilly/vintage community ladies love their “Spanish” style blouses and their circle skirts. Well ladies and gents here are 3 ladies who are pulling off this look in real vintage time. Are you able to make out what looks like I’m assuming to be beautiful embroidery on the tops? And the patterns on 2 of the skirts are really great. Hair..perfect.

1940s vintage photo of 3 young women in spanish style outfits (peasant blouses) and bows in their curly hair and matching skirts.
Source: eBay-Darrins Car Photos

Pants and Blouses

Going along with the “Spanish” style blouses (gypsy tops they are also sometimes called) here is a 1940s image of a stunner of a woman from my own collection. I love the combo of a pretty blouse with pants (sorry for the not super clear image, the picture was very faded) and I’m pretty sure a really amazing belt from what I can see. Nice look!

1940s woman in pants and spanish style blouse posing for this early 1940s photo
Vintage Inn Image Collection

At the Swimming Pool

1950’s Photo: Here is Ruth, Anita and Ellen in California in July of 1954 enjoying at day the Giant Swimming Pool (according to the sign in the back). What caught my eye was the lovely suit on the right on who I think I might be Ellen (she looks like an Ellen). I would give anything to see the full details because the little peak of what we do so is so pretty. That is why this picture is on the list.

1950s vintage photo of three women in 1950s swimsuits / bathing suits posing for a photo together in 1954.
Vintage Inn Image Collection

Stripes and Mustaches

What a dreamy Best Dressed Couple! I love everything about their outfits and this 1940’s picture. His suit with that great tie and his nicely trimmed mustache is perfect. And his lovely wife in her ‘Katharine Hepburn’ like dress is oh so lovely.  Very nice indeed.

FURTHER READING: Movember-A Collection of Vintage Moustache Images!

1940s vintage image of a couple posing together on a sidewalk in stylish 1940s fashioins.
Source: Etsy-ljpsales

Saddle shoes and dances

We cannot possibly leave out the fashionable 1950s kids of times gone by. Look at these two doing a little dance together?  Her dress and saddle shoes and his teeny tiny cardigan… Ahhhh!! High Fives to being adorable.

FURTHER READING: Vintage Photo Tuesday: Saddle Shoes

1950s vintage photo of children dancing in saddle shoes in front of a 1950s TV in March 1958
Source: Etsy-EphemeraObscura

Beautiful Suit and Peplums

If you follow me on Instagram then you would have seen this late 1940’s, early 1950’s picture already, this is MY family on my mom’s side.

My Grandfather is the very stylish, handsome man in the middle of his equally as fantastically dressed sisters (my great Aunts). I do believe this is his wedding day if I’m not mistaken. I absolutely ADORE my Great Aunts dress with the asymmetrical peplum design…drool.

Late 1940s vintage photo of the Vintage Inn Blog's grandfather and his sisters in stylish late 1940s clothes.
Vintage Inn Image Collection

The Dior Look

And one last family picture, my 1950’s Grandmother (once again my mom’s mom). Her “Dior Look” is spot on and I now know where I got my good fashion sense from 🙂

FURTHER READING: The Fashions of Christian Dior 1947-1957

1950s vintage photo of the Vintage Inn Blog's Grandmother, Elizabeth in a Dior New Look style dress posing for a photo in London, Ontario, Canada.
Vintage Inn Image Collection

And that is the roundup for today’s post, but I had so much fun working on it that I don’t think it will be the last post I ever do on this topic. Stay tuned for more.

Question Time:

Do you enjoy looking at “real life photos” of everyday folks for style inspiration? Or do you prefer to take tips from the stars (or maybe both!)

FURTHER READING:

Liz 🙂


Sep
2014

Vintage Photos of 1940s Collegiate Life

categories: Back to School, vintage History, vintage images

August is now gone and that means all the kiddies and older kids are back to school. Sigh..bye bye summer.

Going to school was always something I enjoyed and I have some pretty great memories during those years. I do though vividly remember my first dance of University, I was so nervous and excited all at the same time. I just left my small “ish” home town and had moved to the big City of Toronto to live. I had no idea what the future held but I knew that it was never going to be a dull movement, and boy has it not!

Now going with this theme of “Back to school” and since I’m a fan of the 1940s I thought I would like to do a post on what College life looked like during those years. First up I know it looked nothing like my early 2000’s university life, hahaha 🙂

So are you ready to take a class in “1940s Collegiate Style and Collegiate Life” with me as seen thru pictures?

Vintage Photos of 1940s Collegiate Life

Time to move into your dorm (1940’s Photo).  These lovely ladies look fresh-faced and ready to tackle the world. I love the luggage and hat box! And the dress with the Peter Pan collar is a very practical and pretty.

1940s photo of two young college girls in 1940s fashions moving into their dorm. They are holding suitcases and hat boxes.
Source: UMW Centennial

The caption for this 1940’s picture is: Class Officers in front of Gate at University of Mary Washington.

Saddle Shoes! Great skirts and jackets! Look at their hair?! Oh my this photo is simply and truly wonderful. 1940s Collegiate Style right here ladies and gentlemen.

1940s Vintage Photo of 4 women in 1940s hairstyles and 1940s fashion, they are the Class Officers in front of Gate at University of Mary Washington.
Source: UMW Centennial

Studying in the Dorm

Not much in way of great clothing look here, BUT did you notice all the great details in the room? First up, can you see the handsome serviceman on the bookshelf? I saw him instantly! How about that great clock? Do you think it’s Bakelite? I also adore the bread-spreads. Burberry has nothing on these beds.

Further Reading: Vintage Photos of Dorm Life in the 1920s-1960s

1940s vintage photo of two young women in their college dorm studying.
Source: UWM Centennial

1940s vintage photo of women in a cooking class, making the perfect pie.

Maybe the ladies above were studying up on how to make the perfect pie as seen below? Mandatory for a woman in the 1940s to be able to do, I’m sure.

1940s vintage photo of women in college holding pies that they made in their baking class in college.
Source: UMW Centennial

Time to Join a Club!

Okay this picture has so many fantastic things happening. First up according to the caption on this picture this is “Campus Jane and Campus Joe, members of the University of Miami ‘M’ Club-1946″. Right there I’m in love, how cute is that?!

Next up, their style. When I think of 1940s collegiate style this is EXACTLY what I think of. Saddle shoes (I love my saddle shoes), his collegiate sweater with the M, her wool skirt with cardigan which is just wonderful. Never mind the woman behind them with that great figure and dress. I also think they are too adorable for words. No words!

Further Reading:

1940s vintage photo of a young man and young woman in college both wearing saddle shoes and 1940s fashion. The caption of the photo says: Campus Jane and Campus Joe, members of the University of Miami 'M' Club-1946
Source: University of Miami Libraries Digital

1940s photo of college women playing golf.

Like sports? How about joining the golf club? hahaha “Golf Club”!!! Okay I’m done making silly jokes 🙂

For a fan of vintage clothing this picture has so many amazing things happening in it, I don’t even know where to start? The skirts, tops, shoes, HAIR! So stylish and fantastic to look at and what great form they all have.

1940s vintage photo of young women in college in 1940s fashions and saddle shoes posing with their golf clubs for their Golf Club.
Source: UWM Centennial

Transportation to school

If you did not live in a dorm, how were some of the ways you got to school? Well in this fantastic photo the pretty girl with the great car seems to have her way all set. I’m not sure if the guys are interested in her or the car though?

Can you spot the fun beanie hat and those great shoes on the guys?

1940s vintage photo of a young woman in a 1940s car talking to a college man.
Source: University of Miami Libraries Digital

Or maybe you had to take the bus like these students at Duke University.

1940s vintage photo of a 1940s car and school bus with young women in 1940s fashions from Duke University waiting to take the bus.
Source: Duke Yearlook

Doing your part for the war effort

During the early part of the 1940s a big part of school activities was helping with the war effort. These pretty ladies are collecting scrap at Duke University to “Help rub out the axis with scrap rubber“.

1940s college students doing their part for the war effort
Source: Duke Yearlook

Learning First Ad, very important as you never knew when you might need it. Future nurses?

1940s vintage image of women doing first ad at their nursing college.
Source: Duke Yearlook

Letting off some steam

After a long day of school and studying (and helping with the war effort) it’s always fun to kick up your heels and listen to a good band, like at this welcome Party.

I love the beanies that the Freshman girls were probably expected to wear. I also see some great patterns on dresses.

Further Reading:

1940s vintage photo of young college students watching a band play. They are all wearing beanies as they are freshmen students.
Source: UMW Centennial

How about a dance with your significant other on a Saturday night? These two couples look like they are having fun. I also adore the peplum dress that is longer in the front, I wonder what colour it was?

1940s vintage photo of two couples in college / university dancing together at a school dance.
Source: UMW Centennial

Maybe dancing was not your way of relaxing, so how about a swim with your college chums?

Students at the University of Miami in 1944 enjoying a day off from their studies.

1940s vintage photo fo Students at the University of Miami in 1944 enjoying a day off from their studies. Fantastic 1940s hairstyles and 1940s swimsuits
Source: University of Miami Libraries Digital

And there you have it friends, a peak into 1940s collegiate life. I think they were wonderful photos, during a time that was not the easiest for many of these men and women. Don’t you agree?

Do you have good school memories? Or would you rather just forget they ever happened?

Further Reading: Vintage School posts from the 1920s-1960s (Archived posts)

Liz 🙂