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Tag: 1960’s

Vintage Fashion Spotlight: Vicky Vaughn

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).

1950s Fashion: "Campus Cottons from Vicky Vaughn". 1953 fashion ad featuring beautiful 1950s dresses.

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.

1960s Fashion Ad for Vicky Vaughn 1968 Jersey Shift Dresses featuring a 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.

1950s fashion: 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.

1960s Fashion: 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.

1950s Fashion: 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 Las Vegas Photos, 1940s-1960s

Welcome to 2023! I hope January has been good to you so far. I’m just back from basically travelling for a month (it was a blast) and now I’m off to Las Vegas again for my annual German Karneval (Mardi Gras) 2 day party at the Tuscany. It’s always a fun party with great people celebrating the traditions originally started in Germany. You can follow along on my Instagram Feed if you are interested.

In honour of my upcoming party weekend, I thought ‘Vintage Photo Tuesday‘ should focus on images from Las Vegas from the 1940s to the 1960s. Then if you enjoyed this post, you can find other vintage Vegas posts I have done at the end of today’s fun.

Let’s begin!

Flamingo Hotel (Las Vegas), 1950s. The Champagne Tower is seen on the right. 

The Flamingo hotel is one of my favourite places to stay on the strip. It no longer looks like the cool Mid Century Architecture below but it’s still awesome.

1950s vintage photo of the front of the Flamingo Hotel (Las Vegas), 1950s - Las Vegas

Source: UNLV Digital Collections

Early 1950s photo of a stylish woman hanging out at the Sahara pool. What a super coloured photo!

1950s vintage photo of a stylish woman in 1950s fashions and 1950s hairstyle hanging out At the Sahara hotel pool, early 1950s. (Undated Kodachrome red border slide.)

Source: Facebook-Vintage Las Vegas

Bands are everyhere in the city. Here is a group of entertainers called “Polly Possum, Joe Wolverton and the Dogpatch County Band” performing at the Golden Nugget Saloon in downtown Las Vegas.

1950s Vintage Photo: Group of entertainers called "Polly Possum, Joe Wolverton and the Dogpatch County Band" performing at the Golden Nugget Saloon in downtown Las Vegas. Fun Vintage Las Vegas image.

Source: UNLV Digital Collections

1950s photo of four showgirls (another staple in the city) in stylish 1950s dresses outside the Moulin Rouge, preparing for the Helldorado parade, dated May 5, 1955.

About the Moulin Rouge:

On 24 May 1955 the Moulin Rouge Hotel and Casino opened.  It was located at at 900, Bonanza Road on the west side of Las Vegas; becoming what the promoters called “the nation’s first major interracial hotel”.

Until the hotel’s opening African American entertainers in Las Vegas were denied access to public casino and hotel dining areas unless they were performing and were forced to stay overnight in segregated boarding houses on the Westside.  Within the next few months the hotel attracted performers such as Louis Armstrong, George Burns, Nat King Cole, Jack Benny, Frank Sinatra, and Sammy Davis, Jr.

Unfortunately, despite its popularity, the Moulin Rouge closed its doors six months later surrounded by many rumors as to what had happened. Its brief run as a successfully integrated casino, though, prompted political activists to campaign for the integration of the Las Vegas Strip – an agreement that was achieved, ironically, in the now closed Moulin Rouge on March 26, 1960 (Source).

1950s photo of four showgirls in 1950s dresses outside the Moulin Rouge, preparing for the Helldorado parade, dated May 5, 1955.

Source: UNLV Digital Collections

Photograph of Lionel Hampton with members of the Moulin Rouge show group, 1955.

1950s vintage Photograph of Lionel Hampton with members of the Moulin Rouge show group, 1955

Source: UNLV Digital Collections

1960s vintage photo of a group of men and women in 1960s fashions hanging out at the Sands Hotel pool.

1960s vintage photo ofa group of men and women in 1960s fashions hanging out at the Sands Hotel pool.

Source: UNLV Digital Collections

A floating craps game in the Sands Hotel swimming pool (Las Vegas), 1954. Love the 1950s swimsuits.

Photo description: “Floating craps table – Customers at the Sands Hotel escape the heat by gambling in the pool. About 2200 guests tried this in 1954.” (Source).

1950s vintage Photograph of a floating craps game in the Sands Hotel swimming pool (Las Vegas), 1954. Cute 1950s swimsuits on the women.

Source: UNLV Digital Collections

Las Vegas is known for it’s famous buffets. Here is a image of the Chuck Wagon Buffet at the El Rancho Vegas, late 1940s.

1940s vintage Photograph of the Chuck Wagon Buffet at the El Rancho Vegas (Las Vegas), late 1940s - Vintage Vegas

Source: UNLV Digital Collections

1951 photo of workers installing the now-famous Vegas Vic sign on the front of the Pioneer Club.

Photo Description: “First Highrise Hotel — Center of action downtown throughtout the 1930s was the Apache Hotel which boasted an elevator and a nitery downstairs. The corner is now Binion’s Horseshoe, but the spot has undergone many name changes from Tony Cornero’s ‘S.S. Rex’ to the Eldorado where the mobs were fighting for control of the race wire. Bugsy Siegel’s influence was first felt here in the early 1940s.” (Source).

1950s vintage Photograph of YESCO workers installing Vegas Vic at the Pioneer Club (Las Vegas), 1951

Source: UNLV Digital Collections

Desert Inn, 1950 – The Sky Room, at the top of a three story tower, the tallest structure on the Las Vegas Strip at the time. The woman on the right is Toni Clark, wife of DI president Wilbur Clark. Photographed by J.R. Eyerman for LIFE Magazine (Source).

Desert Inn, 1950 – The Sky Room, at the top of a three story tower, the tallest structure on the Las Vegas Strip at the time. The woman on the right is Toni Clark, wife of DI president Wilbur Clark. photographed by J.R. Eyerman for LIFE Magazine. Stylish 1950s evening dresses and 1950s hairstyles.

Source: Facebook – Vintage Las Vegas

Las Vegas-The Wedding Capital.

Las Vegas residents Eddie and Johnie Wright at their wedding reception, April 25, 1957.

In an oral history interview (for the African Americans in Las Vegas: a Collaborative Oral History Project) with Eddie Wright Jr. and Johnie B. Wright conducted by B. Leon Green. Wright and Wright Jr. discuss coming to Las Vegas, Nevada and their careers as a teacher/nursing aid and a ticket agent at the local Greyhound station, respectively (Source).

1950s vintage Photograph of Eddie and Johnie Wright at their wedding reception, April 25, 1957. Fantastic 1950s Wedding Image.

Source: UNLV Digital Collections

Another wedding photo but this time for Sammy Davis Jr and Loray White at the Sands in Las Vegas on 01/10/1958.

1950s Vintage Photo: Sammy Davis Jr and Loray White wedding at the Sands in Las Vegas on 01/10/1958

Source: Pinterest

Front exterior of Club Bingo (Las Vegas), between 1947-1952. What a fun sign! BINGO!

Photograph of the front exterior of Club Bingo (Las Vegas), between 1947-1952 - Vintage Vegas

Source: UNLV Digital Collections

Playing bingo at Golden Nugget, February 1947 – Photo by Jon Brenneis (Source).

1940s vintage image of a woman in westernwear and a 1940s hairstyle Playing bingo at Golden Nugget, February 1947 - Photo by Jon Brenneis

Source: Facebook-Vintage Las Vegas

Events and conventions are another staple of the Vegas scene.

Congo line at the American Parts System convention – Late 1960s photo.

Events and conventions are another staple of the Vegas scene. 

Congo line at the American Parts System convention - Late 1960s photo.

Source: UNLV Digital Collections

Fremont & Main, 1946. Our lovely lady (love her braid hairstyle) is standing at Union Park which was in front of the Union Pacific depot. The photo is sometime between May-Nov. 1946 (source).

1940s vintage photo of a woman in a 1940s dress and a braided 1940s hairstyle at Fremont & Main, 1946. She's standing at Union Park which was in front of the Union Pacific depot. The photo is sometime between May-Nov. 1946.

Source: Facebook-Vintage Las Vegas

Famous Las Vegas shows. 1950s vintage photo of the Copa Girls Trans World Airlines show rehearsal at the Sands Hotel.

1950s vintage photo of the Copa Girls Trans World Airlines show rehearsal at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas.

Source: UNLV Digital Collections

Thank you for dropping by and I hope you enjoyed this collection of vintage Vegas photos. Please share any comments you have about this blog post in the section below. I love hearing from my readers.

This is going to be another year of fun vintage content and I can’t wait to share it all with you!

Further Reading about Vintage Las Vegas:

Liz