Did you know (you might of know this already) that there is an actual day called “Plaidurday” on First Friday of October (October 6th,2023) that is a worldwide celebration of all things….PLAID!!! Yes friends, the world is a wonderful place.

POST UPDATED APRIL 2024

1940s vintage party photo of a group of grils in 1940s hairstyles and 1940s fashions enjoying some time together — 1940s Party Time with Friends-Source: Flapper Girl

Now to get my mind ready for all things plaid I have been looking for lots of vintage plaid inspiration online and boy there are tons (vintage ads, vintage fashions, vintage items & more). Shall we see what I found?

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 Plaid Party Time -Vintage Ads, Vintage Fashions & More!

Vintage “Plaid” Advertising & Images

Pendleton is the ultimate “Plaid” clothing line as seen in these 3 ads below.

1950s Pendleton vintage advertising featuring Plaid housecoats and plaid jackets for Christmas time as gifts. — Source: Pinterest

1950s vintage ad for Women's Pendleton Sportswear featuring skirts, capris and casual tops in plaid. — Source: Vintage Dancer

While not an outfit this blanket is still a Pendleton and looks super cozy. I’m a bit confused on the “Robe-in-a-Bag” tagline though, does this not look like a blanket and not a robe in the traditional sense?

Vintage Pendleton blanket ad from the 1950s. 1950s Vintage Ad featuring plaid blanket that is in a bag and perfect for various activities. — Source: Pendleton Tumblr

1944 Teen girl wearing blue jeans and of course PLAID! Does she not look fantastic? Everything about this relaxed outfit is pretty cool (minus the smoking part, but that is the time). I really like the radio as well, that is on my wish list when I have a bigger home.

1940s vintage image of a young girl in a plaid oversize jacket, jeans and smoking in her livingroom beside the radio. — Source: Life

Every Teen Girls Dream in 1947-The “Scot-Trot”.

1940s Vintage Ad for 1940s Dress in Plaid for Teen girls. Called the Scot-Trot. — Source: Classic Film

1940s Teen Girls in wool, plaid skirts and saddle shoes. This might be the look I end up channeling for the party. Can I just say how much I LOVE this photo!

Further Reading: Vintage Photos of People Wearing Saddle Shoes

1940s teen girls in wool plaid skirts and saddle shoes. Super 1940s fashions and 1940s hairstyles. — Source Flickr: Rollei

Fashion Do’s & Don’t’s for Short Girls from the 1940s featuring an adorable plaid skirt in the “Do” side.

1940s Fashion Illustration: Fashion Do's & Don't's for Short Girls from the 1940s

The plaid dress in this 1940s vintage image is beautiful and the ladies are equally stunning. Fantastic 1940s photo!

1940s vintage image of two women in 1940s fashions. 1940s plaid dress and 1940s skirt, blous and jacket. Cute 1940s hairstyles. — Source: Etsy-girlcatdesign

What stylish 1950s ladies, I must say.

1957 plaid and tweeds vintage advertising for women's coordinates (tops and skirts) — Sears & Roebuck, 1957. Source: tuppencehapenny

Don’t worry men, there is lots of plaid to go around, even when you go swimming. -1950s vintage ad-

1950s Jantzen vintage swimsuit ad for men featuring plaid swim shorts, and matching shirts and plaid regular shorts. — Source: Vintage Ads

Or when your just hanging out, like these McGregor ads show. -1950s vintage ad-

1950s vintage ads for McGregor shirts for men in plaids and other patterns and colors. Perfect fathers day presents! — Source: Pinterest

I cannot have a post on plaid without mentioning-Scotch Tape, the king of plaid packaging!

1950s scotch tape holder / 1950s vintage advertising. — 1950’s Scotch Tape. Source: Flickr-Allen

How about a Plaid Fridge?? Yes a Plaid Fridge! Wow that is a lot of plaid in one area, if I do say so myself. Cool International Harvester 1950s ad.

Further Reading: Vintage Refrigerator Advertisements 1920’s – 1950’s

1950s vintage ad for the Decorator Refigerator by International Harvester. Featuring covers you can add to the front of your fridge. Like a plaid fridge cover! — Source: Pinterest

Vintage Plaid Fashions For Sale OR To Inspire

(updated aPRIL 2024)

1950s / 1960s lovely Teena Paige Swing Dress in a wintery plaid print of white, black and red. Fitted bodice with a high collarless rounded neck and cute half sleeves with bell cuffs).

1950s / 1960s Vintage Fashions: lovely Teena Paige Swing Dress in a wintery plaid print of white, black and red. Fitted bodice with a high collarless rounded neck and cute half sleeves with bell cuffs. Fun Vintage Fall / Winter Fashion Inspiration

Source: Etsy – SartorialMatters

This is a sweet and simple day dress from the 1950s. Crisp cotton in vibrant green and blue plaid.

1950s Dress | Sweet 50s Blue and Green Plaid Cotton Dress

Source: Etsy

1950s RR Henderson Ltd. vintage plaid pencil skirt. I love the pocket detail.

1950s Fashion: 1950s RR Henderson Ltd. Vintage Plaid Pencil Skirt

Source: Etsy

Vintage 1950s / 1960s style mid-century yellow green blue plaid 3/4 sleeve shirtwaist dress.

Source: Etsy

1950s Vintage Plaid Sundress. The plaid is a pretty blues, yellow and green’s. Such a lovely vintage dress!

Vintage 1950s Dress | 50s Silk Plaid Checkered Green Blue Pleated Full Skirt Sundress

Source: Etsy

Vintage 1950s White Red Black Plaid Fit & Flare Dress. Oh so freaking cute!

Vintage 1950s Dress S/M ~ White Red Black Plaid Fit & Flare Dress Fitted Shelf Bodice Wasp Waist Lace Trim Collar Tie Bow Cuffed Sleeves

Source: Etsy

1950s shirtwaist dress in a very lovely weight cotton twill material. This vintage dress features a blue and white plaid print throughout.

Source: Etsy

1950s plaid dress // Harvest Gold vintage yellow plaid sundress. Those pockets!

1950s plaid dress // Harvest Gold vintage yellow plaid 1950s sundress .

Source: Etsy

1960s Plaid Dress, PERFECT for Summer Fun!

1960s Plaid Sun Dress / Vintage Orange Green and Brown Abstract Plaid Day Dress

Source: Etsy

Adorable late 50s early 60s Plaid cotton swimsuit. Blue and white plaid with folded over cotton waffle piqué sweetheart neckline. Matching white halter strap that buttons on the left side.

50s Plaid Swimsuit, Vintage 1950s Playsuit, Blue & White 60s Cotton Romper, large

Source: Etsy

I adore this pink plaid dress from the 1950s.

1950s pink plaid dress / 1950s shirtwaist dress / 1950s housedress

Source: Etsy

Gorgeous red cotton shirtwaist dress from the 1950s. Label: McMullen.

Source: Etsy

Here is a similar modern day version of the Vintage 1950s dress above, but for sale in various sizes from Unique Vintage.

September 2023 Update: This dress is no longer available but I have linked you to all the fun plaid print dresses & outfits available at Unique Vintage.

1940s / 1950s Pendleton. This jacket features a cozy blue and burnt orange/brown colourway in a plaid pattern and the classic 49er design.

Source: Etsy

1940s Pendleton 49er wool jacket.

Source: Etsy

For the gentlemen in your life (or maybe yourself)- A plaid tie from the 1940s. Isn’t it marvelous?

1940s Plaid Swing Tie-1940s mens fashion.

Source: Etsy

Other Fun Plaid Items!

Vintage 1950s Scrapbook with a women’s Face wearing a Scottish Tam, Plaid Scarf and Red Jacket. CUTE!

Source: Etsy

Beautiful vintage 1953 plaid lunchbox.

1950s Vintage Lunchbox - Plaid 1950s lunchbox

Source: Etsy

For the Kitchen- A 1950s turquoise plaid fruit tablecloth- cotton.

1950s Vintage Tablecloth for the retro home featuring a plaid pattern in the centre.

Source: Etsy

1940s red plaid umbrella, purple green stripes, clear Lucite handle, wooden, jewel tones. So PRETTY!

Source: Etsy

1950s Plaid Evening Gown…STUNNING!!! (not sure why this is down here in the “other” but oh well LOL!)

Lastly to end this post I wanted to share a wonderful photo of my husband and our new Tailor friend Mister Xe we met while in Hoi An in Vietnam in 2013. Aren’t they a cute pair?! hehehe

plaid jacket vietnam — Source: Vintage Inn

QUESTION TIME: Do you love plaid as much as the Vintage Inn? Or is it a pattern you stay away from?

Do you love vintage Fall fashions? Then take a look at my always updated Etsy Collection of Fall Fashions from the 1920s-1960s that you can purchase right now.

Further Reading:

Vintage Fall / Autumn 1920s-1960s Blog Posts (Archived)
Vintage Fashions 1920s-1960s (Archived Blog Posts)

Liz 🙂

This past weekend I attended a new event in Toronto called “The Toronto Antique & Vintage Market” at the CNE grounds. I was attending on behalf of the Toronto Vintage Society and also for my own pleasure..hello Vintage Shopping! The event was a pretty good size with booths selling everything from vintage clothing to vintage postcards and antique furniture.

I had a very limited budget so I knew that I was not going to go all hog-wild on buying things, plus my closet is getting so jammed I really have no space to store any new clothing items until I do a purge (which is going to be almost impossible). So my plan..keep it small and easy to store. Well the show had lots of that so I scored a few awesome finds, and here is what I found….

One of my favorite finds from the show-a 1940-41 Fall & Winter Eaton’s Catalogue (Take a look inside HERE).

Eaton’s was once Canada’s largest department store retailer. It was founded in 1869 in Toronto by Timothy Eaton, and it grew to become a retail and social institution in Canada. With stores across the country, buying offices around the globe, and a catalogue that was found in the homes of most Canadians (we always had one in my home). Sadly in 1999 the company went bankrupt, so now finding pieces of history like this is means just a little bit more for vintage history lovers like me (Source).

1940s Eatons Catalogue Fall & Winter Fashion — The jacket is absolutely DIVINE!

Find # 2: 1950’s Rosanna Knit Sportswear Bolero

This sweater has the most wonderful details as you can see below and is in MINT condition. I got it for a steal AND it’s small so it will fit in whatever remaining space is left in my closet.

Next Purchase a Vintage Brooch-It needs a bit of TLC but I actually don’t mind the fact that there is only a bit of green left on the palm trees. Adds Character 🙂

Now my small but mighty finds-Several Vintage Photos from the 1940s and 1950s:

The below image has a story to tell and I love it! I believe that the couple is going on their honeymoon or something very important because air travel in the 1940s was not something you just up and did like we do today. Plus they look really really nice, which is nothing out of the norm for air travel in the early days but they just look like it’s a special occasion.

I think it is also great that the plane in the background is actually a Canadian airline (no longer around) called “Canadian Pacific Air Lines“. I love finding images like that this have a bit of Canadian history tied to them.

Lastly, lets talk about her outfit. Her hat is just amazing and so very different from what I normally see. She also has great peep toe shoes purse and her classic suit goes a long long way in the “simple but stylish” department.

1940s Vintage image of couple in front of Canadian Pacific airplane — 1940s couple in front of Canadian Pacific Airplane

Next up we have this 1940s cutie in a double-breasted winter jacket, that just looks soooo warm! Hopefully warm enough to keep her exposed head and toes warm too. Aren’t her shoes great?!

I was drawn to this picture for the simple beauty coming off the paper. She looks very happy smiling for the camera, and I wonder what her story is? Maybe off to see a loved one return from war?

1940s women in a coat image — 1940s Beauty

When I saw this picture my girlfriend and I tossed back and forth whether she was wearing a playsuit or not and finally after both agreeing that is was VERY clear that she was, I had to buy it!

Her playsuit is just great and looks totally comfortable. I love how she paired the simplicity of the outfit with nice big flowing 40s hair, some sort of brooch and big bow peep toe heels. Future Pinup Model? I think so 🙂

I am curious on where she is though? Those heels don’t look to easy to walk in for a stroll in the woods.

1940s woman in a playsuit — 1940’s Playsuit for the Win!

Next up is a early 1940s (maybe late 1930s) beach photo from my hometown of Sarnia, Ontario. The beach was at Canatara Park a frequent hangout for those who wanted to catch some rays and go swimming in Lake Huron. I was super excited to find this picture because I have never really seen any cool “life images” from my hometown. So to stumble upon a postcard with this image was a wonderful surprise for me.

I’m totally digging the swimsuits and hair in this photo.

Next up we have the most stylish 1950s Housewife on the block. Lets call her Marge 🙂 Isn’t she just lovely?

What colour do you think her dress is? I can’t seem to decide personally.

I also found this super funny postcard that from what I can see was mailed in the 1950s (according to the back) from one woman friend to another. Isn’t it hilarious??!!

Lastly I did NOT buy this at the show but I had to share it. I stumbled upon a 1930s Hair Perming Machine and had to take a picture of it. It was crazy cool and crazy scary at the same time! Can you imagine sticking your head under this thing?

1930s vintage hair perming machine — 1930s Perming Machine-Made in Hamilton

And that was my finds friends! Did you do any recent shopping this weekend or week? If so what was your favorite find?

Liz 🙂

Tag: Toronto Vintage Society