Looking to be the ‘Bees Knees’ at your next Electro Swing Party? Then you are at the right blog post! Check out all these cool real-life vintage images for tons of vintage style inspiration.
HELPFUL TIP! Looking for where to buy all these fashions, vintage or vintage reproduction? Check out the following websites:
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The 1920s
In the 1920s, women’s dress seems to have been reduced to two dimensions and hung from the shoulders with little acknowledgment of bosom or hips. The waistline on the 1920s silhouette, if any, was located somewhere around the hips. Freedom of movement was the underlying appeal of the loosened dress (Source).
In the 1930s, the silhouette regained some structure. Evening dresses made of bias-cut fabrics clung to the curves of the female body while women’s suits for day wear were carefully tailored to nip in at the waist and curve closely over a slim bottom. The 1930s also marked the introduction of the padded shoulder, first used by couturière Elsa Schiaparelli. While the strong shoulders of the 1930s flattered the waistline by comparison, the overall demand that suits be form fitting allowed for the reintroduction of shaping undergarments (Source).
Now what I have just briefly shown you is only the tip of the iceberg there are so many looks you can wear from the different eras, but these looks should hopefully get you at least started. Happy shopping!
If you happen to be one of my regular followers you might have picked up that my dad was born in Germany, making me officially half German. My mom’s background is Scottish/English but growing up my parents raised me in a German household learning German traditions and the German language (a big “sort of” on that one lol). One of those traditions we participated in every year was Oktoberfest.
Lets take a peek into the event I enjoy so very much ever year by checking out some great vintage Oktoberfest photos and also the dirndls (sorry Lederhosen) that make the party (mainly the adorable and gorgeous dirndl).
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.
Fact: Did you know that Oktoberfest in Germany use to start in October but was moved to in and around Sept 20th to accommodate better weather? And even though it is celebrated all over the world now, Oktoberfest is originally a Southern Germany (Bavarian) Tradition. Interesting huh!
Vintage Oktoberfest Images & Dirndls
Vintage Oktoberfest Photos
1920s vintage photo of Oktoberfest in NYC!! WOW What an incredible photo of showgirls and beer.
image courtesy of New York Daily News
I’m thinking this image is from the 1970s at the Cinncinnati Germania Society Oktoberfest. Everyone is holding up special steins for the photo.
image courtesy of the Cincinnati Germania Society
Big giant tent at Oktoberfest filled with party goers in Germany. This is a normal sight if you were to visit even to this day.
Image courtesy of Three Lions / Getty
Mmmm pretzels, a Oktoberfest staple. Tastes so good with beer 🙂
Image courtesy of Owen Franken / CORBIS
1960s / 1970s vintage image of a woman either singing, yawning or yelling but whatever she is doing from the looks of everyone around her she is probably having a very good time at the fest.
Photo Courtesy of Mark Susina
Adorable matching dirndls on the Schwabn Dancers.
1928 Oktoberfest “Beer Maids”. You have to have strong arms to carry those steins.
(Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)
Vintage 1960s or 1970s photo of an Oktoberfest party at the Concordia Club in Kitchener, Ontario Canada. Looks like everyone is singing ‘Ein Prosit’.
Here is a great video I found of Oktoberfest in the 1950’s. Other then the clothes and hairstyles, not much has changed 🙂
Oktoberfest – a short story
Now onto the Dirndls portion….
Vintage Dirndls
To start, a wonderful fellow blogger Jessica from “Chronically Vintage” did a post on her truly gorgeous vintage dirndl that you really must see to believe.
My dirndl is not as old as the 1950’s but it was my mothers from the 1970’s and I just adore it. The blouse is actually new from a beautiful designer called “Rare“.
I also recently while travelling thru Munich purchased my first official “Made in Germany Dirndl”. Here it is (with same blouse from above).
Photos: 2013 Liz on the left and 2024 Liz on the right. I’m a bit older lol!
Here is the beautiful design on the bottom of the dress.
September 2022 Update: This past July I attended in German Fest in Milwaukee with my husband, parents and I met up with loads of friends at the 3 days party. I wore two of the dirndls above and one new / vintage dirndl I picked up in Toronto.
Never thought of pairing a dirndl with an adorable vintage hat but the pattern below just makes it look so lovely.
1950s sewing pattern for women’s 1950s dirndl dresses. The black and red dirndl in the back sort of reminds me of mine. The flowered on in the front is very pretty.
