The 1940s fall outfit that a vintage newspaper article inspired

Outfit details

1940s/50s brown felt + feather hat: Christmas gift from my parents
Red plastic rose stud earrings: Claire's
Red 1980s does 1950s necklace: Gift with online purchase years ago
Floral print blouse: Thrifted
Vintage Candi Jones floral embroidered denim jacket: Secondhand Wonderland
1940s/50s cream ruched gloves: Unknown, had for years (probably eBay or Etsy)
Yellow plastic rose stretch bracelet: Thrifted (Value Village)
Brown faux leather skinny belt: eBay
Red mid-century vintage skirt: Thrifty Vintage Kitten
Green faux leather cross body bag: eBay
Brown textured tights: Ardene  Navy blue faux leather patent pumps: Payless
Lip colour: MAC Russian Red


Photography by Tony Cangiano

♥ ♥ ♥

Vintage fashion inspiration can come from a huge - one might even argue, endless - range of sources, people, and places. While scores of vintage magazines have help fuelled my looks, gotten my sartorial fashion juices flowing, or introduced me to a previously unknown styling trick, it wasn't until this fall that a vintage newspaper clipping got its turn to shine on that front, too.

As I blogged about here two days ago, my dear friend Emily from Emily's Vintage Visions is currently holding a very exciting vintage fall fashion contest, for which I'm honoured to be one of the judges and suppliers of the prizes that the winner and runner up will each receive.




The fabulously unique factor of this vintage fall fashion contest is that participants take their styling cues from two 1940s newspaper articles that Emily has provided (in the contest details post on her blog).

One doesn't have to interpret what is written in those fashion pieces to the absolute letter, but they should use them a general jumping off point. Emily thought that it would be oodles of fun for the three of us who are judging the contest (the wonderful Lauren from Wearing History is the third judge) to each put together a look based on the newspaper descriptions as well and the photos that you see here in today's post are my spin on things.

Interestingly, while I do own a fair number of types of garments mentioned in each of the two newspaper clippings with their swoon worthy early 40s fashion write ups, I don't have many in the precise colours described (which actually surprised me a fair bit) and as such opted for a somewhat more liberal interpretation of the general styles, lines, and colours mentioned within. I noticed that brown was touched on numerous times through out, so I opted for some brown pieces, layers, a 40s silhouette, and other colours (like blue, red and green) that also appeared within the newspaper clippings.

Emily's own inspiration look, which she shared in this recent blog post, also starred brown, so clearly we were on the same stylish wavelength there (we didn't discuss the particulars of our own looks beforehand).

I'm all about embracing fall's colour palette and dressing for this season, so I enjoyed putting together my own look big time - especially since it gave me a chance to sport this fabulously pretty vintage denim (1970s does 1940s) jacket on camera for the first time. It's a piece I purchased a few months ago from Secondhand Wonderland on Etsy and which I've been utterly dying to wear the moment the temperatures dipped a bit.

Denim is one of my favourite fabrics ever and I absolutely adore it when I can weave such into a mid-century look. It doesn't happen every day, especially since outside of jeans, overalls, and strongly western influenced garments, denim wasn't the most common fabric for women's fashions in the 1940s and 50s, but when it does, I get seriously happy about it!

From the cross stitch style embroidery on the lapels to the fitted princess coat-esque lines, there isn't a single thing that I don't madly adore about this beautiful vintage denim coat and love that Emily's fall fashion challenge gave me a chance to debut it - ditto with this wonderful c. 1940s brown felt hat that was an awesome Christmas gift a couple of years ago from my parents.

There's a fair bit of colour going on in this outfit, but I grounded it all by using brown throughout my look (hat, belt, tights) and really liked how everything came together here. I might not have dreamed up this exact 1940s inspired look were it not for Emily's great vintage fall fashion contest, so I thank her all the more that she suggested us judges try our hand at creating a look (to help inspire participants with their own styling - we're obviously not taking part in the contest as judges ourselves :)).

This might be the first vintage outfit I've put together based on a mid-century newspaper clipping, but I hope it won't be the last and love how doing so was a marvelous way to think outside of the box and interpret some early 1940s styling ideas in my own individual way - just as all those who take part in Emily's vintage fall fashion contest will do with their own beautiful looks as well.

Fabulous 1940s Fall Fashion Inspiration

This year, the fall equinox falls on September 23rd, which means that we're just eight (seven if you don't count the one that we're on) days away from the return of autumn. Yippee!!!

While part of me would love nothing more than to cling to summer's warmth for many, many more months, the seasons will come and go as they please, and I've long learned that it's best to just smile and go along for the ride.

There's no prodding needed to get me to grin up a storm this month though, as I adore autumn to no end and elated that it's upon us once more. As much as I enjoy all of summer's pretty, practical fashions - from straw hats to sundresses, wedge heels to capri pants - there is something deeply comforting about the return of heavier fabrics, warm layers, and longer sleeve and hem lengths, too.

Nearly three years ago now, I debated the pros and cons of dressing for each half of the year in a post called Summer vs Winter Wardrobe, as I felt then that my preference was shifting from fall/winter to spring/summer fashions. Honestly, the more time that goes on though, the greater I adore and just try to make the best of each season's fashions, no matter how far on the extreme side of the thermostat the temperature might be.

Autumn, especially its early weeks, is a particularly lovely time of the year to dress for. We're usually free of heavy snow boots and wool coats, and don't yet risk getting frostbite or hypothermia while outdoors taking outfit photos for our blogs. Yet by the same token, we aren't melting faster than a popsicle dropped on the tarmac in July under the sweltering summer sun any longer either.

Much like its springtime counterpart (late April to early June), these weeks are a glorious time for fashion bloggers and the whole world alike. Just about every vintage wearer out there adores seeing beautiful images of each season's sartorial offerings, so with autumn just a handful of days away from officially beginning and the weathers starting to turn a little nippy again already in many areas, I thought that today would be a great time to share some of my favourite vintage autumn style ideas and images with you guys.

So slip on a cozy cardigan, curl up with a pumpkin spice latte, and let that gorgeously golden mid-September sunlight bath over you as you take a gander at the following selection of 15 fabulous vintage fall fashions, each of which suits the coming season wonderfully well (ditto for winter and early spring).




1. A pert, nipped waist jacket the colour of a frost tinged apple combines with serene shades of beige and brown in this elegant look that graced the cover of the August 1949 edition of Harper's Bazaar magazine. I'd add some gold, brass, or champagne pearl jewelry to mix, myself, and call it a (stylish) day.




2. Neither straw hats nor polkas dots need be reserved strictly for spring and summer, especially when a solid black coat is involved, as this cute meets sophisticated outfit from 1947 does a great job of highlighting.




3. From the streets and fashion houses of Paris that same year, comes this appealing trio of autumn perfect dress, suit, coat, and hat looks - those good sized, classic mid-century handbags aren't too shabby either!




4. From the stylish pocket square to the thoroughly awesome pocket watch on the belt (love that idea!!!) to the dark fox brown hued, over sized pocket adorned dress itself, this is one 1940s fall look that we would all be especially wise to take a styling cue from.




5. Tartan and cold weather go hand-in-hand like Thanksgiving and pumpkin pie. Follow this stylish gal's lead and draw on one of the main colours in your plaid or tartan garments for your accessories. Here she's sporting green, which is utterly gorgeous, but in this case, red would be terrific, too, especially come Christmastime.




6. Rouse your knits from their long summer slumber and put them to work with a classic a-line or circle skirt, as in this great late 40s look that draws its colour palette inspiration from the earth. Extra style bonus points if you use an oversized safety pin for as a fun finishing touch on your ensemble.




7. The seasonal appropriateness of mustard/saffron cannot be overstated on the fall fashion front. Whether you opt for a small hit or a big dose (say a skirt or dress in this warm shade of yellow), it plays superbly with the season's darker tones of brown, rust, grey, camel, black, navy, pumpkin, pine green, burgundy, and red currant, and really deserves to be a part of everyone's autumn wardrobe.




8. Looking for some great fall colour ideas? Search no further than this 1949 Milliken fabric ad, which houses several shades that suit the season to a tee and which combine marvelously with one another to boot.




9. The notion of layering a fall/winter coat over a skirt suit is almost unheard of in today's fashion world, but thankfully us vintage sporting folks know how incredibly chic and sophisticated - not to mention roasty-toasty warm - this timeless look can be. Plus, there's fall's pet colour, mustard, again - and just see how fabulously it works with this dark checkered fabric. Dreamy!




10. Bar none, one of my top five favourite fabrics ever, corduroy is worth loving autumn for alone! Warm, cozy and versatile, this awesome fabric looks amazing in everything from coats (as shown here) to slacks to vests, and is one of the first materials I reach for after Labour Day.




11. No need to completely retire spring worthy pale hues just because September comes a calling. Partner them with darker shades and lush fabrics, such as the deep brown fur, gloves and hat shown here and you've got an fall time worthy vintage look that will turn heads and garner compliments far and wide.




12. Pussy bow blouses and dresses are a smart, practical choice when autumn's winds start blowing again, as they help to keep the chill at bay much like a scarf. For extra warmth, top a look such as this classy red dress with a blazer and/or knit shawl.




13. Colour blocking and cold weather have always gone together wonderfully, and if you happen to have a knit, boucle, or wool crepe dress in two or three blocked hues (such as the super chic one shown here), all the better to help fend off those returning frosty temps. Note also the sheer celery green scarf tucked in around her neck for additional warmth.




14. Take a style note from the make-do-and-mend years of the early 40s and embellish plain, solid coloured separates with lace, crochet, studs, decorative buttons, sequins, rickrack or other fun trims and help ensure your vintage wardrobe looks as pretty as a harvest moon this fall.




15. While I certainly wear hats all year long, like many folks, I tend to sport hair flowers, scarves and snoods more often when summer's heat is out in full force. Now that it's retreating, I'm jumping with joy to don my favourite 1930s, 40s, and 50s hats again, including a couple of new ones that I've acquired this year. Borrow an idea or two for this lovely 1940s image and jazz up your vintage chapeaus with flowers, netting, feathers and anything else your heart desires.

{To learn more about a specific image, please click on it to be taken to its respective source.}

♥ ♥ ♥

Of all the seasonal colour palettes of the year, there is not that I love more - or which I've been told by numerous people over the years works better on me - that of autumn. I've already started to trade out my punchy pinks, purples, turquoises, corals, baby chick yellows, and light blues for earthy shades of amber, moss, oak, forest green, pumpkin, cranberry, slate, eggplant, and marigold, to name but a few.

Likewise, my fall and winter wardrobe is coming out of hibernation. Soon, sturdy leather, suede and velvet bags with replace breezy wicker and cloth options, closed toed shoes will become a must, and tights will take over for bare legs or sheer seamed stockings (when outdoors at least!).

There is a beautiful sense of natural order to this shifting of our seasonal wardrobes and I'm excited to embrace fall's fashion offerings again. Inspired by many different memories, ideas, and sources, very much including the fifteen 1940s autumn fashion images highlighted here today, in the process.

Tell, my dears, are you likewise eager to slip into tweeds, wools, corduroy, and more layers than Greek phyllo pastry once more or do you wish that summer would linger on for another century or so?

Giving autumn's colour palette a helping hand

Outfit details

Caramel brown snood: eBay seller tina.g-2008
White rose stud earrings: Claire's
Brown cardigan: Suzy shier
Vintage maple leaf scatter pins: Antique store in Vernon 1970s/80s does 1940s/50s autumn floral print dress: eBay
c. 1940s cream gloves: (I think) eBay
1950s corduroy bucket purse: etsy seller Rue 23 Vintage Clothing
Straw hued heels: Anne Klein
Lip colour: MAC Russian Red


Photography by

Antonio Cangiano

 

♥ ♥ ♥

Rain, buckets upon buckets of rain pelted Penticton in the early days of autumn this year. It came with a sidekick: bitterly cold temperatures, and the two made sure that the usual resplendent palette of the season took a lot longer than usual to spring to life - and that when it did, it wasn't exactly giving Connecticut a run for its money by any stretch of the imagination.

As much as I adore a gloriously picturesque autumn, I wasn't going to let the lack (most days) of one get me down, especially not when my absolute favourite hues to sport just happen to be those that we associate with this mellow, fun filled time of the years. Pumpkin pie perfect oranges, perfectly aged oak browns, cactus tinted greens, saffron yellows, and gentle creams set my heart smiling and I try to sport as many of them as I can before snow banks the size of small mountains come calling all too soon.

Few dresses in my closet are as plucked-from-the-fall-forest perfect as this 1970s/80s frock with classic mid-century lines to it. However, while I love it dearly, and bring it out at least one every autumn, if I was ruthlessly culling my wardrobe, it would likely go to a new home. And why is that, Jess? I hear you asking. That, my lovely dears, is because, unlike most dresses, this one is too small for me in the bust and upper rib cage (the polar opposite of the issue I have with a few of my other frocks, such as this green number, that are too generously cute in the bosom region).

I can get it done up, but it gaps between some of the buttons and feels restrictive while sitting. There doesn't seem to be much in the way of seam allowances, and I wouldn't want to hack down into a skirt, when it could very easily work for someone as a dress the way it stands now, so instead I toss a cardigan or sweater over top and make sure not to sit much while wearing it.

One element that I've always really liked about this dress, is that it has two sets of ties. One in the front and one in the back. I don't believe any other frocks in my closet can claim the same and I've only seen this double tie detail on other dresses a few times in all my life. This effect looks darling when the dress is worn on its own, however when you wear a cardigan over it and undo the buttons before the reach the bow, I do find the effect of the two pieces comes dangerously close to making one look pregnant (which I'm definitely not).

Still, even with these things factored in, I love it because the warm, splendidly earthy palette and floral pattern embodies so much of Mother Nature's spirit during this time of the year - a colour set that I backed up with my choice of accessories, complete with a cute little trio of vintage maple leaf scatter pins that I picked up ($15 for the set) at a small little antiques store in Vernon, that I can't for the life of me remember the name of right now (if I do, I'll come back here and credit it properly lickety-split).

As you can see from these photos, which were taken near Rotary Park down at Okanagan a little earlier in the season, there wasn't much in the way of telltale autumn hues going on in the background yet, thanks to all the aforementioned rain we'd been getting in spades. As summer leaped almost head first into winter, it seemed that everyone you talked to at the grocery store, bank, dog park, etc was floored by how it seemed autumn had bypassed us entirely.

Time would go on to show that it didn't fly over our heads completely this year. Yet even so, it wasn't as richly vivid, subtly warm, or beautifully sunshine filled as it normally is in these parts of the woods, which is precisely why I was even more eager than usual to slip into seasonally hued garments and inject the local scenery with some of my own vintage autumn colour palette. It's a win-win for both Mother Nature and I, if you ask me! :)