15 elegantly beautiful 1940s autumn looks

From between the slats in the Venetian blinds in our living room, I can see delicate little goldenrod hued leaves fluttering about like wind chimes in the breeze - their rich, Midas approved shade symbolic of so much of what I adore about late September through early December.

From my earlier childhood memories right up until today, there has never been a time when I didn't love fall, and over the years the reasons why the second-to-last season of the year gets pride-of-place in my heart have only continued to mount.

One of my favourite elements of autumn always been the evocative, captivating colour palette it brings with it, like the best dressed lady in the world arriving at a hotel and opening her grand trucks, sensual velvets, nubby tweeds, diaphanous silks, hearty wools, and versatile thick cottons spilling forth from every angle.

While summer can sometimes seem a touch manic, autumn is calm and collected, yet by no means devoid of pep and spirit. More brazen then winter, yet less innocent than spring, it is the sophisticate of the year and surely knows it, for fall has no qualms with painting her palette of style and beauty across the land - if only for a few brief weeks.

Chalk it up to the 1980s classic Colour Me Beautiful (my mother's copy of which I actually read so many times as a youngster that pages started to fall out of it) if you will, but I've long known that autumn time colours often work well on me, and indeed a scan of my closet would quickly reveal a penchant for burgundy, teal, rust, brown, grey, muted green, copper, and burnished gold.

I'm certainly not alone in this regard, as fall's wardrobe (or at least certain shades from it) looks wonderful on a great many people, and there are few amongst us who can't avail of at least a couple of this season's sublimely lovely, subtly dramatic colours.

With that thought planted firmly in mind, may I present a selection of classy, timeless, dizzyingly beautiful 1940s fashions, each one of which conjures up a sense of the autumn and all that is enchanting about this resplendent season.

{All images via the incomparably terrific stream of dovima_is_devine_II on Flickr.}

Like the rainbow of earthy hues in a harvest time cornucopia, these vintage fashions are both visually appealing and thought provoking – not to mention more than a little bit inspiring. They celebrate much of what is marvelous about fall, while also serving as a sartorial jumping off point for other times of the year, especially if this is a palette that suits you well.

And speaking of cornucopias, tomorrow is Thanksgiving here in Canada, and I'm elated about that fact that Tony and I will be sharing it together with some of my relatives for the first time ever (prior to this year we always lived thousands of miles away from them). Thus adding yet another point to the lengthy list of reasons why, now and forever, autumn - and the timelessly stylish fashions it brings with it - will always be my most beloved time of the year.

15 photos of terrific real world 1940s summer fashions

While there is much to be gleaned from the sartorial inspiration provided by yesteryear starlets and staged mid-century fashion shoots in magazines (and goodness knows I adore both of these things unceasingly), my biggest source of vintage fashion inspiration has - and I believe always will be - the looks that real everyday women like myself were sporting during my favourite decades.

I'm intrigued to see how those on a budget dressed, to know how they did their hair, what shoes they opted for, and how they interpreted the trends and timeless looks of the era alike. Oftentimes when one sees an old photograph we know little to nothing about the person in it, and so must form a backstory for that person in our minds (a topic I chatted about in this post last year).

Then, as now, even though we swoon over the looks that most ladies sported during the time, it's interesting to keep in mind that not every gal we see would have been a fashionista, a clothes horse, or perhaps (unthinkable as this may be to many of us now) even the biggest fan of the styles of the decade. Many however, were, as us gals have always veered towards harbouring a significant love for fashion and clothing, no matter what year it was.

The 1940s aren't exactly known for being the easiest decade of all time. For most, clothing rations were in place for most of the forties, and even when items were available, many often could not afford to buy them frequently. This wartime culture created the famous make due or mend mentality which truly helped to steer people from all walks of life through the challenges of the decade and ensured that what little there was to go around was able to provide for everyone - and to last for years. I myself have often adopted this same principle, guided and inspired, by those of both the tumultuous thirties and the harrowing forties.

One season that - in the western hemisphere at least - rarely calls for the need for too much in the way of clothing is summer (a point which I'd venture to guess women of the 40s liked a whole lot). And so this week as we head into June and summer looms ever closer, I wanted to share a selection of vintage fashions - sported by real world ladies of the 1940s - with all of you that will definitely be providing a hefty dose of guidance for own fashion choices this season.

{Love the array of patterns on the skirts and dresses, as well as the middle gal's beautiful flower adorned hairstyle.}


{Stripes, cuffs and saddle shoes while sitting on the sand - that's a look I could easily see myself sporting, as I like to remain fairly well covered at the beach most of the time.}


{The caplet-esque collar and generously sized plaid pattern make this summer dress a real standout.}


{A trio of classic 1940s warm weather button front daywear dresses and three very pretty smiles, to boot.}


{A ruffled neckline and cute plaid pattern don't discuss the sense of plucky spunk I see radiating from this cool gal's face.}


{It's short shorts and strappy sandals for this stylish pair of girlfriends. (Love the overall/jumper style of the shorts on the right!)}


{In part because I rarely expose my bare arms completely, I often includes lightweight knits in my outfits during the warmer months, and could totally see myself wearing this sweet little short sleeve sweater all summer long.}


{Two gals munch on something yummy on a stick - taffy perhaps - while out camping. One sports shorts, the other pants, and both look completely cute - and comfortable - for a day spent out in the wilderness.}


{The tunic-like quality of this tie neck (and waist) blouse is so airy and appealing for the dog days of summer.}


{I love longer hemlines on my vintage dresses, and would happily don either one of these pretty summer frocks - as well as the adorable (and highly practical) wide brim straw hats.}


{Plaid Bermuda shorts, a short sleeved knit top, saddle shoes, and dark red lips add up to one thoroughly terrific warm weather casual look.}


{Romance and style abound in this heartwarming photograph of a 1940s couple. He in his military uniform, she is a wonderfully pretty summer dress and ankle strap sandals.}


{Though casual, there is an undeniable sense of elegance to this beautiful woman's outfit which comes through in the timelessness of the trousers and blouse, as well as her sweet little watch and voluminously curly hair.}


{Another excellent pants based 1940s summer look, this time partnered with a short sleeve suit jacket.}

{A quintet of fashionably fabulous 1940s dresses, each stylish and highly covetable to this day. I'm especially fond of the ruffled pinafore number in the middle and the bow collared floral number on the far right.}

{All images above are from Flickr. To learn more about a specific image, please click on it to be taken to its respective Flickr page.}

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Whether humble and simple, or fancy and elegant, there is such a timelessly wonderful appeal to the looks of this era. Interestingly, even though the 1950s are often seen as being a decade filled with youth culture (and it certainly was), I've always thought that there was a beautifully youthful quality to many of the looks of the 40s, too.

Perhaps that stemmed from the way many of the 1940s classically tailored pieces hugged the figure, the fact that for much of the decade hemlines were relatively high, or that handmade and mass produced garments mingled side-by-side in most peoples' wardrobes.

Whatever the case, whether gaily youthful or starkly sophisticated, the forties are a decade I never tire of looking to - and dressing from. I hope that today's images of fashionable gals just like us will provide you with as much inspiration as they will for me this summer - and well, well beyond.

Velvet, eyelet, and wrought iron in Kelowna

British Columbia is a fascinating and gorgeous place to reside. Few corners are even remotely the same and a great many beg to be explored and admired. One interesting fact about the western most Canadian province is that, outside of Lower Mainland (the region including and immediately surrounding Vancouver) there are few large cities.

Everyone's definition of what constitutes a large city is different, but I tend to feel that by Canadian standards, a large city is one that has a population of 100,000 or more. The further you travel from Vancouver and its neighbours, the less of these generously populated places you run into. That is until you reach the lakefront Okanagan city of Kelowna.

Compared to bustling metropolises like New York, London, Tokyo, Sáo Paulo, or Paris, Kelowna's population (presently about 117,000) may make it seem like a quaint neighbourhood, however it's enough to rank this sunny destination as the 22nd metropolitan area in Canada.

Situated less than an hour away from Penticton (where we live now), Kelowna was the closest big town when I was growing up here years ago. It didn't hold the glittering, noisy, worldly appeal of Vancouver or the elegant, artsy, upscale vibe of Victoria, but it even as a very young child, I knew it was considerably bigger than humble little Penticton.

Kelowna, whose name derives from a local First Nation's name for grizzly bear, was founded in the mid-nineteenth century. Then, as now, agriculture in the form of fruit orchards was an import part of the area's economy. These days, tourism and the wine industry also go a long way to keeping Kelowna going strong.
Though it's expanded substantially over the past few decades in particular (it's certainly larger and busier than when I was a child), with new homes and businesses springing up constantly, Kelowna still retains a certain small town charm and appeal.

Perhaps that stems from its inclusion in the Okanagan Valley, a generally friendly place that owes a lot to those who flock to its beaches, campsites, and golf courses each year. Or maybe it's because the beautiful weather that Kelowna sees for a substantial chunk of the year can't help but put locals in a good mood. Whatever the case, I've always liked Kelowna a lot.

Though I've only ever lived there for briefly for a couple of months, I know it's main core quite well and always love taking a trip up the highway from Penticton to visit the biggest city for miles and miles around.
Recently Tony and I popped in on good, ol' Kelowna for a day of errand running and visiting my sister and her boyfriend (who recently got their first home together there, and which I hadn't seen yet because we'd been living back east). The weather wasn't warm, but luckily it was pleasantly sunny and we were able to bop about without the need for heavy duty winter coats.

Kelowna, though relatively old (by British Columbia standards), does not have a huge amount of older buildings and houses left anymore. Some definitely exist, but it seems that as the years tick by, more and more go the way of the dinosaur. While we were driving around various streets, just having fun, I spied a distinctly elegant brick house that I'd peg to be at least 90 years old.

I knew I wanted to take some outfit snaps while in Kelowna, so I suggested we do so in front of the stately wrought iron fence that surrounded the home's perimeter. The street was quiet and quaint, the breeze light, the sun sweet, so we hopped out and quickly grabbed some snaps.

Outfit details:

Prescription eyeglasses: (frames) Venus Eye Design V-12

Faux pearl earrings: Clare’s

Black velvet blazer: Smart Set

Pearl necklace: Birthday gift from my husband ♥

1950s white eyelet (short sleeve) blouse: etsy seller Jet Set Vintage

Black velvet 1950s pencil skirt: thrifted

Black vintage gloves: etsy seller I Love Vintage Stuff

Vintage Saks Fifth Avenue black patent purse: etsy seller MK Retro

Gold toned and enamel red rose brooch: eBay

Lip colour: Cover Girl Outlast lipstain in 440 (with the lightest whisper of MAC's Russian Red on top)

Photography by Antonio Cangiano

I adore classic architecture, brick walls, strong fences that still allow glimpses of the buildings behind them, and days like this, when you have plans, but nothing so pressing it causes you stress. It was first time we'd driven Kelowna together in our new car, and was, we agreed, a thoroughly lovely outing.

With Kelowna being so nearby, you can expect many future posts with streets, sights, and skylines of this charming Okanagan city as the backdrop. I hope you'll all enjoy seeing it as much as I do once again - further proof that the dream of living in my home province of  British Columbia again really has come true. ♥

Bright and cheerful summer dresses from 1948

✯ Day 141 of Vintage 365 ✯

 

Once long ago in a time before incessant text messaging, countless Real Housewives shows (you know, back in those days when more housewives actually lived up to their names and looked after their homes and families instead of starting cat fights for living), and Starbucks locations on every corner, a department store chain by the name of Eatons presided over Canada from coast to shining coast.

For a time Eaton's (the official name of which was the T. Eaton Co. Limited) was the largest department store chain in this country, with a history stretching all the way back to its humble Toronto roots in 1869.

During the many decades Eatons called Canada home, it was as commonplace and beloved as Sears (perhaps even more so in some parts of the country), and it produced many fine, wonderfully image rich catalogues over the years (before the chain went bankrupt around the start of the 21st century, that is).

It's from one such vintage catalogue, specifically the summer 1948 edition, that today's image originally hailed. On this bright, lively page we see three young women sporting dress styles that were popular that season.

Each one in markedly distinct from the other, and yet they all share in common similar traits, too, such as mid-calf length hems, short sleeves and vibrant colours.

 

The cotton candy pink and black dress on the left hand side telegraphs a charmingly peasant/ethnic vibe. The two piece skirt and matching blouse combo in the centre (worn by a young woman that I can't help but think resembles the modern day comedian Sarah Silverman a tad) is somewhat more formal (I could so easily imagine a young mom popping over to the weekly PTA meeting in it), yet still very summery and playful (thanks to that vivid daffodil yellow shade).

And last but not least, the third dress, with it's square shoulders and distinctive black bow at the collar, is a riot of pretty rainbow colours that instantly bring to mind a traveling carnival.

Each of these looks came it at under $6.00 and would have been relatively affordable options for Canadian women of 1948. I find something to like in all three dresses, yet I think that the chevron patterned "Gibson Girl" frock on the right, bursting with feel-good candy colours, that is my personal favourite.

While sadly Eatons department stores are no longer a part of the Canadian landscape, thanks to terrific vintage images like this catalogue page (which comes by way of Old Catalogs on Flickr) memories of this classic retailer, and a delightful dose of 1940s summertime wardrobe inspiration alike, can live on for vintage fashion lovers to draw oodles of sartorial inspiration from.