Ann's absolutely beautiful 1950s Ladies' fashion scans

Without a doubt some of the sweetest, nicest, absolute most friendly people I've ever encountered in my whole life have been within the vintage blogging community. We're a wide spread, yet close knit group, and the sense of camaraderie that unites us - no matter one’s particular area interest when it comes to the past - is a beautiful and inspiring thing.

From time-to-time one of the wonderful readers of this blog will contact me by email to share vintage images that they've picked up over the years. Sometimes it's a few priceless family photos, others a unique piece of ephemera (from railway tickets to cigarette cards), and periodically I'll find vintage scans waiting, like the awesome gift that they are, in my inbox.

This past spring, the latter event occurred when Ann from the delightful blog Haddock and Dill (mid-century history lovers, be sure to pay Ann a visit, trust me, you'll love what you find!), shared a selection of images with me that she had scanned from the March 1952 issue of Ladies' Home Journal magazine.

These scans depict that kind of sublimely pretty early-50s spring fashions that I can never get enough, bursting  as they are with a bevy of fitted silhouettes, tapered skirts, swingy coats, perfectly coifed hair, elegant gloves, pristinely perfect make-up, and chic hats.

I really do believe that these looks are far too marvelous to keep all to myself, and I've been wanting to share them with you since the moment they arrived.

Today, right in the middle of the week, when a good many of us need a hefty pick-me-up to keep us climbing over the hump that is Wednesday, seemed like the perfect time to do just that. Without further ado, allow me to show you Ann's fantastic 1950s fashion scans.

{Hands down this gorgeously feminine pink and black look is my favourite of the lot.}

♥ ♥ ♥

Thank you very much for thinking of me and sending these sophisticated 1950s looks my way, dear Ann. It was deeply thoughtful of you to do so, and I'm sure that everyone here will enjoy seeing - and garner as much inspiration from - them as I did.

Such a terrifically lovely vintage inspired polka dot blouse

✯ Day 137 of Vintage 365 ✯

 

May can be a truly marvelous month for fashionistas. Generally speaking we've cleared the wardrobe hurdles of autumn and winter (heavy coats, thick fabrics, snow-proof footwear), yet can still venture outside without melting more quickly than a popsicle left on on the hood of '57 Chevy in August.

This month, with it's moderate temperatures often means that coats (particularly during the daytime hours) are no longer necessary, however we still have the option of long or short sleeves, medium weight or light fabrics, closed or open-toed shoes.

Come May, I live for airy tops, swingy sundresses, cotton skirts, and wedge heels. I reach for pieces - precisely like the splendidly pretty lilac and white polka dot blouse below - that telegraph breezy, elegant warm weather style, allure and comfort.

 

This immensely nice vintage reproduction blouse hails from UK based etsy seamstress and seller Katy and The Happiness, is crafted from sheer chiffon (chiffon always feels so heavenly against the skin when a serene summer breeze blows through its weave and tickles your skin), features elbow length gathered sleeves, and a utterly delightful tie-neck bow at the collar.

Enchantingly perfect for the office, classroom, backyard, home, airplane, car, or just about any other casual to semi-formal setting you can envision, this marvelous polka dot blouse - which calls to mind beautiful yesteryear secretaries - retails for £50.00, and can be ordered in sizes 6-18 (European sizes 34 - 46).

I would sport this feminine, lightweight, versatile top in a heartbeat. It would pair superbly with pencil skirts, vintage jeans, high-waisted sailor shorts, and jumper dresses (to name but a few potential partners!), and become one of those beloved springtime vintage wardrobe pieces that May was born for!

Be a summertime vintage streaker!

✯ Day 133 of Vintage 365 ✯

 

…Of your hair that is!

Fear not, this isn't a post about skinning dipping or getting your thirty seconds of fame by sprinting across a sports field in your birthday suit, instead it's devoted to an entirely darling vintage magazine page that showed fashionable ladies of 1954 how to streak their hair at home.

While these days it's considerably more common to include several high and/or lowlights in your hair when you streak it, during the mid-50s one bold, prominently noticeable streak was what daring gals adorned their locks with.

I honestly love this look. It's equal parts brash and beautiful, lively and completely lovely. Long before Stacy London's trademark grey streak appeared on TV screens the world over, ladies of the fifties were daring to dye (or bleach) a strip of their hair a dramatically different shade than the rest of their head.

If we jump ahead six decades it's not entirely uncommon to see this same style of streaking - do in part to the looks sported by some rockabilly and psychobilly loving women. However, it's a look that I think more vintage loving lasses could easily and very successfully pull off.

Streaks (which are all about the dramatic contrast of high and dark hair colours) can work on hair of almost any length and compliment many different styles splendidly. Indeed, if you're a fan of rolls (Victory and otherwise), a strategically placed streak can truly look amazing when put to work in a pin-up worthy roll or two!

{Delightful vintage magazine page via Charm and Poise on Flickr. Click here for a larger version.}

 

The instructions on this page from the July '54 issue of Better Living magazine - complete with sweetly elegant photos - are incredibly straightforward and simple sounding. Which is great, should you wish to save yourself a salon trip bill by adding adding a zippy streak to your own hair at home this spring or summer.

And why not? As the caption below the "finished result" photo says (a streak is) "just good fun". It can be added to your hair in less than hour (when done with a home colouring kit), takes much less effort than a full dye job, is easy to colour over if you tire of it (or it doesn't turn out as desired), and is an instant accessory built into your hairdo all season long.

With those points in mind, I see no reason why we can’t all be streakers this summer!

A little veiling, a lot of glamour

✯ Day 99 of Vintage 365 ✯

 

So reads the title caption on this richly elegant, photo filled page from the June 1952 issue of Woman's Day magazine. With little more than two one-yard pieces of tulle netting in any hue of your choice, this handy page guides you through various ways to sport veiling as part of your warm weather wardrobe.

 

There is something so wonderfully chic about these simple, yet highly stylish ideas. From wrapping netting around a chignon to tying it jauntily as a poufy scarf, these delightful tricks with a mere wisp of fabric seem to impart such a marvelous dose of glam upon the wearer's ensemble.

Tulle is such a romantic fabric. It calls to mind thoughts of fluttering ballerina prancing across the stage, refined wedding gowns, and rustling crinolines. It is available in vivid rainbow of hues (and white tulle can easily be tied just about any colour imaginable, if you can't find the shade you're after off the shelf), is relatively well priced at most fabric stores, and can be such a creatively fun way to perk up your spring and summer wardrobe.

Having seen this great page of ideas (which comes via clotho98's terrific Flickr stream), I suddenly want to make a sash style belt out of gingerly tied tulle - perhaps in sunny coral or tranquil sea foam green - and toss it over my neutral hued dresses. And as soon as I've tracked down a piece of veiling, I'll be copying the first idea ("mantilla variation with spray of lilacs"), perhaps with a tiny rose or gardenia blossom, too.

I love simple, yet impactful vintage fashion ideas like this that can be so easily replicated today in mere moments with minimal supplies. They're a very effective way of adding some zing to your closet, while in no way shape, shape or form wreaking havoc on your budget.

Indeed, as the title proclaimed in '52 - and still rings every bit as true today - you really can add a whole lot of alluring glamour to your look with just a smidge of feminine, beautiful veiling and a few DIY fashion touches. And that, in the words of one rather well-known domestic diva, is a very good thing!

Vintage 365: Warm up to a delightful 1950s fashion video clip about sweaters

✯ Day 27 of Vintage 365 ✯

 

Here in the urban wilds of Toronto, this month has been a rather bone chilling one for the most part. Though some days were "warm” enough to see icy rain instead of snow, others dipped down as low as a rather toe-numbing -24C, which certainly called for cozy, heavy-duty winter wear.

Our apartment building isn't the best heated of abodes (though we do have an electric heater my husband bought last year that helps significantly), which means that long sleeves are a definite must whether indoors or out. As such I've been reaching for sweaters or cardigans most days to help keep winter's icy breath at bay (not that I mind really, both garments are longstanding favourites of mine).

Naturally I prefer my sweaters to be - or look as though they could be - vintage. Charming 1950s sweaters in particular have always captivated my fashion loving mind, so I went looking for some images of mid-century sweaters for an added dose of wardrobe inspiration and chanced upon a darling little video clip on Youtube that shows some of the most fetching sweater styles of the 50s.

Entitled 1952 Sweater Girls, this short and sweet video is ripe with style inspiration - not only when it comes to sweaters, but also overall ensembles, hairstyles and make-up looks. I adore fashions from the early 50s (they were, by and large, so incredibly feminine and elegantly tailored), and couldn't help but swoon over the beautiful styles the models in this video are wearing .

I hope that this fun, fashion filled clip will help inspire your own styles as we battle our way through the rest of this frosty season that is so perfectly suited to all manner of vintage sweaters.