One of the great things about Halloween is all the goodies you can get (even if you don’t hand any out) and since this is a vintage blog I thought we could browse some of the vintage ads of all the yummy candies that would have landed in kids bags during the 1940s and 1950s.
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First up-WOWE-E.
I have never heard of this candy before, but the fact that it whistles fills my heart with joy.
Source: Flickr-Val
mmmmmm Cracker Jacks. I’m positive you would have been the favorite on the block if you handed this treat out.
FULL Candy bars! Nothing teeny tiny here. Wow can you imagine the sugar high these kids would have been on after eating multiples of those?
I will take the Butterfinger please…and maybe the Baby Ruth too while we are at it.
Souce: Flickr-Christian Montone
Woolworth’s, your one stop shop for all things Halloween.
Source: retroist.com
Milky Way Candy Bars are still a favorite of mine today.
Source: Flickr-Val
I have heard of Snickers, and Milky Way but never the “Forever Yours”. Have you?
This ad makes me giggle that a tree is eating a chocolate bar.
Source: Flickr-Val
Curtiss Treats! Another candy I have not heard of “Saf-T-Pops”. They look really interesting though, don’t you think?
I was not a 50’s child but I remember in the 80s getting small boxed cereal in my treat bag and loving it! Cereal for dessert?? Yes I will thank you.
This Sunday I am going for High Tea at the Beautiful and Historic Royal York Hotel in Toronto.
I have been to this hotel many times in my life (staying there a couple of times with my family before I moved to Toronto) and every time I’m blown away by its grandeur. It truly is a sight to see when visiting Toronto, a vintage lovers dream.
Source: Wikipedia
History
The Royal York opened it’s doors on June 11, 1929. It was the tallest building in the British Commonwealth and quickly set the hospitality standard of the day. The magnificent hotel became known as a city within a city, rising in 28 floors of architectural splendor and replete with mechanical genius and opulence never before seen in Toronto.
It boasted 1,048 rooms – each with radios, private showers and bathtubs. The 1.5 acres of public rooms included a 12-bed hospital, 12,000-book library and ten ornate passenger elevators. The Concert Hall featured a full stage and mammoth pipe organ weighing 50 tons, which surpassed anything else in Canada with 300 miles of copper wire. There was a glass-enclosed roof garden, the largest hotel kitchen in Canada with a bakery that could produce over 15,000 French rolls a day, a 66-ft.long switchboard manned by 35 telephone operators, its own bank and golf course (now known as St. George Golf & Country) (Source).
1929 Ad for the opening of the hotel. Source: AdClassix.com
The Hotel on Front Street, 1930s. Source: Toronto Archives
Thank you to the Fairmont Royal York for finding this AMAZING sketch of the fashions wore during the opening Gala Ball on June 11, 1929.
I will take…all the outfits!
Source: Fairmont Royal York Hotel
Vintage Image of the Lobby
The Lobby Today..pretty similar.
Below is a sketch of the Royal York Hotel ballroom, clearly in the year that it opened from the outfits I see.
When the Royal York hotel opened its doors on June 11, 1929, it brought about a new social era, attracting a true “who’s who” list of royalty, celebrities, dignitaries and leisure travellers to the city of Toronto. On opening night, the Royal York hosted four grand balls where guests dined and danced until the wee hours of the morning. It set a new standard in luxury, elegance and entertainment.
Source: Fairmont Royal York Hotel
The Ballroom looks exactly like it did when it first opened-Stunning!
Royal York Ballroom Toronto
The Hotel did everything top-notch. Look how stylish the Bartenders look in the 1940s?
I wonder what they are making, it looks delightful whatever it is.
Source: Toronto Archives
What a Buffet! Can you see the Ice Sculpture Deer in the background? I love fun details like that.
Source: Toronto Archives
Image of the 66 foot long telephone switchboard that required 35 operators to run it.
Source: Fairmont Royal York Hotel
Of course a hotel on this grand of scale also had to have amazing entertainment.
Quote from the Fairmont Royal York Pinterest Page:
The Imperial Room was once the most sought after show room in North America, when it opened in the hotel in 1929 it was the city’s newest and most elegant dining and dancing establishment. It defined the Toronto social scene as the meeting site of high society functions and big band shows. The stage of the Imperial Room has seen headlining acts such as Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald and Bob Hope.
Source: Fairmont Royal York Hotel
The early bands often were employed by hotels, and many bore their employers’ names, eg, in Montreal, the Windsor Hotel Orchestra and Andy Tipaldi and his Ritz-Carlton Orchestra. The largest hotels in Canada had successions of orchestras which, by the 1950s and 1960s, also came to be used as showbands to accompany individual performers. Leaders at the Royal York Hotel (Toronto) have included Charles Bodley, Fred Culley, Rex Battle, Don Romanelli, Billy Bissett, Horace Lapp, Stanley St. John,Moxie Whitney, and Howard Cable (Source).
The band below is clearly the house band of the Royal York as the signs say “RY”. What kind of music do you think they are playing if the first row is all Violins?
Source: Fairmont Royal York Hotel
Guests from all walks of life stayed at the hotel, like Bob Hope, Cary Grant, Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly (swoon) and even….Queen Elizabeth II (seen below).
Source: Fairmont Royal York Hotel
Here is an adorable image of an Ice Follies performer in the 1940s who was staying there. How cute is that outfit??
Source: Toronto Archives
Royal York also had various advertising campaigns over the years. Here are some great vintage ads.
I adore this cute early 1960s ad (I think) for their meeting rooms. Reminds me of a Mad Men episode.
Source: Fairmont Royal York Hotel
Looking to get married? The Royal York I will do the job nicely.
This ad is clearly from the same illustrator as above, love it.
Source: The Fairmont Royal York
The Royal York has even hosted fun events like this Direct Broadcast party of the Grey Cup (superbowl of Canada) in November 1956.
Source: Toronto Archives
Complete with Marching Girls.
Source; Toronto Archives
Many clubs and companies hosted events at the Hotel over the years, like The Electric Club from the 1930s-50s. Who apparently liked their menus to have pretty girls in swimsuits on the front (and lassie).
Source: Fairmont Royal York
After looking thru all these photos, reading stories on the Royal York I’m thrilled the Fairmont and Toronto has seen value in keeping it standing after all these years because this truly is a fantastic piece of Toronto History.
Source: Fairmont Royal York Hotel
So Friends..have you been to the RY? Or do you have a favorite vintage hotel? Do Tell!
Recently I went and visited an antique show here in Toronto at a local mall called “Cloverdale“, there was lots and lots of items for sale but nothing mid-century for this gal until I saw a really cool hat box at one of the tables. Seen here…
The box was not in great condition but after quickly searching the name on the box “Morgans” I discovered that it was a little bit of Canadian history, so I ran back and scooped it up for a steal and a history lesson from its owners.
Apparently, Morgan’s (formally Henry Morgan & Company) was a Montreal-based Canadian department store chain. The first store was opened in Montreal in 1845 by Scottish immigrant Henry Morgan with a second store not appearing till the early 1950s in the Snowdon section of Montreal. Other stores subsequently opened on the island of Montreal, and several Ontario cities (Wikipedia).
After being open for over 100 years, in the 1960s the Hudson Bay Company purchased Morgans and quickly converted the Ontario stores to “Bay’s”. By the early 1970s the Quebec stores followed suit and that was the end of the brand Morgans….until I found my box! Now we can share in a moment of Canadian history together and bring to life the department store once more.
The Early Days:
Morgans 1890
Morgan’s department store in Montreal decorated for the 1939 Royal Tour of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. So Elegant.
I wish we could see setups like this again when royalty comes to visit.
Here are some images of other Morgans in the 1950’s
Hamilton’s Greater Shopping Centers-Morgans
Source: henleyshamilton1.wordpress.com
Interior shots of the Hamilton store being prepared for opening
A miniature milk bar for the kids. Oh my how cute!!
Source: henleyshamilton1.wordpress.com
Male Mannequins for the store. Kind of creepy I think. Actually Really Really Creepy!
Source: henleyshamilton1.wordpress.com
Group of Sales women attending a class to be able to work at Morgan’s.
What marvelous hair all these ladies have.
Source: henleyshamilton1.wordpress.com
Learning how to use the Cash Register.
Source: henleyshamilton1.wordpress.com
Morgans 1950’s ad for Schiaparelli Hats. Love this! How do I get this hat?
Hungry anyone? I will have the Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding (my fav!).
Gosh could you imagine if a Buffet (then called a Smorgasbord) was $1.19 today? Yikes!
Source: torontoist.com
“As new as tomorrow”….How exciting, I love things that are as new as tomorrow!
Source: torontoist.com
Logo Designs:
1950s Morgans
Source: The Department Store Museum
1970s Morgans after the Hudson Bay took it over (this would be its last logo change)
Source: The Department Store Museum
Interesting Fact: It looks like Morgans was the first department store to move into family neighborhoods, as opposed to making a trip downtown to go shopping (as seen below). I’m sure this made many a family lives easier.
This ad makes me giggle. What is with the triangle people??
Source: torontoist.com
And that interesting fact ties in with the knowledge that where I bought the hat box was actually where a Morgans Department store once stood in the 1960s at Cloverdale Mall. It was under my nose the whole time and I never knew! How exciting!
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There you have it friends, a little bit of Canadian History.
Do you have a department store where you live that has been around for years or maybe know of one like Morgans that has come and gone? I would love to hear about it.
This past weekend I was very lucky to be able to attend an amazing event called “The Old Car Festival” at the Henry Ford Museum/Greenfield Village in Detroit Michigan area. I attended this event with my family and met up with some vintage friends from the Toronto area as well, so it was a great little group that went.
Image courtesy of Geoffrey Holmes
All I can say about this event is this…YOU MUST GO NEXT YEAR! No seriously if you live in Michigan, Ontario, or can drive or fly then you must go! I had so much fun and I did not even do half of what my friends did who attended the whole weekend.
First up there were early 1900 vintage cars..everywhere like as far as the eye could see and ranged in age from the early 1900’s right up to the early 1930’s.
That handle in the middle is how you drove the car. I prefer a steering wheel I think
Yours truly looking sooo not early 1900s 🙂
Photo Courtesy of Geoffrey Holmes
Photo Courtesy of Geoffrey Holmes
Photo Courtesy of Dean Villafuerte
My FAVORITE CAR of all time from the show! Pierce Arrow!
A Pierce-Arrow was a status symbol, owned by many Hollywood stars and tycoons. Most of the royalty of the world had at least one Pierce-Arrow in its collection. So dreamy…..
There were so many cars there, that there was major street congestion as well! Traffic jam 1910 style!
If driving a car was not your style, you could have also rode a vintage bike. I love these ladies such style.
Photo Courtesy of Geoffrey Holmes
It’s a Bike Gang! How does one ride a bike like that??
Photo Courtesy of Dean Villafuerte
There was also a couple of vintage trains that you could have taken a trip around the park on. Next year I’m doing this!
After all that car, bike and train viewing one is bound to get hungry and the village had lots of options but the best one by far was the Eagle Tavern. A real tavern from the 1800’s that was moved to the village many years ago.
The family waiting to be called in for lunch-Eclectic bunch they are 🙂
You ate by candle light, sat in old wood chairs (ohhh my bum), were served by waiters and waitress in period dress and even had your name called to your table by the town crier.
Photo Courtesy of Geoffrey Holmes
The coolest part of my lunch experience (beyond the delish food) was the Greenfield village beer with my name on it!
Hey that’s me! Who are you calling old?
After we ate, we went and saw some lovely singers, sing songs from the 1920s. My favorite was the “Irving Berlin” melody.
Photo Courtesy of Geoffrey Holmes
Then we wandered around some more and enjoyed the sights and sounds of the festival.
Took a ride on the Carousal
Enjoying the pretty views
We also admired the fashions that were in attendance. There was some dapper men (aka my friend Dean).
Photo Courtesy of Geoffrey Holmes
How wonderful are these men? and Dean of course 🙂
Photo Courtesy of Geoffrey Holmes
The other Dapper Canadian man on this trip, Geoffrey Holmes.
Photo Courtesy of Dean
A favorite of mine…the cutest vintage sailor boys….ever!
Photo Courtesy of Geoffrey Holmes
There were also gorgeous ladies as well like my beautiful friend Amanda.
Her dress was made by her mother (I believe) and is just wonderful and I adore it on her.
Photo Courtesy of Geoffrey Holmes
Then we all managed to find each other for a lovely vintage group photo (excuse my 40s wear, I really have nothing 1920s).
Photo Courtesy of Geoffrey Holmes
After all the picture-taking it was time to find a spot for the Big Band dance and the parade of vintage cars with their gas lights on.
Photo Courtesy of Geoffrey Holmes
It was truly magical and then we got to dance to this amazing band! The beautiful woman in the pink had the most gorgeous voice.
Photo Courtesy of Geoffrey Holmes
Then we danced as the cars drove by.
Photo Courtesy of Geoffrey Holmes
A great shot of Dean and I making magic on the dance floor..aka the road.
Liz Clothing Note: I’m wearing a vintage 1940s day dress that I recently purchased from “The Best Vintage Clothing” online store. I adore this dress so much. It also has buttons down the back.
Photo Courtesy of Geoffrey Holmes
I got to dance with all the men! Lucky me 🙂 Geoff and I cutting a rug as they used to say back in the day.
Photo Courtesy of Dean Villafuerte
Lastly all good things must come to an end with fireworks.
Photo Courtesy of Geoffrey Holmes
And then we went home tired but happy 🙂
I hope you enjoyed my little post on my fantastic adventure this weekend and hopefully if you live near by, you can join us next year!
I will now leave you with a great video that Geoff created of the weekend (near the end you can catch me swing dancing).
August is now gone and that means all the kiddies and older kids are back to school. Sigh..bye bye summer.
Going to school was always something I enjoyed and I have some pretty great memories during those years. I do though vividly remember my first dance of University, I was so nervous and excited all at the same time. I just left my small “ish” home town and had moved to the big City of Toronto to live. I had no idea what the future held but I knew that it was never going to be a dull movement, and boy has it not!
Now going with this theme of “Back to school” and since I’m a fan of the 1940s I thought I would like to do a post on what College life looked like during those years. First up I know it looked nothing like my early 2000’s university life, hahaha 🙂
So are you ready to take a class in “1940s Collegiate Style and Collegiate Life” with me as seen thru pictures?
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Time to move into your dorm. These lovely ladies look fresh-faced and ready to tackle the world. I love the luggage and hat box! And the dress with the Peter Pan collar is a very practical and pretty.
Source: UMW Centennial
The caption for this picture is: Class Officers in front of Gate at University of Mary Washington.
Saddle Shoes! Great skirts and jackets! Look at their hair?! Oh my this photo is simply and truly wonderful. 1940s Collegiate Style right here ladies and gentlemen.
Source: UMW Centennial
Studying in the Dorm
Not much in way of great clothing look here, BUT did you notice all the great details in the room? First up, can you see the handsome serviceman on the bookshelf? I saw him instantly! How about that great clock? Do you think it’s Bakelite? I also adore the bread-spreads. Burberry has nothing on these beds.
Source: UWM Centennial
Maybe the ladies above were studying up on how to make the perfect pie as seen below? Mandatory for a woman in the 1940s to be able to do, I’m sure.
Source: UMW Centennial
Time to Join a Club!
Okay this picture has so many fantastic things happening. First up according to the caption on this picture this is “Campus Jane and Campus Joe, members of the University of Miami ‘M’ Club-1946″. Right there I’m in love, how cute is that?!
Next up, their style. When I think of 1940s collegiate style this is EXACTLY what I think of. Saddle shoes (I love my saddle shoes), his collegiate sweater with the M, her wool skirt with cardigan which is just wonderful. Never mind the woman behind them with that great figure and dress. I also think they are too adorable for words. No words!
Source: University of Miami Libraries Digital
Like sports? how about joining the golf club? hahaha “Golf Club”!!! Okay I’m done making silly jokes 🙂
For a fan of vintage clothing this picture has so many amazing things happening in it, I don’t even know where to start? The skirts, tops, shoes, HAIR! So stylish and fantastic to look at and what great form they all have.
Source: UWM Centennial
Transportation to school
If you did not live in a dorm, how were some of the ways you got to school? Well in this fantastic photo the pretty girl with the great car seems to have her way all set. I’m not sure if the guys are interested in her or the car though?
Can you spot the fun beanie hat and those great shoes on the guys?
Source: University of Miami Libraries Digital
Or maybe you had to take the bus like these students at Duke University.
Source: Duke Yearlook
Doing your part for the war effort
During the early part of the 1940s a big part of school activities was helping with the war effort. These pretty ladies are collecting scrap at Duke University to “Help rub out the axis with scrap rubber”
Source: Duke Yearlook
Learning First Ad, very important as you never knew when you might need it. Future nurses?
Source: Duke Yearlook
Letting off some steam
After a long day of school and studying (and helping with the war effort) it’s always fun to kick up your heels and listen to a good band, like at this welcome Party.
I love the beanies that the Freshman girls were probably expected to wear. I also see some great patterns on dresses.
Source: UMW Centennial
How about a dance with your significant other on a Saturday night? These two couples look like they are having fun. I also adore the peplum dress that is longer in the front, I wonder what colour it was?
Source: UMW Centennial
Maybe dancing was not your way of relaxing, so how about a swim with your college chums?
Students at the University of Miami in 1944 enjoying a day off from their studies.
Source: University of Miami Libraries Digital
And there you have it friends, a peak into 1940s collegiate life. I think they were wonderful photos, during a time that was not the easiest for many of these men and women. Don’t you agree?
Do you have good school memories? Or would you rather just forget they ever happened?
Every since I found my wedding shoes from Irregular Choice with a cute adorable Scottie Dog on them (see below), I have been obsessed with collecting vintage items with this dog on it. I also realize that I’m not the only one who loves the Scottie as many ladies (and gents) in the vintage community I know enjoy collecting them as well.
My shoes and Vintage Brooch Bouquet from my 2012 wedding
Also my Recent..just got in the mail Celluloid 1940s Scottie Dog pin. Love Love Love! Can’t wait to wear them.
Source: Etsy-Bits of Bakelite
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Mini History Lesson of the Scottie Dog-1930s Popularity
During the 1930s it seemed like everyone from Movie Stars to Presidents wanted to own this dog and they did!
Owners included (but not limited to):
President Franklin Delanor Roosevelt was a famous Scottie enthusiast, and was known for taking his Scottie dog “Fala” with him almost everywhere he went.
Fala and FDR
Bettie Davis and her Scottie
Humphrey Bogart and his dog “Sluggy”
Even the Famous “Memphis Belle” had a Scottie Dog as a Mascot-Stuka
Source: modernscottiedog.com
Having such an illustrious owners did much for the Scotties PR and the dog’s popularity was capitalised on by contemporary designers and advertisers of the period. Scottie dog brooches were produced in bakelite, marcasite, gold, enamel and metal (Source).
Wonderful Examples:
Bakelite Scottie Dog brooch from the 1930-40s in an Ice tea/Apple Juice color-Pretty!
Source: For Sale on Etsy-Lucky Patina
Three Scotties carved out of dark red Bakelite-How cute are they?? THREE of them!
Source: For Sale on Etsy-OldObscenities
Art deco era Scottie brooch of sterling and marcasite
Source: For sale Etsy-SararaVintage
After a slight dip in popularity, the late 1950s saw the Scottie Dog become in vogue again! and could be seen on many different items from jewelry to shot glasses.
Like this adorable Paper Towel from the 1950’s.
Source: For Sale Etsy-grandmothersattic
Need some vintage 1950s coasters for your bar? I kind of think I might need to buy this for my husband as he is Scottish and has been known to drink a scotch & soda a time or two.
Source: For sale Etsy-BogieBacallVintage
How about a lovely 1950s shot glass to go on those coasters?
Source: For Sale Etsy-My Retro Charm
Looking for a 1950s vintage planter for your home? This guy will do I think 🙂
Source: For sale Etsy-candyzown
If you are a knitter (not me..oh that is so not me) you can purchase this adorable 1950s sweater and cap pattern for a little boy or girl in your life. I want it for me!
Source: For Sale Etsy-Knittingknitch
Now on a last fun note..did you know that in the game of monopoly the Scottie Dog game piece (introduced in the 1950s) is the most popular piece of all time? See everyone loves a Scottie Dog!
Do you collect these adorable dogs for your vintage collection? If so what do you own?
Toronto has a wonderful piece of history sitting on its waterfront called the “Sunnyside Beach Pavilion” that has been around since 1922. I have seen this structure at least a million times in my few short years living in Toronto and never ceases to amaze me on how beautiful it is. I even looked at is at a potential wedding venue 2 years ago that is how much I’m enamored with this structure.
1920’s Sunnyside
The name “Sunnyside” had been used to denote a beach and its surrounding area for 70-plus years before the amusement park and beach pavilion opened. The name may have been coined by George Howard, a prominent citizen whom in 1848 had built a home overlooking the shore on the sunny side of a hill (source).
By the 1920s, swimming at the foot of Roncesvalles Avenue had been popular for over thirty years, as there was a swimming area near a pumping station. This changed in 1913 when the pumping station was demolished to make way for the bridge connecting Lakeshore Road and the King/Queen/Roncesvalles intersection. A staircase was built for pedestrians to walk down to the shoreline. A slide was installed for bathers to slide down into the water (COOL!).
1912 Sunnyside Beach Source: Toronto Archives
By 1920, this area was filled in and the beach was moved farther to the south. For the year 1921, the beach was recorded as having over 302,525 visitors (Source).
This influx of bathers to the area meant that there was a space needed where they could change, so on June 28th, 1922 the “Sunnyside Bathing Pavilion” was born.
Sunnyside Pavilion-Today
Sunnyside-bathing-pavilion-1922
1920s Sunnyside Beach and Pavilion
Sunnyside Beach 1924
Information about the Beach building
The building, constructed of concrete, cost $300,000. Each wing held an outdoor changing area, lockers and showers, the women’s side on the east, and men’s side on the west. It offered over 7,700 lockers for patrons, a roof garden for 400. Admission fees were 25¢ for adults and 15¢ for children, and bathing suits and towels could be rented. In the center was a staircase leading to an upper terrace which overlooked the change areas leading to a rear terrace which ran the full length of the building and overlooked the beach.
The “Tank”
If you have ever been to Ontario and attempted to swim in the waters you would quickly realize that they are not the most ideal for swimming..cold! And so in 1925 a giant swimming pool called the “Tank” was built and could accommodate up to 2000 swimmers. It was considered at that time the largest swimming pool in the world and you can still go swimming in this pool today.
1940s Sunnyside Pool
Bathing Pavilion Today
In 1980 the Bathing Pavilion was renovated with the outdoor lockers and changing areas being demolished and new changing rooms were built.
Front of the Pavilion
Currently under construction to bring it back to former glory
The pool was rededicated as the ‘Gus Ryder Pool’, named after Marilyn Bell’s coach, the founder and coach of the Lakeshore Swim Club of New Toronto. I also just happened to find a plaque about Marilyn Bells near by as seen below…
And that my friends is a brief history on the Sunnyside Bathing Pavilion.
As a lover of history in Toronto it thrills me to the bone that Toronto has taken the time to preserve this piece of history. I sometimes find our city is so preoccupied with putting up millions of condos that us regular folks can’t afford that they forget that we don’t have tons of places like the Sunnyside Pavilion still standing that they should not so quickly discard.
I look forward to sitting by this structure for many more years to come.
Do you have something like this in your home town? Or a structure that has lots of history that your city takes pride in preserving it? Let me know!
I’m currently in the middle of the amazing and well written book “1940s-Fashion-The-Definitive-Sourcebook” by Emmanuelle Dirix & Charlotte Fiell and I just read a wonderful section on “why floral (and figurative) patterns in the 1940s were favored“.
The simple reason stated in the book was that designs with floral or figurative patterns were easy to match up and hence generated less wastage in garment production. In a time when “Make do and Mend” was becoming the norm, this makes a lot of sense.
After the war was over floral could still be found on many of the women of the 40s because 1. There was still a shortage of fabric for a while after and 2. Floral dresses were an “Understated Elegance”. Not flamboyant, just wonderful as is.
On a personal level I LOVE a beautiful 1940s floral dress and I own a couple personally and I’m always hoping to add more. So lets take a peak at what beautiful floral dresses were available to the ladies of the 40s, shall we?
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Lets start with the stunning woman from the 1940s that I found on Flickr. Her off the shoulder floral gown is simple but just pure perfection on her. I love the black ribbon belt and the ballet slippers with the ties to bring it all together.
Source: Flickr-Hans
How stylish is this beautiful woman? Look at that jacket…wow! And her accessories are amazing (I want that purse!). I love the floral pattern in this dress and I’m sure once the jacket came off the dress was just breathtaking on her.
Source: Flickr-Jasperdo
From the same flickr account the below image is the wonderful woman above’s, neighbours. Well well what stylish neighbours she had! I cannot tell if her dress is really a floral pattern ( I initially thought it was tropical) but does not really matter the pattern is still fantastic.
Source: Flickr-Jasperdo
One more photo from the same account shows the friend of our floral dress jacket wearing fashionista 2 photos above. What a collection of fantastically dressed ladies she hung out with. The floral dress in this photo is beautiful and I love her pose too. I wonder what she is thinking?
Source: Flickr-Jasperdo
First up…COLOUR! And now..what a dress! That green floral pattern is just wonderful on this mother with her son at the beach. I would totally wear that to work or even a night of dancing.
Source: Flickr-Ross B. CARE
I have shared this image in a past post but it’s worth sharing again because her floral dress AND matching head scarf during what I imagine to be a USO dance is a favorite of mine. Another great example of how a simple floral style like this can look just pure perfection.
Now for a small sampling of “Buy Right Now” Floral Dresses:
What a wonderful 1940s sun dress. This dress would be perfect for the summer time picnic or to wear dancing on a beautiful night under the stars.
Source: Etsy-Ella and Frank Vintage
The fabric on this dress is actually flowers AND umbrellas. Fantastic! The label states that it is a “Brucewood Custom” dress.
Source: Etsy-Planet Claire Vintage
Some one buy this dress because it’s too pretty to just stay online (click on image to go to source)! I would but it’s too small for me 😦
The floral detail is again beautiful but the ruffle detailing really takes this dress to the next level. Don’t you agree?
Source: Etsy-Tuesday Rose Vintage
Lastly here are some vintage advertisements for 1940s dresses:
WANT! Love! So cute! Can I also have the adorable hat with the palm tree and fish on it??
Wakes of Melbourne catalogue, Summer 1946-47
Pretty frocks for all your pinching pennies needs.
BTW if this is a bargain look then sign me up!
And with that ad, that concludes are journey into 1940s florals.
So lovely readers are you a fan of the florals in 1940s dresses? Or do you tend to sway more towards the sequins and simple elegant styles? Or maybe you love them all!
I was on Etsy yesterday doing my daily scan of the vintage clothing and stumbled up these excellent condition (never opened) WWII Victory Hair Pin Kits being sold by Sassypantsgrrl.
(Images courtesy of Sassypantsgrrl)
Then while doing some research on the pins I found the Tank Museum was also selling a box of the same pins (expect theirs had the main packing box which had this awesome image and slogan on it).
Here is their description/history of the bobby pinsfrom the museum (which is incredibly interesting):
Unlike modern “Bobby Pins”, these are the correct W.W.II style of black color metal hair pins worn by all women of the period. This included both military and civilian alike. The box unto itself is a work of art by it’s elaborate artwork design, and it’s also a great period example of the advertising style found back then. The box is colorful and well worded. it reads: “Exclusively Yours, Victory Hair Pin Kit, Smith Victory Corp., Buffalo, New York”. But printed all over this box is also much patriotic wording/slogans that make this necessary little woman’s antique a really cool ditty.
Then the museum went on to have the Curator make comments:
This little item is almost always overlooked by collectors of female war time artifacts, headgear, and uniforms alike. Have you ever had to wrestle with a female mannequin’s wig to try to keep it in place and not fall off? Have you ever cursed at the wig on your female mannequin or display head as you fought to keep her hat in it’s proper location? Then you will know the value of these necessary pins. They help to keep a “goils” hat on her noggin and not on da floor! Many period photograph will show these pins mounted on the side of a lady’s garrison cap holding it in place. And this was O.K. as far as regulations went even though they did have to show a little on the outside curtain of such caps. A savvy collector knows that even such small, mundane items as hair pins, are just as important to be historically correct for an exhibit as any other item found on a proper uniform display. As they say…..It’s the little things that count!
WOW What a find! I’m so excited to add this to my collection!
If you would like to see a couple more images check out “Bobby Pin Blog” who did a post on them as well and has a couple more images that I don’t have here.
St. Patrick’s Day is quickly approaching and while I’m not Irish (German background) I never say no to a Guinness and a cheers with friends on this day. Since we cannot do this on the blog I thought it might be fun to check out some images of some lovely Irish actresses from the 1940’s and 50’s together (feel free to have a beer while reading).
Born August 17th, 1920 in Dublin Ireland, she is noted for playing fiercely passionate heroines with a highly sensible attitude. Movie highlights include: The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Miracle on 34th Street, plus many more. An icon of Hollywood’s Golden Age, at the height of her career, O’Hara was considered one of the world’s most beautiful women. She is often remembered for her onscreen chemistry with John Wayne. They made five films together between 1948 and 1972: Rio Grande, The Quiet Man, The Wings of Eagles, McLintock! and Big Jake (Source: Wikipedia).
Actress Angela Greene was born on February 24, 1921 in Dublin, Ireland. She is best known for playing leads in B pictures including the films Hollywood Canteen(1944) and Mildred Pierce (1945), and also appeared in dozens of TV shows. During World War II, she became a popular World War II pin-up girl and her bikini-clad image graced the nose of the US bomber Skipper 2, which flew 25 missions over North Africa and Europe. She dated naval lieutenant John F. Kennedy before marrying businessman Stuart Martin in 1946.
Born February 7th, 1929 in Limerick, Ireland, Constance was an Irish film actress, and contract player of 20th Century Fox in the 1950s. She starred in two dozen films during the 1940’s and 1950’s, including films like Treasure of the Golden Condor, Taxi and Man in the Attic.
Do you have any Ireland born screen actresses to add to this list?
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The Vintage Inn 