The weather turned a bit nippy this week, which always sends me to my coat closet for my best winter outerwear. I am very happy to be warm and cozy in my modern technical fabric, lightweight, wind, and water resistant snow coat except that, well, it’s not very pretty. Compared to vintage ladies’ coats from … Read More about 1940s Coats & Jackets Fashion History

Want to know where to buy new vintage plus size dresses or retro plus size dresses online? The following are website shops and small brands that specialize in plus size pin up dresses and plus size rockabilly dresses that I have been shopping at for several years. The vintage plus size clothing industry is growing … Read More about Plus Size Pin Up Dresses | Plus Size Rockabilly Dresses

Today I thought I would round up a few of my favorite 1930s dresses from catalogs and pattern scans I have in my collection. Perhaps one of these will inspire you to buy or make your next 1930s dress? Even more 1930s pictures are on my 1930s fashion Pinterest board. Enjoy!           … Read More about Vintage 1930s Dress Pictures

A new vintage jazz club is opening up in my town soon. I’m really excited about it, and I want to wear a fun 1930s dress to the opening night. I own a few formal vintage 1930s dresses, but I need something informal enough to dance in. I might even consider a cute ’30s pants … Read More about 1930s Reproduction Brands, Clothing, Shoes Links

What 1940s outfit could be complete without the perfect pair of shoes? In the 1940s, shoes were, like everything else, very practical. This article will discuss the history of women’s 1940s shoes styles. After reading the article, be sure to check out the 1940s style shoes page to shop for your very own pair of … Read More about 1940s Shoes Styles for Women History

I just can’t talk about the history of 1950s skirts and dresses without also discussing the petticoats and crinolines worn under them. The Paper Doll look of the fifties could not be achieved with simple cotton and lace slips. The five yard skirt needed five net petticoats to achieve the Victorian volume that the doll … Read More about 1950s Petticoat History: What did they wear under skirts?

The New Look shape of 1947 carried over into women’s 1950s skirt styles. Skirts were tight at the natural waist and were either very full or very fitted. The names of these style of skirts have changed over the decades. Today, 50s skirts are often called full circle skirts, swing skirts, pencil skirts, wiggle skirts, … Read More about 1950s Skirts Styles & History | Poodle Skirts, Circle Skirts, Pencil Skirts

Most 1920s makeup tutorials online show how to apply 1920s inspired makeup or looks based off of black and white film movie stars. Both are inaccurate to the real 1920s. Makeup for the everyday woman was much softer and more natural. This tutorial is about creating the natural 1920s look for both the day and … Read More about Authentic 1920s Makeup Tutorial

A roaring twenties themed event is one of my favorite decades to dress up for. It is both incredibly glamorous and not too difficult to find something to wear. This wasn’t always the case. When I began researching and writing about 1920s fashion, there was little to choose from. Now thanks to several movies and TV … Read More about Roaring Twenties 20s Party Outfit Guide

Make no mistake. In the 1920s, a woman deciding to cut her hair was serious business. Simply put, long hair was considered feminine and short hair was not. Magazines such as “Ladies Home Journal” printed stories asking, “To Bob or Not to Bob?” Consider F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short story from 1920 called Bernice Bobs Her … Read More about 1920s Hairstyles History- Long Hair to Bobbed Hair

Before the 20th century, “nice girls” did not wear makeup, which was commonly called “paint.” This differed from cosmetics, such as face creams and similar products that were intended to improve the skin, not mask it in the way that paint did. Even into the 1910s, what we would call makeup today was associated with … Read More about 1920s Makeup and Beauty Products History

This article briefly looks at trends in these men’s 1920s accessories: Suspenders and Belts Gloves Watches Handkerchief Sleeve Garters Spats Eye Glasses Umbrella and Cane more accessories Suspenders To keep high waisted pants up, men used button-on suspenders (clip-on were not invented yet.) They were made of silk, rayon, elastic webbing or leather. The traditional … Read More about 1920s Men’s Accessories History: Gloves, Watches, Belt, Spats, Sleeve Garters

1920s jewelry took a turn to simplicity and Art Deco “modernism” in all styles from rings to necklaces, and bracelets. Out were the fussy Art Nouveau styles. Out were the pressures of society to wear your wealth. Out were expensive precious stones. In were cheaper semi-precious stones and fake plastics. To wear any jewelry at all … Read More about 1920s Jewelry Styles History