Today we have a guest post by Renne Simms. She wrote an overview of wedding dresses by era so you can pick a vintage look that is the most flattering on you. For my wedding two years ago I wore an 1890’s gown which is a flattering style on me, but the rest of the … Read More about Vintage Inspired Wedding Dresses by Decade
1920s Evening Gowns & Dresses History by Year
Historical inaccuracies aside, the 2013 Great Gatsby movie’s depiction of the infamous party at Gatsby’s mansion was a showcase of everything glamorous about the roaring twenties. All of the simplicity and girlish styles of 1920s day and afternoon dresses disappeared on women’s 1920s evening dresses. Glitz and glam, rich and flashy — those were the … Read More about 1920s Evening Gowns & Dresses History by Year
Vintage Aprons: 10 Things to Do with Aprons
My mom mailed me a few of her vintage aprons from my grandmother and great grandmother’s collections. I love them. They remind me of cooking thanksgiving dinner (about the only time I wore an apron growing up). Now I am a mom, and I am finding a lot of use for aprons again. I did … Read More about Vintage Aprons: 10 Things to Do with Aprons
1920s Day Dress, Tea Dress, Afternoon Dress History
The most popular party to attend or host in the summer months was an outdoor tea or garden party. Often these events included some lawn games like croquet, bocce or badminton. The attire was more formal than your day or streetwear, yet not quite as formal as going sleeveless in a beaded gown. The afternoon … Read More about 1920s Day Dress, Tea Dress, Afternoon Dress History
1920s Dress History, Daytime Dresses – Pictures of 20s Fashion
Once housework was done, 1920s women would put away their house dress and apron and head out for the day. Running errands, visiting a neighbor, working in a factory or office, or going to town for a White Castle burger and matinée movie all required a woman to dress well yet still enjoy the comforts … Read More about 1920s Dress History, Daytime Dresses – Pictures of 20s Fashion
1920s House Dresses History, Sewing Patterns
If you do a picture search for 1920s dresses online or in museum collections, you get an overwhelming selection of fancy party dresses. What you don’t see are functional dresses worn by all women at some point in their day. The simple 1920s house dress or “any time of day” dress was a colorful lightweight … Read More about 1920s House Dresses History, Sewing Patterns
Building a Men’s Vintage Style Wardrobe
Recently Jessica, at Chronically Vintage, received a question from one of her readers about what men should buy to start a vintage style wardrobe. She suggested men have a well tailored suit, blazer, vest, hat and tie. I thought her classic picks were good standard pieces that have stood the test of time and indeed should … Read More about Building a Men’s Vintage Style Wardrobe
What Did Women Wear in the 1920s? 20s Fashion Trends
To properly answer the question “What did women and men wear in the 1920s?” would depend on what they were doing, with whom, and at what time of day. Here you will learn about the types of clothing women and men wore for specific occasions. Follow the links within for even more 1920s fashion history. … Read More about What Did Women Wear in the 1920s? 20s Fashion Trends
50s Skirts, 20s Flats, Rompers, 40s Blouses, Gatsby cap
Redirected I confess, I am very online almost every day adding new vintage inspired clothing to the site shop pages, but I am terrible at telling you about them! That is going to change starting now. Every week I will feature of few of my favorite new additions to the shop pages. If I … Read More about 50s Skirts, 20s Flats, Rompers, 40s Blouses, Gatsby cap
1920s Fabrics and Colors in Fashion
When I first picked up a vintage 1920s clothing catalog, I read the descriptions about dresses made of voile and stockings made of lisle. Huh? Voile? Lisle? These are not fabrics I read on my clothing tags. Turning to the colors, I get even more confused. What is Gas blue? Palmetto green? French beige? Briar … Read More about 1920s Fabrics and Colors in Fashion
1940s Date Night Outfit
Last Wednesday was my hubby and I’s two year anniversary. We waited till Friday to celebrate by going downtown to dine on the Truckee River. Not sure what I should wear, I asked my Facebook fans to help me pick an era- 1940s, 1950s, or 1960s. The 1940s won by a landslide, which actually surprised … Read More about 1940s Date Night Outfit
Inspiration for 1950s Style Swimsuits
Summertime, summer fun. Almost every year I am on the hunt for a new swimsuit. Not that I just love wearing next to nothing at the pool or beach, but since summers here get very HOT going for a dip in the pool, wading in Lake Tahoe, or spending a day at the waterpark is … Read More about Inspiration for 1950s Style Swimsuits
What Clothing Cost in the 1920s for Women
Between in the 1900s and 1920s, women’s dress went from seventeen layers down to four, and nineteen yards of fabric down to seven. You would think that the drastic reduction in material made clothing more affordable – and they did, except for one thing. Instead of three or four complete outfits for the typical middle … Read More about What Clothing Cost in the 1920s for Women
Roaring 1920s Dance Styles – Charleston, Fox Trot, Texas Tommy
Dancing and Fashion! Ahhh, now we get into what got me interested in vintage fashion in the first place (You can read my story here). The roaring ’20s dances were wild and carefree. Previously, ballroom dancing, although silly with “animal dances,” was structured and tame compared to the independent “Charleston,” “Black Bottom,” and “Shimmy” dances … Read More about Roaring 1920s Dance Styles – Charleston, Fox Trot, Texas Tommy
Gents & Dames: Leigh’s 1922 Pictograf Tea Dress
Today’s Gents and Dames entry comes from Leigh who loves to research all her clothing before making them. Her attention to historical detail is very evident in her tea dress. I love how she reshaped a 50’s hat too. So many eras can be reworked into earlier or later trends. Very thrifty Leigh! _______________________________________________________________________ Name: … Read More about Gents & Dames: Leigh’s 1922 Pictograf Tea Dress
Brooks Brothers, 1920s Men’s Fashion Designer
“A well-tied tie is the first serious step in life.” – Oscar Wilde Just as every woman of the 1920s was not a flapper, every man in the Jazz Age did not dress like F. Scott Fitzgerald. Ok, but what if the well-dressed gentleman did want to emulate The Great Gatsby‘s author? A trip to … Read More about Brooks Brothers, 1920s Men’s Fashion Designer
1950 Style Clothing- A Shopping Guide
1950 style clothing is back in fashion. Everywhere I look, I see elements of 50s style dresses, shirts, and pants in new modern clothing as well vintage reproduction clothing. If you are new to 50s fashion, you may not know what to look for when you shop. Here is my quick guide to buying new … Read More about 1950 Style Clothing- A Shopping Guide
Mary’s 1930s Eva Dress Pattern – Gents & Dames Parade
Today we have another entry into the Gents and Dames Vintage Style Parade. I asked the fabulous Mary to show of her latest Eva Dress pattern creation. I just love the gold with the purple accents, don’t you? I also need to go on a tour of Hearst Castle someday soon. It has been on … Read More about Mary’s 1930s Eva Dress Pattern – Gents & Dames Parade
Great Gatsby Men’s Shoes – 5 Popular Styles to Wear
The 2013 Great Gatsby movie has renewed an interest in vintage mens shoes. And why not? 1920s shoes set the tradition for men’s footwear as we know it today. Your typical lace up office shoes? Every man started to wear them in the 1920s. Your worn out yet oh so comfortable pair of Converse tennis … Read More about Great Gatsby Men’s Shoes – 5 Popular Styles to Wear
1920s Fashion Designer Jeanne Lanvin
It takes a talented designer to create a look that both mothers and daughters not only want to wear but can wear. Such is the case with Jeanne Lanvin. If there is any doubt about who she created her brand for, at least in the beginning, look no further than the Lanvin company logo: a … Read More about 1920s Fashion Designer Jeanne Lanvin