My husband and I are taking an exciting trip to Vietnam next month and I’m very much looking forward to it. The one thing I’m NOT looking forward to is packing because my wardrobe is pretty much non conducive to travelling to places like Vietnam. Normally when I travel (for long trips) I have a large suitcase AND a dress bag filled with my vintage dresses, hair accessories, shoes etc. This trip I have 1 backpack and that is it and I have to carry this thing so I know my curlers are out 😉
So how does a 1940s/50s vintage loving gal like myself keep true to who I am without driving my husband nuts with “we can’t take that hike because my 1950s house dress will get dirty”?
Note: I do know that I have to be realistic and I’m 100% fine with that and I’m not looking to look like I stepped out of a vintage fashion magazine 🙂 Just some tips on quick vintage hair styles, clothes that I can look at putting together that travel well etc. Any help is very much welcome or you will be seeing me in all my pictures in my workout clothes because that is where I am at right now, lol!
Toronto’sAnnual Santa Claus Parade is a yearly traditional that originally started on December 2, 1905 by the Eaton’s chain of department stores, and had just a single float. It now has over 25 floats, 24 bands, and 1,700 participants (Wikipedia).
With that much history lets take the Vintage Inn Time Travel Bus and see what past parades looked like from the 1920s-1950s.
Note: Vintage Fashion Lovers-The crowd pictures when you look close enough have some lovely vintage fashion.
Vintage Photos of Toronto’s Santa Claus Parade
1920sPhotos
Santa and his Reindeer on the final float of the parade.
History Note: To escape from the realities of the Great Depression, families pressed their ears to the radio. Starting in the early 1930s, CFRB radio began broadcasting a month of dramatic programming that followed Santa’s journey from the North Pole to Toronto. By the time the Parade took place, children and adults alike were beyond excitement. Santa brought with him a magic and mystery that gave everyone hope (Source).
1930s Santa and His Reindeer float.
History Fact: In 1939 when the Second World War brought on shortages, organizers were forced to make the elaborate costumes out of paper (A Century of Memories by Citynews).
History note: During World War II when materials were scarce, most of the Parade costumes were made of paper. A big draw during this period was for children to watch the Parade from office buildings along the route. All the windows facing South were crowded with children, including the Park Plaza Hotel (today’s Park Hyatt) (Source).
Here is a great video of the Santa Claus parade in the 1940s.
1950sPhotos
History note: In 1952 the parade was televised for the first time, appearing on CBC (A Century of Memories by Citynews).
1956 Parade-The baton twirling ladies are fantastic looking!
