This past Monday Toronto got hit with a huge snowstorm, 30 cms in my neck of the woods and some areas even saw 60 cms. Yooza!
With not much else to do then day sit around and watch the snow come down, I found myself dreaming about cozy and wonderful vintage sweaters, specifically Jantzen sweaters. I just love them! And as you will see from this blog post featuring vintage ads & some real life sweaters, you are going to know right away why that are so coveted by the vintage community (women & men!).
Let’s begin!
Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Vintage Jantzen Sweater Advertising 1940s & 1950s
Plus Real Life Examples of the Sweaters
1947 Jantzen sweater ad featuring…’The Ski-Queen’; ‘Antarctic’; Jewel Box’; ‘Tee-up’; ‘Polar Beer’; ‘Arctic’. Perfect gifts for those who you want to be friends for life with!
Source: eBay
Now here is the Polar Bear sweater..LOVE IT!
I just love seeing the sweaters in “real life” as opposed to an illustration.
Source: Etsy
“Warm their hearts with a Jantzen Original”. 1940s vintage ad featuring warm & rugged sweaters for men and women (1940s airplane design for our guy & reindeers & snow for our lovely lady).
Source: Pinterest
The airplane sweater features an amazing P-38 Lightning WWII Fighter Jet with a background of parachutes. It is incredible (as seen on Etsy but no longer avail)!
Source: Etsy
Here is an example of that cute 1940s Jantzen Wool Knit Sweater featuring reindeers and snow.
Source: eBay
Looking for a downhill, cross country skiing or just a Après-Ski look? Then here you go!
“One day soon Jantzen will be making enough of these wonderful sweaters, so that you can have as many as you want.” During war-time, people experienced shortages and limited quantities of all sorts of things. Illustrator Pete Hawley used a little humor in this 1940s ad to hint at the fact that better times were ahead for young people (Source).
Source: Etsy
I found the Totem pole sweater on eBay (avail as of October 2022 HERE).
Source: eBay
I also found “Touche” on Etsy (now sold).
Source: Etsy
1948 sweater ad. Jantzen sweaters are made from 100% virgin worsted wool and “couldn’t be better looking!“.
Date night at the Carnival! 1947 magazine advertisement for Jantzen sweaters (for women and men).
“Everyone looks so wonderful, smug and rich, too, in a Jantzen sweater.”
Source: eBay
I really do enjoy the sweaters with images on them, like this 1940s Jantzen novelty knit two-tone Panther sweater. So cool! (avail as of October 19th, 2022 HERE)
Source: Etsy – Expovintage
1940s Sportswear Jantzen ad.
“Gay Jantzen Originals–for those hey-days when you recess from your busy daily routine. They brighten the winter scene–heighten your winter morale……..”
Popular sweater patterns including “The Snow Deer” and “Warbirds” are modeled in the illustration (Source).
Source: Etsy
“Be a “wonderful giver” and give them a Jantzen sweater. Classic sweater styles of the 1940’s are shown in this vintage advertisement.
Source: Etsy
Jantzen 1955 fashion ad for Jantzen sweaters featuring… “Smooth is the look, the feel of new JANFLEECE“. I’m loving the 1950s looks we have going on in this advertisement.
Source: Pinterest
1950s Vintage Ad featuring the 1955 Professional Football All-Stars. “Gift-wrap your guy in a Jantzen All-Star Sweater”.
Source: Pinterest
1950s Jantzen ad featuring “Nylofleece” the finest wool and nylon.
Source: Retro Adverto
1950s Jantzen pink pullover knitwear sweater, so cute! (avail as of Oct 19th, 2022 HERE)
Yes it has short sleeves, but it was too darn cute to not share. Add a cardigan over top to make it more winter appropriate (like in the ad above).
Source: Etsy-Rubymaerose
Keep warm with not only sweaters but also skirts and socks (sox). I love a good sweater skirt! 1950s vintage ad.
Source: Pinterest
Question time: What was your favourite ad or sweater? Do you own a Jantzen sweater? Share anything you wish to chat about in the comments section below.
Thanks for stopping by!
FURTHER READING:
- Collection of Vintage Fashion Blog posts 1920s-1960s
- Vintage Advertising 1920s -1960s (Archived Blog Posts)
Liz
Nice. As you say, nothing like a winter day to enjoy a vintage sweater fix. When I need to to some virtual sweater tourism, I ramble around Ravelry.com.
It looks like Jantzen was doing a little dipping into the Cowichan knits pool.
When you’re hungry for more Sweater Porn, try looking at Mary Maxim’s 1950s sweaters Also Cowichan inspired. Not only did they create some new versions of their vintage favourites, but all the original 1950s patterns are available to download from their website for a nominal sum.
search images for “mary maxim 1950s sweater”
Enjoy.
Great thanks on all the tips! If I could knit I would be all over this, but I will just look and enjoy instead lol!
Take care Susan!
Liz