Today’s vintage photos post is a collection of fun images from the 1920s to the 1960s of Men and Women out and about in their shorts.
Let’s take a look at the vintage fashions!
Source: LIFE Magazine
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Brief History of Shorts (take a read at the link below)
The Long History of Wearing Shorts: The 200-year Evolution of Knickerbockers, Daisy Dukes and WWD’s ‘HotPants’ by Women’s Wear Daily (WWD)- This is an easy read article, so this is why I decided to just share it instead of reposting it.
SCANDAL! Adoption of these styles caused controversy in some parts of the U.S. In 1937, shorts became illegal in Yonkers, New York, and the town of Honesdale, Pennsylvania, banned shorts in 1938. “Honesdale is a modest town, not a bathing beach,” said a city official in Missouri’s Moberly Monitor-Index.
1954 photo: Classic campus outfit of men’s clothes including pink shirt, Bermuda shorts, and striped elastic belt, all from Brooks Brothers (source).
1920s-1960s Vintage Photos of Men & Women In Shorts
1950s Photo of 4 young women in shorts sitting on a wall together. Cute Plaid shirts.
Source: Etsy-girlcatdesign
Shorts for sports-Canada’s first Female Olympic Medalists at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. The first time women were allowed to be in Track and Field.
Further Reading: 1928-Canada’s First Female Olympic Medalists
1950s photo of 2 young women in shorts and cute blouses with scarfs tied at the neckline, out sightseeing (our lady on the left is holding a camera). What cute summer style!
Further Reading: 1950s Summer Fashions as seen in a 1955 Spring / Summer Sears Catalog
Source: Etsy-JakeRoebucks
Shorts to the right and cute 1940s swimsuits to the left! LOVE this 1942 photo of a group of stylish women on the beach posing together to capture a fun moment in time. Also…I am a big fan of the 1940s hairstyles too.
Further Reading: Vintage photos of vintage Black style
A couple posing outside of the Tahiti Lounge (great sign on the building). Both are sporting shorts of various lengths.
Note: I think the photo is 1960s even though listing says 1970s (but I could be wrong). Whatever the age, it’s a fun photo.
Source: Etsy-AlaskaVintage
This 1950s photo from LIFE is from the same series from the first image in this post. The images are called simple, “SHORT SHORTS” which seems pretty obvious about what the post is about.
I like to think the women are yelling “SHORTS!”.
Source: LIFE Magazine
Fantastic late 1930s / Early 1940s photo of 3 friends posing together in their Summer fashion sets (shorts & tops) with wonderful curled hairstyles. Love the ‘lederhosen style romper in the centre.
I also wonder if the cute striped outfit on the left was once beach pajamas worn by her mother? The look is very reminiscent of that style. Thoughts?
Source: Etsy-DearMacyVintage
Vogue, 1927. Model, Portia Grafton, standing beside the gunwale of a boat in Great Neck, Long Island, wearing a black crepe beach coat with white terry lining and matching black shorts by Jean Patou, with a white sleeveless top by Kurzman, and a fitted white cap.
Photo by Edward Steichen/Condé Nast via Getty Images)
1950s Men’s & Boys Bermuda Walking Shorts and Shirt: Perfect sports duet for his leisure hours of home or in the sun.
Note: This image is for a sewing pattern from Simplicity that can be purchased HERE.
Source: Etsy-mbchills
1950s vintage photo of a young woman in short shorts with a belt sitting on her front porch.
Vintage Fashion Note: According to the ‘Vintage Dancer‘: “As the decade progressed, short shorts grew shorter and tighter with a very flat front and made of stretchy materials. Many were worn shorties with matching belts, too”.
“Pinup shorts, were the shortest and tights of the shorties. They lacked pockets, were often made of a stretchy knit materials and came in some wild prints or a solid black, white or red.”
Source: Etsy-DearMacyVintage
1937 Summer fashion inspiration-Romper / Playsuit.
Fashion Fact: Some American cities and states chose to ban them due to modesty laws. In 1937, shorts were made illegal in Yonkers, New York, and the town of Honesdale, Pennsylvania, banned shorts in 1938 with a city official stating that “Honesdale is a modest town, not a bathing beach.” (Source).
Source: eBay
1950s vintage photo of men and women in 1950s fashions all wearing shorts including the men pairing them with their suit jackets. The back of the photo simply says “Shorts”. Ha!
Source: eBay
Men wore short shorts! ha! 1950s photo (I think? Maybe late 1940s) of a man and woman posing by their car during the Summer time. Cute headband on our young woman.
Note: I am aware that this could be a swimsuit, but I don’t see any hint of water around. Maybe this man was bold enough to walk around in short shorts? We will never know!
Further Reading: Vintage Photos of People Hanging Out With Their Cars
Source: Etsy-DearMacyVintage
1940s image of a couple posing together outside.
Source: eBay
1950s vintage photo of friends posing for a photo in front of a house. Our ladies are wearing shorts and everyone looks so casual cool!
Further Reading: Vintage Photos of “Groups”
Source: eBay
Hope your hungry! 1960s photo of two ladies very focused on cooking the meat on their little grill.
Further Reading: Barbecuing in the 1950s
Source: Etsy-LightSilverAndPaper
Not sure of the timeline on this photo (I’m thinking 1950s) of a man, his shorts and a street.
Source: eBay
Paris in the 1930s. LOVE the 1930s fashions on this couple, especially our lovely woman to the left. Cute hat.
Source: Pinterest
1950s (maybe 1960s) vintage photo of a lady Bermuda shorts (my fav) posing with her car out in the mountainside.
Source: Etsy-Delphiniumsblue
Question time! Do you like wearing shorts? Or they are pass for you? Share any thoughts on this topic in the comment section below.
Further Reading (Archived Blog Posts):
Thanks for dropping by!
Liz
Some of these looks great – the Brooks Brothers outfit, the Parisian couple – while others are, let’s say, less than good. The marching Bermuda shorts quintet is an example. The men’s oversized early ’50s jackets look ridiculous with shorts – the proportions are all wrong.
By the way, I suspect the man in short-shorts is wearing a bathing suit. At least where I’m from, most men did not wear shorts in the ’50s. However, the ensemble of Bermuda shorts and sleeveless shirts were almost de rigueur among my various aunts.
Another fine article!
Sorry about the swimsuit photo, I’m going to leave it though because its fun. And we don’t know if this man was bold enough to wear it like this around town!
Liz