Every vintage collector has at least a few magazines in their collection (especially since they are one of the easiest vintage items to come by) and The Vintage Inn is no different. I own a few but one of my favorites is the magazine LOOK . My copy is from Oct 18th, 1955 and can be seen below and I have read it from top to bottom, I just love it.
Today’s post is all about the covers of LOOK from 1937 to 1960 (so that you can have a good taste of the mag) and this is also part of ‘My Vintage Collection Series’. Enjoy.
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1955 magazine cover for Look magazine featuring Princess Margaret.
Brief History of Look Magazine
Look was a bi-weekly, general-interest magazine published in Des Moines, Iowa, from 1937 to 1971, with more of an emphasis on photographs than articles. A large-size magazine of 11 in × 14 in, it was generally considered a competitor to Life magazine, which began publication months earlier and ended in 1972. It is known for helping launch the career of film director Stanley Kubrick, who was a staff photographer. And beginning in 1963, Norman Rockwell, after closing his career with the Saturday Evening Post, began making illustrations for Look (Source).
Collection of Vintage Magazine Covers from 1930s to 1960s
Look Magazine August 17th, 1937-Tennis anyone?
Further Reading: Vintage Tennis Outfits from the 1920s-1950s
September 1938 Look Magazine featuring-SWING! Slap those critics Benny.
May 9th, 1939. According to the Etsy sellers commentary the cover features Eleanor Holm in a swimsuit and gold shoes on the cover. She and Sally Rand were feuding as to who was the best personality at the New York and San Francisco World’s Fairs.
Interesting tidbit about Eleanor: She is best known for having been suspended from the 1936 Summer Olympics team after she attended a cocktail party and got pretty drunk on the transatlantic cruise ship taking her to Germany (Source).
June 6th 1939-What a wonderful swimsuit on the cover of this magazine.
Happy New Year! January 2nd, 1940 Look cover. Judy Garland in the most practical ski outfit ever (but it sure is cute).
Ginger Rogers as a Brunette and in the cutest 1940s matching top and pants. April 9th, 1940 Look Magazine.
Source: Etsy
June 18th 1940 Look Magazine. How do I make Joan Bennetts outfit mine? Love it!
1941- Support the troops with Army stripes on your arm. More cute vintage swimsuits on display.
June 8th, 1948. Time for some cooler clothes men. Now do they mean like bathing suit cool (as in the image) or like make you look cool in your clothes?
July 18th, 1951. Best Hat…Ever. And to answer the question…Total menace those Flying Saucers.
November 20th, 1951. The stunning Maureen O’Hara on the cover.
January 12th, 1954- The Travel Issue.
March 23rd, 1954-Audrey Hepburn on this Look magazine cover.
July 1960- ‘Women without Men’ (oh my!) and Marilyn Monroe on the cover.
Look Magazine December 1960 featuring Christmas in Hawaii and Santa on the beach.
Source: Etsy
What fantastic covers! Filled with interesting and bizarre stories.
Question time: What was your favorite cover?
Further Reading: Don’t miss my collection of ‘vintage magazines & catalogs‘ blog posts.
Liz 🙂
Fantastic covers! I love that prior to 1939 the women on the cover were featured for what they achieved and then bam! WWII hits and it’s about the way women look, often in a bathing suit or in a sexy pose. xx
It is so true! All about the moral. Excellent observation 🙂
No way to narrow these down to the best. They are all great. The swimsuit next to Hitler’s name, my soft spot for Judy Garland, the Swing one. So fun!
I love the, all but boy do I love princess Margaret’s hair
Her hair is so magnificent in that image I agree 🙂
Judy Garland ski outfit is the comfortable winner for me. I don’t care how ridiculous it is!
It is pretty cute! I have to agree 🙂
I love Judy’s jumper and mittens on the ski issue cover. Think her bottom half might be a little cold though! Great collection of covers.