Opps I did it again, I missed a few months of sharing my favorite things from Pinterest with you (I been so busy lately). Well don’t fear friends, all my favorite vintage images, vintage outfits and other vintage goodies are here today for your viewing pleasure.

Lets spy on my online finds….

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay & Unique Vintage are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Collection of Vintage Images, Advertisements, Fashons and more as seen on Pinterest

1950s vintage photo of three women in 1950s fashions.

I recently stumbled up this fantastic set of vintage booklets every college student at Oregon State College (now University) in Corvallis would have needed to know, on where to go, what to do and how to behave in the 1930’s and 1940’s. I especially adore the “Save your Blushes. A guide to Campus Etiquette”. Which features info about table manners, dating, gossip, living with others, bad language, smoking, parties, and everything that comes up in college (in 1939).

Further Reading: Vintage School Posts 1920s-1960s (archived blog posts)

Vintage college student memorabilia handbooks campus etiquette dance card Oregon State University OSU 1930s 1940s — Source: Etsy-velvetonthepage

Meet the “Electronic Wonder-Bertie the Brain”, arguably the world’s first arcade game, at the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition) in 1950.

Further Reading:

Bertie the Brain, arguably the world's first arcade game, at the CNE in 1950. — Source: BlogTO

Also at the CNE Grounds in 1954, the Famous ‘Striporama’!

1950s vintage photo of the Striporama, Burlesque show at the Toronto CNE in 1954. — Source: CNE Heritage

The ‘Apron Club’. And on a personal level, I need to join this club. I have so many vintage aprons that I have collected over the years I need to show them off to someone. Where is my time machine?

BTW…Make sure you check out my blog post on School Clubs HERE.

Vintage Photo..The Apron Club..1950's Original Photo, Old Photo Snapshot, Vernacular Found, Americana Everyday Life — Source: Pinterest

Last week I attended an event at City Hall all about a top-secret munitions plant during WW2 outside the city limits of Toronto in the rural community of Scarborough called GECO. 17,000 women worked there during the war and the fantastic Barbara Dickson has spent years writing a book all about these “Bomb Girls” of Toronto (avail for purchase). It was an extremely interesting event and I look forward to reading more about these woman.

Below is an image of ‘Miss GECO Finalist Phyllis Topping’ (I’m going to guess that is the first woman).

Check out my blog post on the GECO Women HERE.

GECO-Toronto Bomb Girls Miss GECO — Source: Barbara Dickson

Milk does a body good 🙂 Toronto Mayor Hiram E. McCallum and Ice Follies performers drink milk at civic reception, Old City Hall. LOVE those leopard print jackets!

1950s vintage photo: Toronto Mayor Hiram E. McCallum and Ice Follies performers drink milk at civic reception, Old City Hall. LOVE those leopard print jackets! — Source: Historicist

Mandatory reading for some of the women in college in the 1940s: A Vintage 1940s Secretary School Books Set Of Two 1942 Typewriting Technique And 1943 Secretarial Practice For Colleges.

Vintage 1940s Secretary School Books Set Of Two 1942 Typewriting Technique And 1943 Secretarial Practice For Colleges Mad Men Office — Source: Etsy

Looking for the next vintage outfit? Here is a collection of goodies I have pinned recently.

1940s peplum dress with Horses, Elephants and Soldiers. I would LOVE to know the history on this piece.

1940s peplum vintage dress novelty -1940s fashion. — Etsy-FabGabs

Spring is around the corner and this 1930s vintage gown would be perfect to ring in that special day. Isn’t it gorgeous?!

1930s fashion: Vintage 1930s Bias Cut Floral Silk Gown Backless Maxi Dress — Source: The Best vintage Clothing

Vintage 1950’s dress …stunning FRANK STARR ORIGINAL.

I LOVE this 1950s sweater top and skirt combo and I wish it was in my size. Perfect for a night out.

1950s fashion: 1950's Wool and Angora Striped Sweater Set Top and Pencil Skirt — Source: Etsy-Atomicblondevintage

I just finished watching Season 2 of ‘Agent Carter’ and this 1940s dress reminds me of something she would wear.

1940s Fashion: Vintage 1940's Dress // 30s 40s Hot Pink Bombshell Rayon Dress with Rhinestone Studded Appliqués — Source: Etsy-TrueValueVintage

And there we have it friends, some of favorite vintage Pinterest pins from the last 2 ‘ish’ months.

Did you have a favorite from the batch posted here?

Further Reading:

Liz

Today’s post is about my Eaton’s Catalogue Fall/Winter of 1940-1941 that I picked up at the Toronto Vintage & Antique show last year. The catalogue was in great shape, considering it’s age and is filled with many wonderful images.

1940s vintage cover of an Eatons Catalogue 1940-1941 Fall Winter featuring a woman in a 1940s winter jacket and winter hat.

Some background information about this specific catalog:

What is interesting about this catalogue as you are about to see, is that at the time of the creation of this book Canada has been involved in the war now since Sept of 1939, so we are moving into year 2. However when you look inside the book you would NEVER of know there was a war on expect for some teeny tiny little hints (which I will be showing you).The catalog is filled with furs, silk, every piece of machinery you can find, rubber tires etc. etc. etc.

Why was it like this?

Well after some poking around I found out that Canada did not start coupon rationing till 1942 (we did have in place a system called ‘Honour Rationing‘ at the time of the creation of this book. How Canadian of us), and clothing items like Silk started to be rationed in the later part of 41’ so it would make sense that the Eaton’s catalogue would carry on like it always had because nothing had really changed at this point.

Now onto the shopping!

Canadian Eaton’s Catalogue, Fall/Winter 1940-1941

Our first grouping of ladies are sporting ‘that better-dressed’ look at an in-expensive price’. I would love the second last 1940s dress on the right.

1940s vintage photo of a Eaton's 1940-1940 Fall / Winter Catalogue featuring a collection of women's 1940s dresses. Fantastic 1940s fashions.

We do stumble upon a mention of the war with the bolero jacket dress description and the interesting colour choice you can have the dresses in called: ‘British Navy’. I’m wondering if it was changed from ‘Navy Blue’ to reflect our British ties?

1940s Fashion: A 1940s bolero jacket dress description as seen in a Eatons Catalogue 1940 -1941 Fall Winter Edition.

The Junior section is always where I tend to see of the cutest dresses like the plaid one on the right. She is ‘Mad for Plaid!’. PLUS you can clearly see the militant look that came into vogue during this time in the two dresses on the left.

Further Reading: Plaid…A Fall Fashion Trend. The Vintage Edition

1940s Fashion: 1940s Women's Dresses, one being in plaid as seen in a Eaton's 1940-1940 Fall / Winter Catalogue

It’s always a treat when the catalogue posts some of their items for sale in colour. Look at those wonderful patterns and dress designs!

1940s Fashion: Women's 1940s Dresses in various patterns as seen in a Eaton's 1940-1940 Fall / Winter Catalogue

More lovely 1940s dresses! Oh my…….I would like an order of all 3 please! Once again dress 2 & 3 are in the military style, and their hats are fantastic!

1940s Fashion: 1940s Women's Dresses, 1940s Hats and 1940s Jacket with skirt as seen in a Eaton's 1940-1940 Fall / Winter Catalogue

As I stated above rationing was not really mandatory in Canada, so seeing a full ad for ‘Silk Hose’ was still 100% okay. -1940s vintage advertisement.

1940s Silk Hosiery Advertisiment as seen in a Eaton's 1940-1940 Fall / Winter Catalogue

Your outfits are NOT complete without smart-looking 1940s shoes, that are moderately priced.

1940s Fashion: late 1940, early 1941's womens fall winter shoes ad seen in a Eaton's 1940-1940 Fall / Winter Catalogue

Even women’s dancing shoes are featured.

Further Reading: Time To Dance! Vintage Instructions To Get You Dancing In No Time

1940s women's dance shoes illustration as seen in a Eaton's 1940-1940 Fall / Winter Catalogue

Lets also not forget that this is the Fall/Winter CANADIAN Catalogue, so take your pick of the warmest, classiest winter footwear on the block.

1940s Fashion: late 1940, early 1941's womens fall winter shoes as seen in a Eaton's 1940-1940 Fall / Winter Catalogue

And now for most amazing shoes in the book. ‘Sled’ Heels!! WOW! Those are absolutely stunning!

1940 Fashion: A women's shoe with a cut out in the heel as seen in a Eaton's 1940-1940 Fall / Winter Catalogue

1940s Hats Hats Hats! Here is a small selection of what was posted in the catalog. I’m a huge fan of the ‘Sideliner’.

1940s Fashion: Late 1940, early 1941 women's fall winter hats as seen in a Eaton's 1940-1940 Fall / Winter Catalogue

Interesting find alert!, # 4 ‘The Crepe Topper‘. I have honestly never heard of this idea but now that I have, I want one…badly. According to the description below it’s “Finely pleated rayon crepe, encircling the neck and tying about the waist. It allows you to lend variety to a plain dress”. How cool!

1940s Fashion: Women's Earl 1940s Boleros, Jacket, Crepe Topper and blouse as seen in a Eaton's 1940-1940 Fall / Winter Catalogue

Don’t worry men, Eaton’s has stuff for you as well. Monogrammed ties, that go with any of the shirts featured are perfect for everyday wear.

1940s Fashion for Men: Late 1940, early 1941 Men's vintage shirts and ties as seen in a Eaton's 1940-1940 Fall / Winter Catalogue

I love how the men socks below in their vibrant colours and patterns are also very popular right now with the gentlemen of today. Good style never goes OUT of style.

1940s Fashion: Late 1940s, Early 1941 Men's socks and women's hosiery as seen in a Eaton's 1940-1940 Fall / Winter Catalogue

Other items you can purchase…Accordions!

1940s Accordions for sale in a Eaton's 1940-1940 Fall / Winter Catalogue

Power Tools and Accessories for the home craftsman.

1940s Power tools for sale as seen in a Eaton's 1940-1940 Fall / Winter Catalogue

Beautiful 1940s Jewelry like, fruit necklaces (very popular with the vintage crowd right now).

1940s Fashion: Early 1941 vintage fruit necklace as seen in a Eaton's 1940-1940 Fall / Winter Catalogue

And hair tools for the ladies. This page is always a favorite of mine, especially since I’m into vintage hairstyles and it’s fun to see the items I use today being sold 70+ years earlier.

Further Reading:

1940s Hairstyle: 1940 - 1941 women's hair styling accessories as seen in a Eaton's 1940-1940 Fall / Winter Catalogue

And that was the last image for this post today. I will be doing a part 2 soon featuring other catalogues during this time period. Will the Eaton’s Catalogue change as Canada gets deeper into the war, or will it remain the same as we have seen here? Stay tuned!

Question time: Do you have a favorite item featured above? If you do please share.

Note! As of Nov 15th, 2023 there was a copy for sale on eBay, which you can find HERE.

Would you like to own a vintage 1940s fashion item (or a replica of one)? Then take a look at the items for sale in my 1940s Fashion Etsy collection page (updated regularly), found HERE.

FURTHER READING:

Liz 🙂

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.

Category: 1940s

My Favorite Vintage Pinterest Content-Feb/Early March Edition

Collection of Vintage Images, Advertisements, Fashons and more as seen on Pinterest

Highlights of a Canadian Eaton’s Catalogue, Fall/Winter 1940-1941

Canadian Eaton’s Catalogue, Fall/Winter 1940-1941