1950's Archives

I recently came back from a fun vacation in New Orleans (4th time) and I had some fantastic social partner dances to amazing jazz bands while I was there. I mean it is the birth place of Jazz, so this Lindy Hopper was guaranteed to find somewhere to dance and dance I did! What a great time.

For today’s post, I was inspired by this journey and my love of social dancing.

Please enjoy these 1940s & 1950s vintage photos!

Further Reading: Vintage Photos Of The Social Dance (Part 1)

1950s vintage photo of a group of young teenagers at a school dance.

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

In 1944 these young College students danced the Lindy Hop (or as they would of called it, The Jitterbug) at a Michigan State dance.

The theme must of been plaid, due to the large amount of plaid in this photo AND the next.

Further Reading: Archived blog posts of the Swing Dance & The Big Band Era

1940s Vintage Photo of college students swing dancing (Lindy Hop / Jitterbug) in plaid fashions. Fantastic 1940s Hairstyles for Women and 1940s fashions.

Another image from that same plaid 1940s dance. Everyone is having so much fun!

Source: eBay

I LOVE this 1950s photo of so many happy dancers enjoying a live band while dancing outside.

1950s vintage photo of couples dancing to a live band outside in 1950s fashions and 1950s hairstyles. Looks like some are dancing Jive.

Source: Etsy-Iloveyoumorephotos

Slow dancing in the living room-January 1963 (had to slip this 1960s photo into the batch).

1960s vintage photo of Black Men & Women slow dancing in a living room party -January 1963.

Source: Etsy-JakeRoebucks

What a FUN 1950s photo of two couples at Knott’s Berry Farm enjoying a fun photo booth cutout of couples dancing. LOVE the smiles and laughter.

1950s Vintage Photo: a FUN 1950s photo of two couples at Knott's Berry Farm enjoying a fun photo booth cutout of couples dancing.

Source: Etsy-JakeRoebucks

May 1956, “Cherry” in the black dress at the back with 3 other teenage girls putting up streamers for the school dance. LOVE the 1950s fashions.

1950s vintage photo of four teenage girls in 1950s fashions decorating their gym for a school dance

One more photo of Cherry and her friend in the fantastic 1950s novelty skirt putting up the streamers.

1950s vintage photo (May 1956) of 2 teenage girls in 1950s fashions decorating their gym for a school dance. Super 1950s skirt on the woman in the front of the image.

Source: Etsy-Iloveyoumorephotos

May 1951- “Swank Men” Dance…AND beautiful ladies.

1950s vintage photo of a group of Black Men and Black Women all dressed up in 1950s fashions and 1950s hairstyles sitting at a table at a dance.

Source: Etsy-JakeRoebucks

WW2 dance featuring soldiers and their dates.

1940s vintage photo of a WW2 dance featuring soldiers dancing with women in 1940s fashions and 1940s hairstyles.

Source: Etsy-VintagePhotosFound

A Sailor dance-1950s vintage photo.

1950s vintage photo of sailors and other men and women at dance, dancing together and having fun together.

Source: Etsy-JakeRoebucks

1950s photo of couples dancing at the basement party.

Further Reading: A Look Back At Life In 1940s-1960s Drinking Establishments & Home Bars

1950s vintage photo of a basement party featuring men and women dancing together in 1950s fashions

Source: Etsy-RenascenceVintage

A dance in the gym in the 1940s. I just ADORE how our pretty young woman in the front of this photo is look at her guy. She likes him, don’t you agree?

1940s vintage photo of a dance in a gym with young men and women. The photo features stylish Black Men and Women in the front of the photo.

Source: eBay

A Western Swing Dance calls for western wear as the outfit for the night. 1950s photo.

1950s vintage photo of a young couple at a dance wearing western wear fashions. Couples are dancing in the background.

Source: Etsy-JakeRoebucks

1953 photo of David Brandt and Ruth Estelle dancing at their Senior Prom at Anacosta High School.

Further Reading: Prom in the 1940s & 1950s

1950s vintage photo of a 1950s prom from 1953 featuring vintage prom dresses and young men in tuxedos. Photo description: 1953 photo of David Brandt and Ruth Estelle dancing at their Senior Prom at Anacosta High School.

Source: eBay

December 1951-New Year’s Eve Party. Dancers and party goers have a great time at the bar BUT the bar is “Not responsible for hats & coats not checked”. Ha!

Further Reading: Vintage New Year’s Eve archived blog posts

1950s vintage photo from 1951 of a bar on New Years eve with people dancing and celebrating. Great early 1950s vintage hairstyles and fashions.

Source: Etsy-JakeRoebucks

The 1940s hairstyles in this photo is too good to NOT share. What glorious curls at this dance and hair flowers and fantastic corsages (bigger the better)!

1940s vintage photo of a social dance featuring couples dancing together in 1940s fashions and 1940s hairstyles.

Source: eBay

Thank you, friends, for dropping by and sharing in the enjoyment of these wonderful vintage social dance photos with me. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!

Further Reading:

Vintage Photos Of The Social Dance (Part 1)
Archived blog posts on ‘Vintage Dances’
Vintage Photos 1920s-1960s (archived posts)

Have a great day!

Liz

As the temperatures rise and the sun shines brighter, it’s time to start thinking about your summer wardrobe (Summer officially starts June 20th). And what better way to get inspiration than by flipping through the pages of a Sears 1955 Spring / Summer catalog?

From flowy sundresses to high-waisted shorts, this catalog is filled with timeless pieces that still have a place in our closets today. So grab your lemonade, put on your cat-eye sunglasses, and join us as we dive into the world of summer fashion in the 1950s.

(NOTE: click the link above to visit the entire catalog. IT’S HUGE!)

1950s Vintage Fashion as seen in a 1955 Spring / Summer Sears Catalog featuring an image of two women in 1950s full swing skirt floral dresses.

All images from ‘christmas.musetechical.com’

The 1950s Spring / Summer Fashions for Women

“This is the year for dresses with matched accessories”. Parasol & dress for only $8.98.

1950s Fashion / Vintage Summer Outfit as seen in a 1955 Sears Spring / Summer Catalog. The 1950s dress fabric has umbrellas on it that matches her parasol

“This is the year to look smooth. The smooth, slim dress looks smartest in navy or black”. You can also call this style “the wiggle dress”.

1950s Vintage Fashion as seen in a 1955 Spring / Summer Sears Catalog featuring an image of a woman in a 1950s Wiggle Dress

1950s fashion a womens wiggle dress or slim dress as seen in a 1955 Spring Summer Sears Catalog

” This is the year for the Petticoat Dress. Ours are the finest, fullest and most flattering we’ve seen for only $10.98″.

The dress on the right is gorgeous and very on trend for this year as floral dresses are being seen all over town.

1950s fashion - The Petticoat Dress / a 1950s Fit and Flare dress style as seen in a 1955 Spring Summer Catalog from Sears

1950s Fashion: Petticoat Dress / Fit & Flare Dress Style. One of the 1950s dresses is a Floral dress. All dresses seen in a 1955 Spring / Summer Sears Catalog

“This is the year for new elegance in dresses that wash” & “This is the year for pleats and these wash!”

1950s fashion for Spring Sumer 1955 featuring women's 1950s fit and flare dresses and housedress in stripes, polka dots and floral

1950s fashion for women as seen in a 1955 Spring Summer Sears Catalog featuring women dresses with pleats

“This is the year to go formal”. Women’s 1950s evening dresses. AND “This is the year

1950s fashion: Women's 1950s evening dresses as seen in a 1955 Spring Summer Sears Catalog

1950s Fashion: Women's 1950s party dresses in the full skirt style of the 50s as seen in a 1955 Spring Summer Sears Catalog

“This is the year get more for $5.98” (Like a floral swing skirt dress, coat dress or a stripped flare skirt dress). AND “This is the year for Caribana cottons. They’re washfast…won’t shrink over 1%..wrinkle resistant”. LOVE the patterns on the skirts (the one in the middle is drummer boys and they are calling it a ‘dirndl skirt’).

1950s Fashion: Women's Floral Swing Skirt dress, coat dress & flared dress as seen in a 1955 Spring Summer Sears Catalog

1950s Fashion: Women's Full Skirt Patterned Skirts & Patterned Summer Dress as seen in a 1955 Sears Spring Summer Catalog

In these 1950s dresses, you will be able to take them from Spring right into Summer. What one is your favourite (I like the top middle floral dress with the bolero cardigan)?

1950s women's fashions for Spring & Summer as seen in a 1955 Sears Catalog. The catalog page features 1950s dresses in stripes, florals, polka dots and more!

“Skirts & blouses that go together” and “Fashion Separates add up to a versatile wardrobe for city and country wear”.

Love all the combinations of floral full skirts with blouses, blouses with shorts, blouses with capri pants. How fun and a great way to haves o many fun combinations for summer!

1950s Fashion: Women's Fashions for summer that go together and interchange. 1950s skirts with blouses and blouses with shorts or capri pants and jackets. Fun!

“New Junior Cottons” for young Women’s 50’s dresses.

1950s Fashion: Junior Women's Dresses for Summer as seen in a 1955 Sears Spring / Summer Catalog.

‘California styled separates of sportswear denim’. “Sun and fun fashion in brilliant colors to mix or max in the fashion fabric of sportswear…a superior quality denim with new depth and brilliance of color”

These fashions are SO FUN!! Bermuda shorts (love!), pedal pushers, culottes (can I have 2?!), matching bra and shorts, Italian pants and shirt and blouse. You will 100% be the best dressed at your Summer BBQ.

1950s fashion-1950s summer fashions for women featuring Bermuda shorts, pedal pushers, culottes, matching bra and shorts, Italian pants and shirt and blouse. as seen in a 1955 Sears Spring Summer Catalog

The “Sensational New TAB SHIRT” is what caught my eye on this page of fun 1950s tops and blouses. I love the jacket-style look that you can wear open or closed with a belt.

1950s fashion-women's tops and blouses for Summer as seen in a 1955 Sears Spring Summer Catalog

To have a standout Summer dress or skirt, you 100% need to start with a stunning novelty print fabric for your Butterick Pattern design. The “Signed Originals by Famous American Artists” is just what you need!

I love the boat print on the dress at the bottom. What is your favourite?

1950s Fashion: Women's 1950s cotton novelty print fabrics for your 1950s dresses and 1950s skirts as seen in a 1955 Sears Spring Summer Catalog

Women’s 1950s skirts-pleated, tiered, & patterned.

1950s Fashion: Women's 1950s Skirts-Full Skirts with pleats, patterned & tiered as seen in a 1955 Sears Spring Summer Catalog.

Women’s 1950s swimsuits-‘Kerrybrooke Sea Stars’.

Fantastic Women’s 1950s summer shoes (Oxfords, espadrilles & sandals). “Luscious Color!” “Breeze-cool Cotton Play Shoes to wear wherever your summer fun plans take you. Stay-bright colors was as easily as your nylons”.

Further Reading: “Kedettes”-Keds Stylish Women’s Shoe Division

1950s fashion: Women's summer shoes as seen in a 1955 Spring Summer Sears Catalog -Oxfords, espadrilles & sandals.

“Winsome Wedgies”. These wedge Summer shoes will be perfect with any outfit you chose to pair them with.

1950s Fashion: Women's 1950s shoes for Summer-Wedge Shoes as seen in a 1955 Spring Summer Sears Catalog.

1950s Men’s Summer Fashions

“OUTDOOR WEAR for Leisure Hours”. Men’s sports shirts and shorts.

1950s fashions for men-Summer fashions for men shorts and men's shirts from a 1955 Sears Spring Summer Catalog

1950s Men’s Short Sleeve Sport Shirts….”Cool as a Summer breeze”.

‘Sport Style Knit Shirts & Soft, Knit Cotton Terry Cloths shirts for men’.

1950s Fashion: 1950s Men's Sport Shirts for summer as seen in a 1955 Sears Spring / Summer Catalog

It’s swimming time! Summer Beachwear for men. Cabana beach set & swim trunks.

1950s Fashion: 1950s Men's Beachwear-Swim trunks and Cabana sets as seen in a 1955 Spring Summer Sears Catalog.

The “California-Styled Casual Coat & Tropical Slacks” are the perfect look for stylish men in 1955 Summer (and today!).

1950s Fashion: 1950s mens casual jackets, shirts and slacks / pants for summer as seen in a 1955 Spring Summer Sears Catalog.

Thanks for dropping by! Share what your favourite Summer fashions were in the comment section below (or anything else about this topic).

Further Reading: Vintage Summer Blog Posts & Vintage Catalogs (Archived Vintage Inn Blog Posts)

VINTAGE SHOPPING: If you like what you see and you would like to own your own vintage summer fashion piece, I highly recommend Etsy , eBay to do your shopping.

Enjoy your Summer Friends!

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: 1950’s

Vintage Photos of the Social Dance Part 2

1955 Sears Spring Summer Catalog-The Summer Fashions

The 1950s Spring / Summer Fashions for Women

1950s Men’s Summer Fashions

Category: 1950’s

Vintage Photos of the Social Dance 1940s & 1950s

The 1950s Spring / Summer Fashions for Women

1950s Men’s Summer Fashions