It’s now 2016 and that means I start to prepare for Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend in April. Now I by no means prepare like some ladies (and gents) I have met, who have been preparing since the day they walked off the Orleans property. I just start to think of what I might like to bring, what I’m missing to complete an outfit and what hairstyles I might try to practice before I hit hot and humid Vegas for a week. Then I get to Vegas and all of that goes out the window when I’m too tired, lazy or more interested in dancing and socializing then doing my hair and then you get “standard liz hair” in all my pictures (seen below).

Vintage Inn Blog hairstyles — No curl pic and then I went crazy and now I have curl lol

THAT said, I did want to share a bunch of images I have been saving to my ‘Vintage Hairstyles‘ Pinterest board to help not only myself but anyone else who might be looking for vintage styles as well. Lets check out what I have found.

APRIL 2024 Update: Make sure you check out my detailed posts (and more real life hairstyle inspiration) on ‘A Vintage Guide to 1940s Hair Accessories’ & Vintage Hair Tools: Hairstyle Books 1940s & 1950s

1940s & 1950s Vintage Hairstyles

Blog Post of Vintage Hair Inspiration

Let’s start off with ME! 2024 me and my vintage hairstyle journey. Back in 2016 I would never of been able to to do two victory rolls that actually look good and now here I am! This look is super for a swing dance, 1940s event, pinup contest or going to the grocery store. ha!

1940s vintage hairstyle inspiration pinup hairstyle rockabilly hairstyle from the Vintage Inn Blog

Big Pincurls and a Side Bun. You know what I love about this look, is that the instead of trying to hide the bobby pins inside the curl (which is so difficult for me sometimes), by simply using pretty decorative hair pins you can secure it like the image below and it looks stunning.

Note: While buns were not a 1940s / 50s look it is fun that one era is meshed with another era to create a new vintage hairstyle.

vintage pincurls hairstyle — Source: Flickr-miriamethel

Victory roll updo. I can do the bottom part no problem. The Victory Rolls…not so much but it sure is pretty and totally doable (from what I have been told lol).

1940s hairstyle featuring victory rolls and a pin curl and hair flower. — Source: Flickr-Elegant Musings

Cute Alert! And maybe possibly not that hard to do, it looks like a Faux Bob.

Ponytail..check with cute rolls. Awesome! But I really need to practice because I really really adore this look and it would be perfect for VIVA.

1950s victory rolls and ponytails vintage hairstyle — Source: We Heart It

This is a great image because it shows you exactly where you need to place the clips in order to have that great 1950s hair that glamour icons like Dita Von Teese rocks.

I love 1940s hair and this one is just fantastic.

1940s vintage hairstyle - Poodle Hairstyle — Source: Flickr-miriamethel

This style seems pretty quick and easy after you have done all the hard work with a set.

I will be honest, I have no idea how to do this style but this image is so striking and the hair so beautiful that it just had to make this roundup.

Vintage Retro Hairstyle — Source: miriamskafferep

I wanted to tryout this complete look before VIVA last year but it never happened, maybe this is the year.

And if it all fails and you just can’t keep going on with whatever your hair has done then a turban is always a good way to go.

Working women in World War II working in a factory wearing hair scarves — Source: Flikr-Minnesota Historical Society

Want more inspiration? Check out my blog post that I did on 2 American Hairdressing magazines I had picked up from the late 1940s. Lots of great stuff in there.

1940s hairstyle from American Hairdresser Magazine

FURTHER READING:

Take a look at my ‘Women’s Vintage Hairstyle‘ archive HERE
I did a detailed blog post on “1940s Women’s Hair Accessories” HERE
Vintage Hair Tools: Hairstyle Books 1940s & 1950s

Question time! Did you like to experiment with hairstyles or do you find yourself falling into the “same old same old” look because it’s tried and true?

Liz 🙂

I recently did a blog post on the “The Stylish Toronto of the 1940s” and it was pretty well received, so I decided to expand my search to any location in the world for today’s post. BUT honestly what really motivated me to do a “new version” of that past post was the below image that a friend in Toronto shared of her mother when she was younger (around 1953), taking a canoe ride in England.

What stood out in my friend Ann’s mind and everyone else’s who saw this picture was the fact that her mother was not bundled up in “canoe wear” but instead chose to wear a pretty dress AND pearls around her neck. THAT is Style, don’t you agree?!

So with that, lets check out some more “regular folks” and their own fantastic fashion sense.

vintage photo of a woman in a canoe with pearls 1950s — Photo Courtesy of Ann Mayer

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 Photos of Stylish People

1940s & 1950s

At the Hair Salon

1940s Vintage Photo. Possibly these lovely women just finished getting their hair done or maybe they are the stylist themselves but it is clear no matter whether they are customer or professional they know how to look good. Their hair is perfect and I adore their simple but stylish style (especially the lady to the far right).

1940s Vintage Photo of Women in 1940s fashions sitting in a hair salon. — Source: eBay-growinggarlic101

Bows and Ruffles

When I saw the below 1940’s image while browsing the amazing collection they have at one of favorite vintage shops in Toronto-Gadabout, I quickly knew this pretty woman named “Eva” had to one day be shown to the world. How can you pass by such lovely fashion?

Her peplum blouse with its wonderful bows and ruffles is paired so nicely with a textured skirt. Excellent combo!

1940s Vintage Photo of a young women in a 1940s dress posing for a photo outside. — Vintage Inn Image Collection

Stylish Coats and Perfect Hair

This 1940s image speaks for itself. Simply Beautiful style.

1940s vintage photo of a women with 1940s hairstyle and a 1940s coat posing for a photo. — Vintage Inn Image Collection

Hanging in the front yard

I dream of owning a playsuit like you see below and to see it on this lovely photo of this pretty girl in the 1940s make me want one so much more. These playsuits are seriously the cutest and the fact that you can go from dress to shorts in one easy step makes this a must to add to my list of “stylish folks”.

1940s vintage photo of a young woman in a two piece 1940s playsuit posing for a photo on the side of her house. — Source: eBay-Darrins Car Photos

Sisters with Style

I know the rockabilly/vintage community ladies love their “Spanish” style blouses and their circle skirts. Well ladies and gents here are 3 ladies who are pulling off this look in real vintage time. Are you able to make out what looks like I’m assuming to be beautiful embroidery on the tops? And the patterns on 2 of the skirts are really great. Hair..perfect.

1940s vintage photo of 3 young women in spanish style outfits (peasant blouses) and bows in their curly hair and matching skirts. — Source: eBay-Darrins Car Photos

Pants and Blouses

Going along with the “Spanish” style blouses (gypsy tops they are also sometimes called) here is a 1940s image of a stunner of a woman from my own collection. I love the combo of a pretty blouse with pants (sorry for the not super clear image, the picture was very faded) and I’m pretty sure a really amazing belt from what I can see. Nice look!

1940s woman in pants and spanish style blouse posing for this early 1940s photo — Vintage Inn Image Collection

At the Swimming Pool

1950’s Photo: Here is Ruth, Anita and Ellen in California in July of 1954 enjoying at day the Giant Swimming Pool (according to the sign in the back). What caught my eye was the lovely suit on the right on who I think I might be Ellen (she looks like an Ellen). I would give anything to see the full details because the little peak of what we do so is so pretty. That is why this picture is on the list.

1950s vintage photo of three women in 1950s swimsuits / bathing suits posing for a photo together in 1954. — Vintage Inn Image Collection

Stripes and Mustaches

What a dreamy Best Dressed Couple! I love everything about their outfits and this 1940’s picture. His suit with that great tie and his nicely trimmed mustache is perfect. And his lovely wife in her ‘Katharine Hepburn’ like dress is oh so lovely. Very nice indeed.

FURTHER READING: Movember-A Collection of Vintage Moustache Images!

1940s vintage image of a couple posing together on a sidewalk in stylish 1940s fashioins. — Source: Etsy-ljpsales

Saddle shoes and dances

We cannot possibly leave out the fashionable 1950s kids of times gone by. Look at these two doing a little dance together? Her dress and saddle shoes and his teeny tiny cardigan… Ahhhh!! High Fives to being adorable.

FURTHER READING: Vintage Photo Tuesday: Saddle Shoes

1950s vintage photo of children dancing in saddle shoes in front of a 1950s TV in March 1958 — Source: Etsy-EphemeraObscura

Beautiful Suit and Peplums

If you follow me on Instagram then you would have seen this late 1940’s, early 1950’s picture already, this is MY family on my mom’s side.

My Grandfather is the very stylish, handsome man in the middle of his equally as fantastically dressed sisters (my great Aunts). I do believe this is his wedding day if I’m not mistaken. I absolutely ADORE my Great Aunts dress with the asymmetrical peplum design…drool.

Late 1940s vintage photo of the Vintage Inn Blog's grandfather and his sisters in stylish late 1940s clothes. — Vintage Inn Image Collection

The Dior Look

And one last family picture, my 1950’s Grandmother (once again my mom’s mom). Her “Dior Look” is spot on and I now know where I got my good fashion sense from 🙂

FURTHER READING: The Fashions of Christian Dior 1947-1957

1950s vintage photo of the Vintage Inn Blog's Grandmother, Elizabeth in a Dior New Look style dress posing for a photo in London, Ontario, Canada. — Vintage Inn Image Collection

And that is the roundup for today’s post, but I had so much fun working on it that I don’t think it will be the last post I ever do on this topic. Stay tuned for more.

Question Time:

Do you enjoy looking at “real life photos” of everyday folks for style inspiration? Or do you prefer to take tips from the stars (or maybe both!)

FURTHER READING:

Vintage Photo Tuesday: 1950s Street Style
Vintage Photo Tuesday: 1940’s Street Style
The Stylish Toronto of the 1940s
Vintage Photo Tuesday: Vintage Black Style
Vintage Photos 1920s-1960s (Archived blog posts)

Liz 🙂

Category: 1950’s