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Category: Vintage Style

My Recent Vintage Store Finds

It is so nice in Toronto right now, so it is pretty much impossible to stay home at night. So on one of those beautiful nights I took a walk down to my local antique store for some treasure hunting. I was pretty excited to do this because normally I'm with my husband and he is not much of antique shopper and so I usually get 5 seconds in before he starts giving me the “please can we go!” look! Not tonight though he was working so I was free to take my time.

My plan… To find some amazing 1930s-1950s real-life pictures of well dressed people as this has recently become my obsession. I just love seeing how everyday people dressed as opposed to movie stars who had lots of money and designers on demand (not that I don't enjoy those photos too, Oh I most certainly do!). Tonight though was about the regular folks and I scored huge with the following 4 images.

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Photo number 1: A wedding photo from the 1940s, clearly during war times. Don't you agree that the bride and groom are so gorgeous together that they could have been movie stars?? Sigh…so fantastic!

I am just swooning right now over the handsome groom in uniform and his equally handsome best man in his navy uniform. Love.

1940s wedding photo

Now the lovely bride. That dress is making me just drool all over my ipad right now with envy. The cut, the sequined design on the bust and that corsage..wow! Just beautiful. In my mind the dress is a gorgeous blue or maybe green! And how adorable are the peep toe shoes (on both ladies)?? This gal has style and her maid of honour is just as stylish too! I want a 1940s suit badly and honestly one like this would make my day. It is such a nice fit on her and I think she made a wonderful choice by wearing this.

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Photo number 2: 1940s woman. This photo was the first image I found and I nearly died from how amazing this image was. Like seriously, how could you look at this photo and not think “Wow that woman has style!”? I don't think it is possible and that was the exact words that came out of my mouth.

1940s woman in dress

First off her 1940s gown fits her like a glove, look how tiny her waist is? The detail at the hip adds to the slim look of her waist and I'm just loving it so much (great undergarments I'm sure are helping too). The fabric is just as wonderful with the random flower detail and I envision this dress to be black with the flowers and dots to be silver (do you agree?).

Now let's talk about her hat. Yes her hat is one amazing work of art with a giant pouffy flower (I think) as the embleshment. Even with the giant beautiful corsage on her dress I don't think the hat is too much. Ohh I have a thought! Maybe she is the mother of the bride to the couple above?? Most likely not but she is going some where wonderful enough to wear long black gloves (question: are they gloves if they have no hand part?) and I'm sure will be the hit of the party.

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Photo number 3: 1940s gentleman. This image when I saw it, reminded me so much of Cary Grant or Clark Gable and I just knew he had to come home with me. I was also really drawn to how well his suit fit and how he paired it with a bow tie and two toned oxfords, classy! The hand in the pocket says “yup I'm a man of style”. And yes mister handsome well dressed man, the Vintage Inn agrees.

1940s man in suit

Photo number 4: The final image I found of this 1950s woman playing with her cat, made me want to buy it for 1 reason and 1 reason alone….her saddle shoes. Yes I know saddle shoes are not rare in images from the 50s but what intrigued me even more was the fact that I believe this woman is not a young girl but much older then that.

You don't see very often older woman wearing saddle shoes, in fact I have never seen it and was always under the impression that that style was for the “younger” generation. Now that might be true but clearly this lovely fun loving lady does not care and she is rocking them anyways and for that, I love her style and she deserved to be in this post.

1950s housewife in saddle shoes

So there my wonderful readers is my most recent vintage shopping find. I hope you enjoyed looking at the images as much as I did when I bought them.

Have a fantastic day!

Liz 🙂

 

 

 

 

Vintage Summer Outfit Inspiration-Tiki / Tropical / Hawaiian Dresses

Updated August 2024

Ohhhh I’m sooo happy that summer is finally here (well it will be here as of tomorrow but close enough). It was a long cold winter here in Toronto and I have been itching to get out into the warmer weather since the first day of winter. I will admit that jetting off to Spain for week 100% helped kick me into summer mode but I’m never fully happy till I hear “SUMMER IS HERE!” and that happens tomorrow! Yippee!!

1950s vintage photo of 3 women in 1950s swimsuits sitting on a beach by a boat.

So with the wonderful summer weather upon us that means it’s full on summer dress time for me and that includes some of my Tiki / Hawaiian dresses. Invited to a BBQ..why yes I will wear my pink flamingo tiki dress (seen below at Frankie’s Tiki Room in Las Vegas during Viva Rockabilly Weekend). Invited for drinks on a patio..why yes I will wear my two piece tiki outfit. etc. etc. You invite me to something I will try to “summer it up” as much as possible and that means for me lately that can lean towards a Tiki theme.

Tiki Style as seen at Frankie's Tiki Room in Las Vegas.

Sadly my closet is limited on space and my pocket-book is lean BUT if I had the space and money here are some of the “Tiki / Tropical / Hawaiian Dresses” I would have in my wardrobe (and some you could possibly own yourself if you quick enough to pick it up).


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

NOTE: If something is no longer available on Etsy, do a search for other vintage items that are like it. “New” vintage products are being updated all the time!

VINTAGE SHOPPING: I have a collection of ‘Vintage Summer Outfits‘ on Etsy that you can buy right now and I update Monthly. Happy Shopping!


Vintage Summer Outfit Inspiration

Tiki / Tropical / Hawaiian Dresses

What an enchanting oceanic beauty this is! It’s a rich cotton 1950s New Look Hawaiian halter sundress with 3D winged shelf bust, elastic ruching, and full circle skirt by “Made in Honolulu for Desmond’s of Southern California!”

Note: I have a very similar dress, while the pattern is different (mine are tropical flowers instead of seashells) the dress is close in style (not a match but you get the point). I have shared my dress below.

1950s Dress. What an enchanting oceanic beauty this is! It's a rich cotton 1950s New Look Hawaiian halter sundress with 3D winged shelf bust, elastic ruching, and full circle skirt by "Made in Honolulu for Desmond's of Southern California!"

Source: Etsy

Toronto Vintage Society at the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 2016.

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 2016 Car Show. 1950s Vintage Dresses on display by the Toronto Vintage Society.

I’m a big fan of sometimes simple design makes a strong statement, and this 1950s dress does.

1950s Vintage Dress with Palm Leaves. Fun Tiki Dress or 1950s Summer Dress.
Source-Etsy “simplicityisbliss”

The below Jeffrey of California 1970s dress just SCREAMS 1940s/1950s. I’m so in love with the fruit basket pattern, madly in love.

1940's 1950's Style 2-pc Carmen Miranda Embroidered Lace Heart Trimmed Tiki Hawaiian Pinup skirt and top (1970s)
Source-Etsy “ChickaBoomVintage”

The below dress is an “OuterLimitz” creation and I think I might actually need to buy this one. I currently own 2 dresses from this fantastic designer and will admit that I’m a huge fan. Isn’t that pattern wonderful?

1950s style Hawaiian sarong dress -Tiki Style

Oceanfront Boutique is also another fun vintage reproduction online store creating beautiful tropical vintage style dresses for all to enjoy! Here is one of my favs featuring a vintage tropical fabric (avail as of May 2023 HERE)!

Hawaiian dress and kikepa-Hawaiian Shaheen style dress reproduction. Made with vintage 1960's fabric.

Source: Etsy

Now here is the vintage version – An authentic 1950s ALFRED SHAHEEN, Hawaiian floral Tiki printed brown cotton sarong wiggle dress w/ waterfall Train.

Vintage 1950s ALFRED SHAHEEN Sundress | 50s Hawaiian Floral Tiki Printed Brown Cotton Sarong Wiggle Dress w/ Waterfall Train

Source: Etsy

Oh my! Look at the glorious colours on this “Fashions of Hawaii” hourglass dress. And the back train! I have no words…no words.

1950's Polished Cotton Rich Glowing Tiki Tribal Print Hourglass Cocktail Dress w Draped Train by Fashions of Hawaii
Source-Etsy “Butch Wax Vintage”

Sarong dresses are a favorite of mine because they just such a flattering look on almost every shape. The below 1950’s “Sun Fashions of Hawaii” Tiki dress is wonderful example of this.

Tiki Time 1950's Hawaiian Print Sarong Polished Cotton Dress by "Sun Fashions of Hawaii"
Source-Etsy “Wear it again”

Can we have a moment of silence for this amazing creation. Ssshhhh….Okay now speak! EEKKK!!! The novelty print is crazy cool! and the one shoulder design with the bow..fantastic! Sigh…love.

1950s Dress - Vintage 50s Rayon Hawaiian Dress - One Shoulder Novelty Print Fire Red Sundress - Tiki Torch and Surfers
Source-Etsy “jumblelaya”

Fish Print 1950’s Alfred Shaheen in green. Ohh la la, beautiful.

1950s ALFRED SHAHEEN // Fish Print Sarong Dress & Bolero // vintage 50s dress
Source-Etsy “dethrosevintage”

I’m going to end this wonderfully colorful post with this 1950’s Hawaiian Sundress by Kamehameha. This would be a perfect addition to ANY Tiki party or BBQ you might be attending this summer.

1950s KAMEHAMEHA Amber Leaf Glow Tropical Plumeria Orchid Floral HAWAIIAN 50s Sundress Full Circle Swing Skirt Pinup Dress
Source-Etsy “Geronimo Vintage”

Lastly make sure you check out my other Tiki post… Time to get Tikified! Fun Tiki Items & Clothes To Inspire

Liz 🙂