The Vintage Inn

There’s something I absolutely love about Halloween decorations and illustrations from the mid-century. The playful, kitschy vibe, with less focus on gore and more on fun, brings me so much joy. With that in mind, today’s post celebrates the season with a collection of vintage Halloween decor and illustrations from the 1940s-1960s.

Let the fun begin!

1950s Vintage Halloween Advertisement for 7up. Fun Vintage Halloween Art / Illustration.

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.

NOTE: If you click on any of the items featured below and they are not available, don’t fret! Hit the search button and see what else is on the websites. There are 1000’s and 1000’s of items being listed daily.

Mid Century Halloween Decorations & Illustrations

TRICK OR TREAT! Two 1950s vintage candy bags for trick or treating featuring fantastic Halloween illustrations.

I’m a big fan of the black cat with the witch.

1950s Vintage Halloween Art: Vintage Halloween Candy Bags wiht a Cat with Witch, Kids trick or treating to a Haunted House dressed in Halloween costumes.

Source: Etsy-VintagePrairieHome

1950s Halloween Cardboard Cutouts-Attractive Party Decorations.

1950s Halloween Party Decorations - Vintage Halloween Art as seen in 1950s Halloween Cardboard Cutouts

Featuring a cute witch owl and a carved pumpkin. These are indeed “attractive” Halloween decorations.

1950s Halloween Party Decorations - Vintage Halloween Art as seen in 1950s Halloween Cardboard Cutouts Featuring a cute witch owl and a carved pumpkin.

Source: Etsy-TremblaysAntiques

1940s paper cups with Halloween illustrations of bats, owls, moon and pumpkin with a witches hat. Love these!

1940s Vintage Halloween Art: paper cups with Halloween illustrations of bats, owls, moon and pumpkin with a witches hat

Source: Etsy-AdvertisingCollector

“For My Secret Pal on Halloween” – 1950s vintage Halloween card of two adorable witches having tea together (I guess they are not supposed to be friends?).

Further Reading: Halloween Roundup: A Collection of Vintage Halloween Ads, Photos & More

1950s Vintage Halloween Card featuring an illustration of two witches having tea together. See more Vintage Halloween art at the Vintage Inn Blog. — Source: Pinterest

1950s / 1960s Modern Mystic Eye Pendulum Game. Just ask the Mystic Eye a question and your answer will appear! Made by Clark Publishing Co.

Vintage Halloween: 1950s / 1960s Modern Mystic Eye Pendulum Game. Just ask the Mystic Eye a question and your answer will appear! Made by Clark Publishing Co.

Source: Etsy-NothingButAntiques

How can you be scared by this guy? You can’t! Impossible! 1950’s black cat top hat die cut Halloween decoration.

1950s Vintage Halloween-1950's black cat top hat die cut halloween decoration. Fun Halloween Art.

Source: Etsy-MysteryMisterAntique

‘Calling All Girls’ October 1958 magazine cover featuring an illustration of a girl in a Skelton costume going thru her trick or treat bag while her adorable dachshund, hides under the ottoman.

About: YM was an American teen magazine that began in 1932 as two magazines—Compact, which was aimed at older teens, and Calling All Girls, which was intended for younger girls (with a cover that always featured the signature dachshund) and pioneered the signature embarrassing-moments column, “Say Anything” (Source).

1950s vintage magazine cover from Calling All Girls featuring an illustration of a girl dressed as a skeleton for Halloween with her dachshund, from 1958.

Here is one more Halloween illustrated magazine cover from ‘Calling All Girls’ this time from October 1960 featuring a girl dressed as a Tiger and a feature on “Giving an Old-Fashioned Halloween Party”.

Further Reading: Vintage October Magazine Covers

Halloween illustrated magazine cover from 'Calling All Girls' this time from October 1960 featuring a girl dressed as a Tiger and a feature on "Giving an Old-Fashioned Halloween Party".

Source: Etsy-cheeseboyproducts

What a fun 1950s paper party plate with the most wonderful of Halloween illustrations on it. Love the colours and the placement of the graphics.

1950s vintage Halloween party plate featuring Halloween illustrations of a black cat, a scarecrow, haunted house and a bat. Fun Mid Century Halloween Art.

Source: Etsy-VintagePrairieHome

One more cute Halloween party plate for this post, because the Mid-Century Black cats are the best! Also the illustrations of the kids heads in their costumes is fun too, but I really love the cats.

1950s Vintage Halloween party decor-1950s party plate with Halloween art of a Black cat and kids in Halloween costumes.

Source: Etsy-AdvertisingCollector

If you have a party plate, you must have a party hat! Otherwise how will anyone know there is Halloween party going?

1940s party hat with a very happy witch illustration that is flying out of the hat. Cute!

1940s vintage Halloween: 1940s party hat with a very happy witch illustration that is flying out of the hat

Source: Etsy-frannyfindstreasures

The cute owls and witches illustrations seen above has been added to this 1950s witches costume sewing pattern featuring a hooked cape & skirt (so adorable!).

1950s Vintage Sewing Pattern-Girls Halloween Costume for a witch featuring a hooded cape & skirt and witches & owls.

Source: Etsy-studioGpatterns

1960s Scarecrow with pumpkin and a haystack honeycomb centerpiece.

Who ever invented the ‘Honeycomb’ decoration is a genius as it is by far one of my favourite vintage party decor items.

1960s vintage Halloween Decor-A Scarecrow Pumpkin Honeycomb Centerpiece.

Source: Etsy-VintagePrairieHome

“How To Run a 1946 Halloween Party’. I have shared this in another Halloween blog post and I STILL really wish the pamphlet was intact as I would have loved to have heard the suggestions on how to run a successful party.

1940s Vintage Halloween Pamphlet on how to run a 1946 Halloween Party featuring illustrations of kids in Halloween costumes at a Party. Fun Halloween Art. — Source: forces of geek

Black cats with yellow bow ties must of been popular. Vintage Mid Century 1960’s Litho printed crepe paper Halloween party decoration.

1960s Vintage Halloween Decoration-Black Cats with yellow bow ties. An authentic Vintage Mid Century 1960's Litho Printed Crepe Paper Halloween Party Decoration

Source: Etsy-frannyfindstreasures

Vintage 1960s Halloween Noisemaker by US Metal Toy featuring an illustration of an owl, cat, witch and pumpkin.

Source: eBay

One more noisemaker to end this post due to the illustration being so stunning – A 1950’s US Metal Toy Mfg. Co. Halloween tambourine noisemaker.

1950s Vintage Halloween: A 1950's US Metal Toy Mfg. Co. Halloween tambourine noisemaker featuring a Halloween illustration of a pumpkin with kids in Halloween costumes dance around it

Source: Etsy-TheVintageCrateTVC

Thanks for dropping by friends! Are you a fan of Halloween? Do you like the cute images of the season or the scary? Share any thoughts on this topic in the comment section below.

Further Reading: Vintage Halloween blog posts 1920s-1960s (archived).

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Liz

A fashion trend for Fall 2024 is the cardigan. But if you’re a fan of vintage fashion, you know cardigans have always been a timeless wardrobe staple—for both women and men! And while they’re perfect for fall, cardigans are truly seasonless, even working for those cool summer nights.

Personally, I have several in my closet, ranging in different weights and styles. They’re incredibly versatile—ideal for layering over dresses or tops. Another great thing about cardigans is how accessible they are. You can find them in both new and vintage styles, or even knit your own. They’re truly everywhere! In today’s post, I’m sharing a collection of fun vintage images, knitting patterns, catalog pages, and even some classic ads from the 1920s-1960s.

Let’s take a look!

1950s vintage photo of a woman on the beach wearing a cardigan over her dress. 1950s fashion

Source: Etsy-iloveyoumorephotos

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

Brief History Lesson On The Cardigan Sweater

“The accepted lore and history of the name ‘cardigan’ is that it comes from the Earl of Cardigan, James Thomas Brudenell, during the Crimean War where his Light Brigade was dressed in a close-fitting, knitted jacket,” fashion historian Abby Cox told HuffPost.

“It’s possible that he and other soldiers wore a type of woolen coat, but if the earl wore an actual knitted cardigan, it was more likely later in his life when he retired to the English countryside,” Ben-Horin said.

Whether or not knitted waistcoats or jackets were worn by Lord Cardigan or his regiment during the Crimean War, this type of garment came to be associated with the nobleman and thus known as a cardigan (Source).

Now the official definition of what a Cardigan is from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary: a usually collarless sweater or jacket that opens the full length of the center front (Source).

Vintage Photo of the Earl of Cardigan, James Thomas Brudenell

Collection of Vintage Advertising, Images, Knitting Patterns and Catalog Pages

“The Hip-Length Classic Cardigan & The Sweetheart of All America” – 1941 Sears Fall / Winter Catalog featuring women’s cardigans.

Further Reading: Vintage Magazines & Catalogs (archived collection)

1941 Sears Fall / Winter Catalog featuring women's cardigans. Super 1940s Fashions & Fall Outfits Inspiration!

Source: Christmas.musetechnical.com

January 1956-A mild winter means a cardigan is all one would need when posing outside with kids in the leaves.

1950s Vintage Photo from January 1956 of a mother and her two kids posing a pile of leaves in their 1950s fashions. Our mom is wearing a cardigan over her shirt. Must be mild out!

Source: Etsy- therescuedphoto

Raglan Cardigans for Men-1950s cardigan sweater / smoking jacket knitting patterns (avail in a PDF on Etsy).

1950s Fashion: The Raglan Cardigans for men-1950s Cardigan Sweater / smoking jacket knitting patterns.

Source: Etsy-StarShopPatterns

1960s photo of Mable & Dede enjoying a game of bingo.

1960s vintage photo of an older couple playing Bingo. Their names are Mable & Dede. Love Mabels cat eye glasses and cardigan. Fun 1960s fashions.

Source: Etsy-iloveyoumorephotos

Apple picking outfits as seen in a 1950s Jantzen ad featuring “Nylofleece” the finest wool and nylon for your fall sweaters.

Further Reading: “Jantzen Makes the Finest Sweaters”-1940s & 1950s Vintage Jantzen Ads

1950s Vintage Advertisement for Jantzen Sweaters for Men and Women featuring a woman wearing a cardigan. Great 1950s fashions & Fall Outfit Inspiration.

I am team bolero cardigans, I think they are just so lovely when paired with a blouse and skirt. A great example is seen in the 1950s below on our young Jackson College student, Murilyn Wince. She looks so great!

1950s vintage photo of a young Black Women at Jackson College posing for a photo in her Bolero Cardigan and skirt.

Source: Etsy-JakeRoebucks

If you are knitter you can make your own bolero cardigan (with pearls!) as seen here in this 1950s knitting pattern (in PDF format).

1950s fashion as seen in this 1950s knitting pattern for a woman bolero cardigan with pearls. Fall Outfit Inspiration

Source: Etsy-StarShopPatterns

“The Sweatered Look”. Orlon ad for a Glengarry sweater, as published in the Mademoiselle magazine from October, 1956. The Fall colours are wonderful in this ad.

1950s Fashion / 1950s Advertising: Orlon ad for a Glengarry sweater, as published in the Mademoiselle magazine from October, 1956. Fantastic Fall Outfit Inspiration!

1920s photo of a young woman posing by the chilly lake with hands in her cardigan pockets. I like the mix of masculine and feminine in her look.

1920s vintage photo of a young woman in a 1920s bathing suit with her hands in the pocket of her cardigan. I like the mix of masculine and feminine in her look.

Source: Etsy- therescuedphoto

1955 Sears Fall / Winter Catalog. 1955 is one of my favourite years in fashion and you can see why below. That plaid dress with the red cardigan is drool worthy and of course the matching cardigans are equally as delightful. What fun fall outfit inspiration!

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

1950s Fashion / Fall Fashion Outfit Inspiration: 1955 Sears Fall / Winter Catalog featuring cardigans that match your plaid dress or your sweater and skirt or just the skirt.

Source: Christmas.musetechnical.com

Original vintage magazine ad for boy’s cardigans at J.C. Penney.

Source: Atticpaper.com

The “Just Us Girls club” in Los Angeles in 1946 at UCLA. LOVE this photo! Our young women are so stylish and I spy a couple of cardigans and even a pair of saddle shoes.

1940s vintage photo of 'The Just Us Girls club in Los Angeles in 1946' at UCLA. A group of stylish Japanese American Young Women in skirts, sweaters and cardigans and saddle shoes.

Source:UCLA

1940s Fair Isle Cardigan with matching sweater (Avail as a PDF HERE). Beautiful!

1940s Fashion / Fall Outfit Inspiration: Fair Isle Cardigan 1940's Vintage Knitting Pattern

Source: Etsy-MyVintageWish

1944 Sears Fall / Winter Catalog page for men’s sweaters and cardigans, like the ‘Husky Coat Style’.

1940s Fashion for Men as seen in 1944 Sears Fall / Winter Catalog featuring men's sweaters and cardigans.

Source: Christmas.musetechnical.com

1930s photo of a young woman named Clara Foster with fingers waves in her hair and a long belted cardigan, poses casually in a random flower garden.

The original Instagrammer in the wild (taking photos just anywhere).

1930s photo of a young woman named Clara Foster with fingers waves in her hair and a long cardigan, poses casually in a random flower garden.

Source: Etsy- therescuedphoto

One of my archived blog posts is entitled ‘Fashion Highlights of an Eatons Catalogue-Fall & Winter 1934-1935‘ and it features a cute short cardigan at the very bottom.

1934 1935 Womens Fashion for Fall and Winter Eatons Catalogue Skirts and Skiing outfits

1959 British advertisement for Pringle Knitwear featuring a pretty rose cashmere cardigan.

Source: vintageclothingguides.com

Tiny sweaters and cardigans for kids! So cute! 1948 Sears Fall Winter Catalog.

1940s vintage catalog page from a 1948 Sears Fall Winter Catalog featuring Sweaters and Cardigans for kids. Fun Fall Fashion Inspiration for kids. 1940s Fashion.

Source: Christmas.musetechnical.com

1940s photo of three girls with big smiles and cute 1940s hairstyles and cardigans. Adorable photo.

1940s vintage photo of 3 young girls in cardigans and 1940s hairstyles posing together with smiles outside. Fun 1940s fashions & 1940s vintage hairstyle inspiration

Source: Etsy- therescuedphoto

I would like 3 of these sweaters please! How stunning is this 1950s Raglan cardigan knitting pattern? It just screams Fall! (avail in a PDF Here)

1950s Fashion / Fall Outfit Inspiration-1950s Raglan cardigan knitting pattern.

Source: Etsy-MyVintageWish

1960s vintage advertisement for 100% pure-camel hair cardigan for men by Alan Paine.

1960s vintage advertisement for Alan Paine Sweaters featuring a man wearing a long cardigan-100% pure camel-hair. 1960s Fashion for Men

Source: alamy

“Once a trend, now a tradition…the ONE-COLOR LOOK’. 1962 Sears Fall /Winter Catalog page featuring sweaters, cardigans, skirts and pants that all match by color.

Do you like this look?

1960s Fashion / Fall Outfit / Winter Outfit Inspiration as seen in a 1962 Sears Fall / Winter Catalog. The page features cardigans, sweaters, skirts and pants in matching colours.

Source: Christmas.musetechnical.com

Vintage Shopping: Due to the large amount of knitting patterns on Etsy for Cardigans in PDF format (so it’s always there), I have created a ‘Vintage Cardigan Patterns‘ Collection on the platform. Head on over and purchase your fav! Happy Knitting!

Thank you for stopping by and reading my latest post! I truly enjoy creating these, as they always remind me why I started this blog—to share my love for vintage fashion. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did putting it together!

Question time: Are you a fan of the cardigan? Or not so much? Share any thoughts on this topic in the comment section below and please note, I have to approve all new comments (so it won’t show up right away). Thanks!

Further Reading: Vintage Fashions 1920s-1960s (archived blog posts) & Vintage Fall Blog Posts

Liz

Here is a photo of me aka Liz in a favourite ‘Ethel of Beverly Hills‘ Bolero Cardigan.

The Vintage Inn Blog Vintage Fashion Vintage History Vintage Life Lindy Hop 1940s 1930s 1950s