I’m a Lindy Hopper (the original swing dance of the 1930s/40s and beyond) and I have been for a long time, I’m also a lover of 1940s fashion (if you read my blog this is a no brainer), so it was with a squeal and glee that I saw that the Frankie Manning Foundation was running a fun challenge on the day of Frankie Manning’s Birthday (one of the original creators of Lindy Hop) and I hope you can all join along.

(NOTE: CHALLENGE NOW CLOSED but feel free to do your own Lindy Look)

Frankie Manning vintage photo of the legendary Lindy Hopper / Swing Dancer — Frankie Manning

The Challenge:

On May 26th they are encouraging everyone to wear something from the 1930s thru to the 1950s to peak a conversation at work or at the coffee shop about the dance we love, The Lindy Hop. Then take that picture and post it on social media with the hashtag #THELINDYLOOK.

1945 Swing Style — Source: Flickr: Julie Alicea

WAIT! You don’t have to be a dancer to participate….

Now I got to thinking that maybe you don’t have to be a dancer to get involved (because I know some of my lovely readers have mentioned that you have 2 left feet). You could join along by doing the following:

Put on your best vintage like you were going to a dance
Post your picture on Social Media with the Hashtag #THELINDYLOOK
Or you can share it with me (email: thevintageinnblog@gmail.com, twitter, my FB invite) and I will collect everyones images and post collectively on my blog.

I know for many of you all you need is an excuse to dress up and this is a pretty good excuse (at least I think so). And if asked why are you dressed up so nice? “Because Frankie Manning said I should”.

Speaking of Frankie Manning…..

These were the depression years (which didn’t make that much difference to my family since we were poor anyway) and dancing was an outlet for people because there wasn’t much else they could do. We all stayed in Harlem, but you could find someplace to step out every night of the week. Going to a ballroom became our social life.

Even though we were poor, we always dressed up. People in Harlem felt that they’d get more respect if they dressed well. Guys felt that the better they looked, the more likely a young lady would be to dance with them. I only owned two suits, but I always wore them with a shirt and tie and nice shoes, not two-tones, just black or brown ones. This was the fashion, and everybody dressed that way.”

-Frankie Manning-

Inspiration for #THELINDYLOOK AKA 1940s Fashions

Over my time as Blogger I have written many posts on 1940s Style, Swing Style etc. So here are links to those posts that you can use for your own inspiration on May 26th.

Happy May 26th Planning!

FURTHER BLOG POSTS ON THE SWING DANCE / LINDY HOP ERA: Swing Dance & The Big Band Era

Liz

I’m back! And while I’m off editing all the photos I took at VIVA and working on my posts I thought I would fill your eyes with lovely images from my last few weeks on Pinterest.

Enjoy and stay tuned for Viva Post # 1.

Vintage Images on Pinterest

First up while I was gone, Easter happened so here is a cute picture of Doris Day holding an Easter basket with a real bunny in it.

Further Reading: Vintage Easter 1920s-1960s (Archived blog post)

1950s vintage photo of Doris Day holding an easter basket with a bunny in it.

1950s/ 1960s vintage photo: Nothing to see here but cute Easter bonnets and really fantastic coats. I also adore the older girls purse that she is carrying. Such style at such a young age.

1940s Photo: Easter Sunday in Harlem, NY 1942 (Henri Cartier-Bresson). Now that is a hat!

Further Reading: Do you have an Easter Parade Hat?

1940s photo / 1940s Fashion: Henri Cartier-Bresson, Easter Sunday in Harlem, NY 1942 — Source: MoMA

Summer is quickly approaching (or at least in my mind it is) and I’m looking forward to all the cool events I’m attending. One of those is the “Hats & Horseshoes” event at Woodbine Racetrack. To prepare for this years event I’m have been enamoured with the 1930s images of well dressed folks spending their “Day at the Races” and hope to maybe channel their looks for my day.

Below Photo: At the races in Autieul 1938-39. That Hat and Dress…Stunning is the only word I can find right now to describe this image.

Further Reading: Vintage Hat Ideas to Wear to the Horse Races

1930s vintage photo of woman in 1930s dresses and 1930s hats At the races in Autieul 1938-39 — Photo Credit: Regina Relang

Ascot Racecourse, June 1932, Margaret Whigham, later Duchess of Argyll, and friend.

Further Reading: 1930s Fashions As Seen On Everyday People

Well we all know that at Ascot the day is less about the horses and more about the hats on everyone’s heads. Here is an excerpt from the British Newspaper The Sphere,1939 entitled “Madcap Millinery at the 1939 Ascot”. Do you have a favorite hat from the picture here?

1939 Vintage Hats at Ascot -Here is an excerpt from the British Newspaper The Sphere,1939 entitled "Madcap Millinery at the 1939 Ascot" — Source: vintagefashionfairs

At Viva this year a dear friend offered to pay for my hair to get done by a professional hairdresser for one day of the event (you will see the hair in my viva post). So for the last few weeks I have been researching vintage hairstyles on Pinterest for inspiration. Here is some of what I found.

The 1940s hairstyle below is similar to what I normally wear but I still like it (clearly for a reason).

Further Reading: A Vintage Guide to 1940s Hair Accessories

1940s vintage photo of a 1940s hairstyle with hair comb.

Stunning photo of June Haver, Vivian Blaine, and Vera-Ellen. The perfect 1940s hair.

Evelyn Ankers, 1940s hair is really adorable and probably fairly easy to pull off.

What I like seeing in these photos is the frizz on her tips. Makes me feel better knowing that even movie stars did not always have 100% perfect hair.

1940s Hairstyle as seen on Evelyn Ankers

Lastly I figured that if I was really in a pinch I could pick a style from this chart of 1950s stars and their hairstyles.

1950s retro hair chart featuring 1950s movie stars.

I would like to end this post on a cute note and this image from January 1927 of a young visitor and her toy elephant who discovers that the elephant house at London Zoo is closed for their winter holidays, fits the bill perfectly.

1927 vintage image of a child and her toy — Source: Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images

Happy Wednesday!

Further Reading:

Liz

Tag: 1940s

May 26th, Suit Up Swing Style – #THELINDYLOOK

The Challenge:

Inspiration for #THELINDYLOOK AKA 1940s Fashions

My Favorite Vintage Images on Pinterest (April Edition)

Vintage Images on Pinterest