2024 Liz note: I completed this fantastic post in 2023 but never published it. I believe that it is still relevant today and should be shared!

Red took the runways by storm as the shade du jour for the fall 2023 season. Now it’s 2024 and Red is still a hot color. (Siren Red) It is the ‘It’ colour of the season. The Fall Fashion Trend you MUST have in your closet (even if your reading this in another year. Red never goes out of style!.)

Here at the Vintage Inn, we love a good red..anything as long as it’s vintage. We also love fall and dressing the part, so for today’s post I’m am going to show off a collection of vintage red fashion / beauty advertisements and some lovely “Red” vintage fall pieces that you could buy right now (or be inspired by for your own style (for women & for men).

1950s Jonathan Logan vintage advertisement featuring a red 1950s dress

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

Vintage Fall Fashion Trend: Red

Vintage Fall Advertisements 1930s-1950s

Wear your red UNDER your fall outfit. “Red Spice by Luxite”. 1950s vintage advertisement for Women’s Lingerie. How lovely!

1950s vintage advertisement for womens Luxite Red Nylon Lingerie. Red is a Fall Fashion 2023 Trend.

Source: Etsy – TreasureIsle

Pair your plaid skirt with a red top to get that perfect autumn look.

1950s Fashion Ad for the Turnabout Pleated Plaid Pendleton Skirt. Pendleton’s Turnabout debuted in 1953. It was a skirt that could be turned inside out for a new look.

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

Source: Pendleton USA

Go red this fall…with your nails! “Red..Racy…and Irresistible! Slightly Scarlet by Cutex”. 1955 ad.

Can we take a moment to admire that stunning evening gown on our model? WOW!

1950s vintage ad for women's red nailpolish from Cutex 1955 featuing an image of a women in a 1950s evening gown.

Source: Chronically Vintage

If you don’t want to go with a lot of red in your outfit (but I mean why would you not, when it’s made out of corduroy and is a vest with tapered corduroy pants?), then you can do accessories. Like a red sash and red shoes to balance it out. DROOL!!!! So amazing!

1958 Sears Fall / Winter Catalog page.

Further Reading: Vintage Magazines & Vintage Catalogs (1920s-1960s)

Source: christmas.musetechnical.com

“Enjoy year-round comfort in a Forsyth OSMALANE shirt”.

1955 Forsyth Shirts featuring a fashion illustration of a man with a red shirt.

1950s Vintage Fashion Ad for Men's Forsyth Shirts from 1955.

Source: Pinterest

1956 Bells Hess Fall / Winter Catalog front page featuring 3 women in fall fashions including our featured colour..red! Beautiful!

Note: This huge 244 vintage catalog is available as PDF on Etsy HERE.

1950s Fashion Fashion: 1956 Bells Hess Fall / Winter Catalog front page featuring 3 women in fall fashions including our featured colour..red! Beautiful!

Source: Etsy – ivarose

1930s magazine (not an ad but close enough): Fashion Service Fall Winter 1930 featuring an illustration of a woman in a red dress and matching red short jacket.

Further Reading: A Journey Through Time: Fall Catalog & Magazine Covers (1920s-1950s)

1930s magazine: Fashion Service Fall Winter 1930 featuring an illustration of a woman in a red dress and matching red short jacket.

Source: Archive.org

Ayer, ‘Roulette Red’ lipstick advertisement from 1953 because a red lipstick goes with any season.

Further Reading: Vintage Makeup Advertisement s

1950s Vintage Beauty Ad: Ayer, ‘Roulette Red’ lipstick advertisement, 1953 featuring an image of a 1950s woman with black gloves

Source: Pinterest

1940s women’s loafers from “Friendly Sports”. Loafers in red (and other colours) are perfect for road trips taking in all the fall colours.

1940s vintage advertisement for women's loafers from Friendly Sports featuring an illustration of a 1940s couple heading out together on a date during college.

Source: Pinterest

“Beautifully matched accessories in thrilling color sets…ensembled by Sears-Roebuck!”. 1940 Fall / Winter Catalog page.

“Fiesta Red” for our lovely 1940s hair turban and matching purse. So stylish (all of the purses & hats).

Further Reading: 1940s Hair Accessories: The Complete Guide

1940 Fall / Winter Catalog page featuring womens matching hats / Turbans and Purses. Perfect fall fashion.

Source: christmas.musetechnical.com

Vintage Red Fall Fashions

A sample of some beautiful vintage fashions available at the time of this post on Etsy (which was in 2023 when I first created it). These fall fashions are meant to inspire your own wardrobe for the season. Enjoy!

Do you love vintage Fall fashions and the below outfits are not avail? Then take a look at my always updated Etsy Collection of Fall Fashions from the 1920s-1960s that you can purchase right now.

Heading into the fall season 100% means that two piece suits. Not only are they perfect for the changing temperature, but they are also stunning!

1940s two piece berry red women’s suit. Look at those sleeves?? Gorgeous!

Further Reading: The Skirt Suit: A Vintage Fall Fashion Trend

1940s Fashion/ 1940s Skirt Suit in a Berry Red, the perfect Fall Fashion Trend 2023.

Source: Etsy-Summersweetvintage

1 940s deep red wool gabardine two piece suit. The jacket has exceptional tailoring and details. The skirt is a classic a-line cut.

1940s Fashion / Fashion Fall Trend-Red as see in a 1940s deep red wool garbardine two piece suit.

Source: Etsy – Swishygirl1

1950s cherry red wool sweater dress and cardigan set by Ann Adams.

1950s Fashion: 1950s cerise wool dress and jacket set by Ann Adams. A lovely sweater dress with matching cardigan that is perfect for Fall.

Source: Etsy – vintagevintagebtq

1930s long sleeve crimson velvet dress. This dress screams festive holiday’s but I also love it for a fancy fall evening out with friends.

A Fall Fashion Trend-Red as seen on a 1930s Long Sleeve Crimson Red Velvet Dress. Beautiful 1930s Fashion.

Source: Etsy – MamaLovesYouVintage

1 940s Red Dressing Gown or a Housecoat, that is perfect for laying around with a warm drink watching the leaves change.

Fall Fashion Trend - Red as see in this 1940s fashion, Vintage 1940s Red Dressing Gown / Housecoat

Source: Etsy-RiverTraceVintage

This is a fabulous documented vintage 1960’s two-piece skirt and sweater set made by the one and only “Kimberly Knitwear”. Check out the original ad that appeared in Vogue magazine in 1965, it retailed for $55.00 which is equivalent to $522.00 today (Source).

A perfect fall outfit!

1960s Fashion: This is a fabulous documented vintage 1960's two-piece skirt and sweater set made by the one and only "Kimberly Knitwear". A perfect Fall Fashion Outfit. Check out the original ad that appeared in Vogue magazine in 1965, it retailed for $55.00 which is equivalent to $522.00 today

Source: Etsy- TheBlackLotusVintage

A beret tends to be the hat of Fall, but I’m loving this 1940s beaded deep red cloche hat. You will 100% turn heads with this beauty. It is by Merrimac (Canada) Limited. 100% wool.

1940s Vintage Hat / Fall Fashion Accessory: A 1940s

Source: Etsy – LogoRetro

A 1940s / 1950s men’s tie with fall leaves is a must have to be on trend.

1940s / 1950s Men's Tie in Red with Fall Leaves in Gold on the Tie. Perfect Fall Tie.

Source: Etsy- BestVintageClothes

How cute are these shoes? Lace up walkers, they have a dashing 1940s look, but are likely 1950s. Theyre in a simply gorgeous true cherry red leather, with rounded toes – featuring a natty pair of detachable classic fringes.

1940s/1950s vintage shoes for women in red. Red lace up walkers w/detachable fringe.

Source: Etsy-ukcharmvintage

Lastly, I am an affliate with Unique Vintage, RocknRomance Vintage,(vintage style clothing companies) and they have lots of fall fashions in the colour red in modern sizes.

Thanks for dropping by! I hope maybe you were inspired to add a little red to your wardrobe or your beauty routine. I know I was.

Question Time: Do you like the colour red? Would you wear it this Fall? Share any thoughts you have about this post in the comments section below.

Further Reading:

Vintage Fall 1920s-1960s (archived blog posts)
Vintage Fashion 1920s-1960s (archived posts)

Liz

Brief History of the Dirndl

The Dirndl is a feminine dress which originated in German-speaking areas of the Alps. It is traditionally worn by women and girls in Austria, Bavaria (south-eastern Germany), Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Alpine regions of Italy (South Tyrol). A dirndl consists of a close-fitting bodice featuring a low neckline, a blouse worn under the bodice, a wide high-waisted skirt and an apron.

The dirndl is regarded as a folk costume (German: Tracht). It developed as the clothing of Alpine peasants between the 16th and 18th centuries. Today it is generally considered the traditional dress for women and girls in German-speaking parts of the Alps, with particular designs associated with different regions. The usual masculine tracht counterpart of the dirndl is lederhosen.

In the late 19th century the dirndl was adapted by the upper and middle classes as a fashion mode, and subsequently spread as a mode outside its area of origin. There are many varieties of adaptations from the original folk designs (Source).

Bavarian musicians, ca 1902

Note: There was a dark period for the traditional dress during WW2 when it was adopted it as a symbol of pan-German identity in the countries under Nazi rule (Germany from 1933, Austria from 1938). The dirndl was used to promote the Nazi ideal of the German woman as hard-working and fertile (Source).

It would be several years after the end of the war before the dirndl would regain populartiy (but it eventually did!).

Further Reading: Rare Dirndl who I have purchased dirndl blouses from in the past and has a fantastic blog (and dresses) on this topic. Please take a moment to read, ‘Dirndl Color Meanings and History‘ to learn more about the history of this dress.