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Tag: Vintage images

Short Shorts! Vintage Photos of Folks in Shorts

Today’s vintage photos post is a collection of fun images from the 1920s to the 1960s of Men and Women out and about in their shorts.

Let’s take a look at the vintage fashions!

1950s vintage photo of a model getting her shorts fixed for a photo shoot about SHORT SHORTS. A woman with a 1950s hairstyle is helping her.

Source: LIFE Magazine


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


The Long History of Wearing Shorts: The 200-year Evolution of Knickerbockers, Daisy Dukes and WWD’s ‘HotPants’ by Women’s Wear Daily (WWD)- This is an easy read article, so this is why I decided to just share it instead of reposting it.

SCANDAL! Adoption of these styles caused controversy in some parts of the U.S. In 1937, shorts became illegal in Yonkers, New York, and the town of Honesdale, Pennsylvania, banned shorts in 1938. “Honesdale is a modest town, not a bathing beach,” said a city official in Missouri’s Moberly Monitor-Index.

1950s photo from 1954 of a woman wearing a Classic campus outfit of men's clothes including pink shirt, bermuda shorts, and striped elastic belt, all from Brooks Brothers.

1954 photo: Classic campus outfit of men’s clothes including pink shirt, Bermuda shorts, and striped elastic belt, all from Brooks Brothers (source).

1920s-1960s Vintage Photos of Men & Women In Shorts

1950s Photo of 4 young women in shorts sitting on a wall together. Cute Plaid shirts.

1950s vintage photo of 4 young women in shorts sitting on a wall in 1950s summer fashions

Source: Etsy-girlcatdesign

Shorts for sports-Canada’s first Female Olympic Medalists at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. The first time women were allowed to be in Track and Field.

Further Reading: 1928-Canada’s First Female Olympic Medalists

1928 womens olympic team the matchless 6 vintage image

1950s photo of 2 young women in shorts and cute blouses with scarfs tied at the neckline, out sightseeing (our lady on the left is holding a camera). What cute summer style!

Further Reading: 1950s Summer Fashions as seen in a 1955 Spring / Summer Sears Catalog

1950s vintage photo of 2 young women in shorts and blouses with scarf around their neck sightseeing as one girl is holding a camera. Cute 1950s Summer Fashion Inspiration!

Source: Etsy-JakeRoebucks

Shorts to the right and cute 1940s swimsuits to the left! LOVE this 1942 photo of a group of stylish women on the beach posing together to capture a fun moment in time. Also…I am a big fan of the 1940s hairstyles too.

Further Reading: Vintage photos of vintage Black style

1940s vintage photo of a group of Black Women in 1940s swimsuits and 1940s shorts and blouse on the beach with 1940s hairstyles

A couple posing outside of the Tahiti Lounge (great sign on the building). Both are sporting shorts of various lengths.

Note: I think the photo is 1960s even though listing says 1970s (but I could be wrong). Whatever the age, it’s a fun photo.

1960s vintage photo of a couple in shorts posing in front of a bar / restaurant called 'The Tahiti Lounge' and it has great Mid-Century Typography on the sign.

Source: Etsy-AlaskaVintage

This 1950s photo from LIFE is from the same series from the first image in this post. The images are called simple, “SHORT SHORTS” which seems pretty obvious about what the post is about.

I like to think the women are yelling “SHORTS!”.

1950s vintage photo of women in shorts for a article in LIFE magazine about short shorts. Fun 1950s fashions for summer.

Source: LIFE Magazine

Fantastic late 1930s / Early 1940s photo of 3 friends posing together in their Summer fashion sets (shorts & tops) with wonderful curled hairstyles. Love the ‘lederhosen style romper in the centre.

I also wonder if the cute striped outfit on the left was once beach pajamas worn by her mother? The look is very reminiscent of that style. Thoughts?

Fantastic late 1930s / Early 1940s photo of 3 friends posing together in their Summer fashion sets (shorts & tops) with wonderful curled vintage hairstyles.

Source: Etsy-DearMacyVintage

Vogue, 1927. Model, Portia Grafton, standing beside the gunwale of a boat in Great Neck, Long Island, wearing a black crepe beach coat with white terry lining and matching black shorts by Jean Patou, with a white sleeveless top by Kurzman, and a fitted white cap.

1920s Vintage Photo / 1920s Fashion: Vogue, 1927. Model, Portia Grafton, standing beside the gunwale of a boat in Great Neck, Long Island, wearing a black crepe beach coat with white terry lining and matching black shorts by Jean Patou, with a white sleeveless top by Kurzman, and a fitted white cap.

Photo by Edward Steichen/Condé Nast via Getty Images)

1950s Men’s & Boys Bermuda Walking Shorts and Shirt: Perfect sports duet for his leisure hours of home or in the sun.

Note: This image is for a sewing pattern from Simplicity that can be purchased HERE.

1950s Men's & Boys Bermuda Walking Shorts and Shirt: Perfect sports duet for his leisure hours of home or in the sun.

Source: Etsy-mbchills

1950s vintage photo of a young woman in short shorts with a belt sitting on her front porch.

Vintage Fashion Note: According to the ‘Vintage Dancer‘: “As the decade progressed, short shorts grew shorter and tighter with a very flat front and made of stretchy materials. Many were worn shorties with matching belts, too”.

“Pinup shorts, were the shortest and tights of the shorties. They lacked pockets, were often made of a stretchy knit materials and came in some wild prints or a solid black, white or red.”

1950s vintage photo of a young woman in short shorts sitting on the front porch looking at the camera

Source: Etsy-DearMacyVintage

1937 Summer fashion inspiration-Romper / Playsuit.

Fashion Fact: Some American cities and states chose to ban them due to modesty laws. In 1937, shorts were made illegal in Yonkers, New York, and the town of Honesdale, Pennsylvania, banned shorts in 1938 with a city official stating that “Honesdale is a modest town, not a bathing beach.” (Source).

1930s Vintage Photo from 1937 of a young woman wearing a Romper / Playsuit / Shorts in the summer time. Fun 1930s Summer Fashion Inspiration.

Source: eBay

1950s vintage photo of men and women in 1950s fashions all wearing shorts including the men pairing them with their suit jackets. The back of the photo simply says “Shorts”. Ha!

1950s vintage photo of men and women in 1950s fashions all wearing shorts including the men who are also wearing suit jackets with their shorts.

Source: eBay

Men wore short shorts! ha! 1950s photo (I think? Maybe late 1940s) of a man and woman posing by their car during the Summer time. Cute headband on our young woman.

Note: I am aware that this could be a swimsuit, but I don’t see any hint of water around. Maybe this man was bold enough to walk around in short shorts? We will never know!

Further Reading: Vintage Photos of People Hanging Out With Their Cars

1940s maybe 1950s vintage photo of a man and woman in shorts posing by their car during the summer time.

Source: Etsy-DearMacyVintage

1940s image of a couple posing together outside.

1940s vintage photo of a couple posing outside together. The woman is wearing shorts and 3 quarter sleeve top. The man appears to be in a working uniform for maybe a mechanic.

Source: eBay

1950s vintage photo of friends posing for a photo in front of a house. Our ladies are wearing shorts and everyone looks so casual cool!

Further Reading: Vintage Photos of “Groups”

1950s vintage photo of a 2 couples or friends posing in front of a house. The women are wearing shorts and casual tops. Fun 1950s fashion inspiration.

Source: eBay

Hope your hungry! 1960s photo of two ladies very focused on cooking the meat on their little grill.

Further Reading: Barbecuing in the 1950s

1960s photo of two ladies very focused on cooking the meat on their little grill in their backyard while wearing summer fashions like shorts.

Source: Etsy-LightSilverAndPaper

Not sure of the timeline on this photo (I’m thinking 1950s) of a man, his shorts and a street.

Mid century photo 1950s 1960s of man in shorts standing on the street

Source: eBay

Paris in the 1930s. LOVE the 1930s fashions on this couple, especially our lovely woman to the left. Cute hat.

1930s vintage photo of a woman and man in 1930s fashions in Paris. The woman is wearing shorts, knit top and a hat and sandals. Our man is wearing pants and a golf shirt.

Source: Pinterest

1950s (maybe 1960s) vintage photo of a lady Bermuda shorts (my fav) posing with her car out in the mountainside.

1950s (maybe 1960s) vintage photo of a lady Bermuda shorts (my fav) posing with her car out in the mountainside.

Source: Etsy-Delphiniumsblue

Question time! Do you like wearing shorts? Or they are pass for you? Share any thoughts on this topic in the comment section below.

Further Reading (Archived Blog Posts):

Thanks for dropping by!

Liz

The Canadian Nursing Sisters of WW2

June 6, 2024, will mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings along the Normandy coast during World War II.

Codenamed Operation Neptune and often referred to as D-Day, it is the largest seaborne invasion in history. The operation began the liberation of France, and the rest of Western Europe, and laid the foundations of the Allied victory on the Western Front.(scroll to the end to see Quick about facts about Canada’s HUGE part during D-Day).

Over the years on my blog, I have documented the contributions of Women during WW2, specifically Canadian Women as a way to continue to keep their stories alive. I am thrilled to add another piece to my collection, highlighting the remarkable Canadian Nurses or “Nursing Sisters” through a captivating combination of vintage photographs, magazine illustrations, and engaging stories. Join me for a brief yet powerful historical overview of these brave women who deserve to have their stories kept alive.

1940s vintage magazine cover from August 23rd 1941 from the Toronto Star Weekly showcasing an illustration of a Canadian Nurse with a wounded soldier during WW2

Source: Elinor Florence.com

The First World War Canadian Nurses

Canadian women’s first military contributions were as nurses who tended to the sick and wounded in times of conflict. They were called “Nursing Sisters” because they were originally drawn from the ranks of religious orders. More than 2,800 Canadian Nursing Sisters served with the Canadian Army Medical Corps during the First World War, often close to the front lines of Europe and within range of enemy attack. With their blue dresses and white veils, they were nicknamed the “bluebirds” and were greatly respected because of their compassion and courage. Canadian women were not permitted to serve in other military roles during the First World War (Source).

Left to right: Nursing Sisters, Mowat, McNichol, and Guilbride.

Vintage Photo of Canadian Nursing Sisters during WW1, Mowat, McNichol, and Guilbride in their Nursing uniforms.

Canada. Dept. of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada/PA-007350 (modified from the original). Provided by The Vimy Foundation.

The Second World War

The Second World War would see Canadian women returning to serve again as nursing sisters but this time the nursing service went beyond the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps. It was expanded to both the Royal Canadian Air Force Medical Branch and the Royal Canadian Naval Medical Service. By the end of the war, 4,480 Canadian Nursing Sisters served in the military, with 3,656 in the army, 481 with the air force, and 343 with the navy. Also aside from regular nurses, therapists, dietitians, laboratory technicians, and physiotherapists were employed by the army as well (Source). More than two-thirds of them serving overseas.

Second World War nursing sisters wore a military uniform with a traditional white veil. These young women were commissioned officers and were respectfully addressed as “Sister” or “Ma’am.” In fact, Canada’s military nurses were the first in any Allied country to have officer status. Canadian women would also serve in other military roles during the war, however, and some 50,000 eventually enlisted in the air force, army and navy (Source).

Further Reading from ‘the Canadian Encyclopedia’ on the Nursing Sisters (Lots more info on these women).

1940s vintage Photo from May 1942 of a group of Canadian Nursing Sisters during WW2.

Photo: May 1942. Source: mcmaster.ca

Canadian Nursing Sisters as Seen thru Photos, Illustrations & Stories

Toronto Star Weekly from November 23rd, 1940 showcasing on the cover a Canadian Overseas Nurse.

1940s vintage magazine cover from November 23rd 1940 from the Toronto Star Weekly showing a Canadian overseas nurse in uniform during WW2

Source: Elinor Florence.com

Here is a coloured photo of a 1940s Canadian nurse.

1940s Vintage Photo of a Canadian Nursing Sister in uniform in front of an Ambulance during WW2

From ‘Historica Canada‘:

Ruth Muggeridge was a Nurse at the No. 8 Canadian General Hospital during the Second World War and remembers tending wounded soldiers during D-Day. Visit her profile from The Memory Project Archive to hear her full testimony HERE.

Canadian Women at War during WW2: Learn all about Ruth Muggeridge was a Nurse at the No. 8 Canadian General Hospital during the Second World War and remembers tending wounded soldiers during D-Day by clicking the link.

July 17th, 1944. The first nursing sisters of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (R.C.A.M.C.) to land in France after D-Day (source).

1940s Vintage Photo: July 17th, 1944. The first nursing sisters of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (R.C.A.M.C.) to land in France after D-Day

Source: Library & Archives Canada

The front cover of The Bystander features two nurses from Toronto, brought in to Britain in 1940 along with seventy-seven others to help care for wounded servicemen in wartime Britain. 1940 (Source).

1940s vintage photo: The front cover of The Bystander features two nurses from Toronto, brought in to Britain in 1940 along with seventy-seven others to help care for wounded servicemen in wartime Britain. 1940

Source: Alamy.com

Nursing Sisters Eloise MacDiarmid and Frances Caddy on night duty, No.1 Canadian General Hospital, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, Andria, Italy, February 1944 (source).

Important Facts: After three years in England, Nursing Sisters were sent into action on the continent.  Donning battle dress, steel helmets and backpacks, Canadian General Hospital, No. 1 arrived in Sicily, the first women to land in the Eighth Army area.  Almost all hospital units deployed to the continent were initially set up under canvas.  Later, they were moved into abandoned or bombed-out buildings (source).

1940s Vintage Photo: Canadian Nursing Sisters Eloise MacDiarmid and Frances Caddy on night duty, No.1 Canadian General Hospital, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (R.C.A.M.C.), Andria, Italy, February 1944

Source: Library & Archives Canada

Nursing Sister Agnes Wilkie, the only Royal Canadian Navy nursing sister killed by enemy action during the Second World War.

Agnes Wilkie was a passenger on the ferry SS Caribou when it was sunk by a German torpedo in the Cabot Strait off Newfoundland. Despite the efforts of her companion, Nursing Sister Margaret Brooke, she died in the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean. For her heroism, Brooke was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), the first Canadian nursing sister so recognized (Source).

Further Reading: CBC Article-Only nurse killed by enemy action in WW II remembered as a ‘warm, gentle’ hero in Misericordia exhibit

Nursing Sister Agnes Wilkie, the only Royal Canadian Navy nursing sister killed by enemy action during the Second World War.

Source: cwgc.org

Unidentified nursing sisters of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps awaiting the inspection of one of the wards aboard the hospital ship S.S. LADY NELSON, England, 4 May 1943 (source).

1940s vintage photo: Unidentified Canadian nursing sisters of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps awaiting the inspection of one of the wards aboard the hospital ship S.S. LADY NELSON, England, 4 May 1943

Source: Library & Archives Canada

1940s Canadian Red Cross poster depicting a young nurse (source).

Description: “Give! … to relieve human suffering. $9,000,000 Needed Now. Canadian Red Cross”

1940s Canadian Red Cross poster depicting a young nurse during WW2.

Source: McMaster University Library

One more Canadian Red Cross Propaganda poster. “The Need Grows As Victory Nears”.

1940s Canadian Red Cross poster depicting a young nurse during WW2.

Source: eBay

Nursing Sister Healed the Wounds of War(read their story & see the fantastic photos by clicking on the text link or the image below).

Blog Post from Elinor Florence-Wartime Wednesday (a treasure trove of Canadian Wartime stories from those men & women who served).

Photo Description: Three young Canadian nurses from the story above. Jessie on the left with friends Mary Dowie and Queenie Rutherford.

1940s vintage photo of 3 young Canadian Nurses posing together in their nurses uniforms during WW2. Image from Elinor Florence.

Source: Elinor Florence.com

Nursing Sister, RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force), white uniform, 18 Dec 1943 (source).

1940s vintage photo of a Canadian Nursing Sister, RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force), white uniform, 18 Dec 1943.

Source: Silverhawkauthor.com via Library and Archives Canada

Nursing sisters from No. 10 Canadian General Hospital, Arromanches, France, July 1944 (source).

1940s vintage photo: Canadian Nursing sisters from No. 10 Canadian General Hospital, Arromanches, France, July 1944.

Source: Legionmagazine.com

A video interview with Nora Cook, a Canadian WWII nurse who enlisted in the medical corps in 1943, and served in a field hospital in Normandy (video link).

Read Nora’s full story HERE:

Nursing sisters of No.10 Canadian General Hospital, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, having a cup of tea upon arriving at Arromanches, France, 23 July 1944 (source).

1940s vintage photo: Nursing sisters of No.10 Canadian General Hospital, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (R.C.A.M.C.), having a cup of tea upon arriving at Arromanches, France, 23 July 1944

Source: Library & Archives Canada

Early on the morning of June 19, 1944, Molly (Dorothy Irene Mulholland) and another nursing sister, Winnifred “Pit” Pitkethly, became the first Canadian women to land as part of the Normandy offensive. Here is Dorothy’s Story (pictured below).

1940s vintage photo of Canadian Nurses posing with poppies during WW2

Source: Junobeach.org

Nursing sisters having tea, No.8 Canadian General Hospital, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, Aldershot, Hampshire, England, 24 November 1943 (source).

1940s vintage photo: Canadian Nursing sisters having tea, No.8 Canadian General Hospital, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (R.C.A.M.C.), Aldershot, Hampshire, England, 24 November 1943

Source: Library & Archives Canada

July 24th, 1945: Bob Hope poses with Canadian Nursing Sisters at his Bob Hope Show Tour (source).

The other man in the photo is Jerry Colonna, American musician, actor, comedian, singer, songwriter and trombonist (thank you to a reader for the name).

1940s vintage photo: July 24th, 1945: Bob Hope poses with Canadian Nursing Sisters (and a man from his show) at his Bob Hope Show Tour.

Source: Library & Archives Canada


Quick Facts about Canada on D-Day

  • D-Day and the Battle of Normandy was one of the most significant chapters in Canada’s military history.  
  • More than 450 members of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion jumped inland before dawn on 6 June 1944. They were the first Canadians to engage the enemy on D-Day.
  • On 6 June 1944, some 14,000 Canadian troops from the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division and the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade stormed the beaches of Normandy. 
  • More than 90,000 Canadian soldiers who had volunteered to serve Canada during the Second World War saw action in the Normandy Campaign. 
  • The Battle of Normandy lasted for 11 weeks. Fighting through the dust and heat of the French summer, more than 5,000 Canadian soldiers were killed and another 13,000 wounded before the campaign officially came to a close in late August, 1944. 
  • The Canadians who fought on D‑Day and throughout the Battle of Normandy were among the more than one million men and women from our country who served in uniform during the Second World War (SOURCE).

Thank you for dropping by and spending some time learning about these outstanding Canadian Women. I very much enjoyed putting this post together for all of you as I learned so much along the way.

Dear readers, please share any thoughts you may have on this topic in the comments section below.

FURTHER READING:

If you live or are visiting Ottawa , Ontario Canada please make sure you visit the The Canadian War Museum. Currently as of June 6th, 2024 they have a special exhibit called “OUTSIDE THE LINES – WOMEN ARTISTS AND WAR“.

Liz