Vintage clothing shop and ephemera blog.
These were my elderly friend’s mother’s wedding photos, who got married in the 1930s. As you can see, she got it shot by the same St. Louis photographer who had shot her mother’s wedding portraits, J.J. Belka. The veil style is more of a close fitting cap, though not the cloche of the 1920s, and the [...]
Here are some catalog pages illustrating 1935 slip fashions, with a few bra and panty illustrations. I almost missed the pajama advertisement! Panties were in brief and bloomer styles- I almost mistook the shorts for being mens’ styles, because they are not the modern idea of panty briefs! It looks like under garments in the [...]
Here are three pages advertisements for women’s undergarments from the 1935 Chicago Mail Order Catalog. These include fashion advertisement illustrations for: “glove fitting undies” “vests” (the top part of the undergarment, looks like an undershirt) “open seat and closed seat” slips “cool mesh knit” undewear for boys and girls “Lastex the miracle yarn” with 4 [...]
Did you know that nylon stockings didn’t come on the market until the 1939 World’s Fair? DuPont built the first full-scale nylon plant in Seaford, Delaware, and began commercial production in late 1939. (according to this article on the history of nylon stockings). These are advertisements from the summer 1935 Chicago Mail Order Company, mostly for [...]
It’s interesting that mens’ suits fashions haven’t changed much in about 80 years. Advertising for men has changed quite alot since the 1930s though- and prices! $8.95 – wow. 37 cents for a “fine yarn blue chambray” mens’ shirt in a style that looks like it could be worn today. I think fashions for boys have [...]
Wow! This part of the summer 1935 Chicago Mail Order Company catalog got interesting! Ads found in these pages include: vanity purses coin purses “smart summer jewelry”, costume jewelry Aspirin Yeast, codliver oil, halibut liver oil… Stillman’s complexion soap Peacock bleaching cream “Outdoor Girl” powder and rouge Alden milk of magnesia toothpaste (sounds gross) ladies [...]
All those ruffles and the elegant 1930s silhouette! Totally Old Hollywood Glamor, glamorous movie star inspired. Feminine. Caped back dresses and fancy collars! “Mannish” two piece outfits (which look like our modern skirt suit outfits)… The nautical inspired styles, and the liberal use of crepe fabrics (no wonder few pieces of clothing have survived). Especially interesting [...]
These useful measuring charts, found on the back of the ordering form of this 1935 family fashion catalog, include concise measuring instructions for clothing which are probably still useful today! It illustrates and instructs how to measure for hats, bonnets, dresses, mens’ suits, gloves, coats, girdles, corsets, brassiers, underwear, stockings, bloomers, sweaters… and anything wearable [...]
Here are some summer dress fashions from the 1935 Chicago Mail Order Catalog, including two full color pages. These old fashion catalog scans are lovely illustrations of the 1930s silhouette and dress lines. I scanned the whole layout, too, so you can get the full effect of the illustrations. ”Look as sweet as you are” the sepia [...]
At the end of the massive 1935 shoe section, there’s these two pages which include a miscellany of men’s summer suits, summer shoes, mens underwear (with a chest supporter that zips on??)… and the next page of women’s sportswear, pajamas, sandals, shorts with matching jersey tops, and wool swim suits. Interesting and overlooked details to [...]
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