Vintage clothing shop and ephemera blog.
Here are shown some lingerie and shapewear ads from the 1800s-1950s. The chemise replaced the corset cover by 1918, although shapewear was still worn in the 1920s to achieve that stylish “boyish” form. The inflatable bra of the 1950s replaced the “Victoria” bosom pad of 1879… such changes in lingerie styles and advertisements!
Enjoy these pinup pictures of Marilyn Monroe, declared “The All American Pinup” by the 1953 issue of Cheesecake – An American Phenomenon. Jane Russell said that “Marilyn is the most female girl I know”, and her only flaws were “a slight thickness behind the knees”.
The next page declares that “American business will spend close to $1,000,000,000 in advertising alone. At least one out of every three advertisements will feature a girl, who is bound to be pretty, shapely, and appealing.
Whew! Finally done scanning this lengthy Victorian fashion magazine! I broke the spine while scanning it, but atleast now it’s all digitally preserved. These last few pages of this magazine include alot of advertisements and illustrations. Specifically: The Metropolitan Catalogue of Fashions – a 2 page spread with illustrations of child’s dresses, ladies’ cloaks, boy’s [...]
This begins the extended end of the Winter issue of the 1892 Delineator fashion magazine. It starts with a full page advertisement for all kinds of pretty miscellany, including fur sets for children, fur trimmings, decorative nail heads, guimps, lace of all kinds, medici collars, and squares of printed China silk. The next page includes [...]
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 [...]
This issue included instructions for knitting items for the Red Cross and soldiers sent off to World War 1. I’ve scanned the illustrated front cover, the back cover which was an advertisement for Old Dutch Cleanser, and the Cream of Wheat ad in this July 1917 issue of The Modern Priscilla.
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