Some vintage fashion inspiration for your Monday morning! This time from early spring 1947 with lots of spring and summer pieces. I just ordered some fabric for my summer sewing projects, and some of these looks are really appealing to me! We’ll see if any translate into my wardrobe this year…
I’m not sure I’d wear the whole head-to-toe look (eyelet blouse, hair bow and ruffled skirt), but I love the skirt! This sort of “faux bustle” effect was a trend of the late 40s, inspired by Victorian era looks.
While these nail polish shades are nowhere near as wild as the colors from earlier in the decade, they are lovely nonetheless.
I never tire of sharing saddle shoe ads with you! I’ve been wearing mine a lot lately; it just seems spring is perfect for the snappier kicks. The novelty style with names printed on the uppers is really cute!
I love this partially because the ad is cute, and the dress is beautiful! Pintucked yoke and deep pockets in soft pink? Yes please!
I have a feeling I may have shared this one before, but if I have hopefully it’ll just be a refresher of an adorable dress! Novelty prints are so fun, and I think this one has to be on my list of top 10 favorites. (I need to get a hang of Spoonflower and start making some 40s inspired prints of my own…)
Something useful! Dress shields are still to be found to this day, but grippers to help keep blouses smooth and tucked are a bit harder to come by. (Though I’ve seen similar in military uniform shops in the Marines uniforms section…) I’ve seen some of the vintage ones online, but I suspect the rubber would have deteriorated too much to use… (Though maybe one could figure out how to make a modern version?)
Have a lovely Monday, friends!
The grippers are available here as well: http://www.cleanersupply.com/products/product.cfm?pID=8643
(I have a bunch of them, but haven’t made any skirts since getting that order.)
Hmmm… Thanks for the tip about where to buy them! I wonder if I got one of the vintage ones to figure out the “detachable” nature of the design, I could duplicate. Seems like they’d be good to have on hand, since I hate when my shirts come untucked.
♥ Casey
Please do take to Spoonflower! I’m sure I’d just have to order some of the gorgeous prints you’d undoubtedly design! But I understand, I’ve been thinking about it, too, and I just never seem to get around to it.
That is part of the reason I haven’t really used Spoonflower yet! I seem to never get around to it.
lol. One of these days maybe… haha!
♥ Casey
Am I reading that right: The third nail polish from the left, at the bottom of the page, is Zombie? Did they name colors stuff like that in the 1940′s??
Yes! I didn’t even notice that until you said something (I was too busy studying the shades, rather than the names… lol)! Not surprising though; zombies seemed to be somewhat popular in the horror film and pulp genres of the decade.
♥ Casey
This may be a totally daft idea, but I just wondered whether the rubber grip shelf liner or jar openers I’ve seen pinned in the waistband of your skirt or slacks would work to keep your blouses and shirts tucked in? I’ve got a little of it here and the idea just crossed my mind.
That thought crossed my mind too–I might have to see if it could work.
♥ Casey
i hope the faux bustles keeps making its way back around in fashion. It just makes me so happy! Would you ever wear one (I mean in a non-Victorian period look)?
I might!
It’s one of those styles that I admire mostly in theory; but I’d have to really tailor it to me so it didn’t add too much extra bulk or look too twee. 
♥ Casey
Love the saddle shoes. I bought a pair a couple of years back because my Hubby plays in a 50′s Doo Wop band and some of the wives like to dress the part when they play…you know, poodle skirts and pony tails!! Well, I now wear my saddle shoes on an every day bases. It’s a funny…I get all sorts of comments and compliments. I love it. I have had many imteresting conversations!
Love your blog.
take care
Patty
I almost always get interesting comments when I wear mine too! They’re a great conversation starter.
♥ Casey
Some men’s pants have a waistband curtain with rubber, to keep your shirt tucked in. You can buy aftermarket bits, too, such as Lydia linked to.
I’m dying for some saddle shoes but can’t find any that fit
Maybe I should call Muffy’s.
Thanks for the tip about the grippers!
You should check out Muffy’s; I really love mine and was surprised how comfy they’ve been!
♥ Casey
I love the pictures! Thanks for the inspiration.
Has anyone thought of using a shoe-painting or decoupage tutorial to *make* saddle shoes?
There are some good tutorials floating around the internet–especially for painting basic, canvas gym shoes to resemble saddle shoes! The only issue I could see is that painting/decoupaging a material like leather (which is what the classic saddle shoes are made of) would be less durable.
♥ Casey
Ooh I am with you with the saddle shoes! Sadly my one vintage pair I bought last year have started to kick the bucket. I think I need more casual kicky shoes for spring/summer!
I absolutely adore the blouse portion on the girl’s dress on the very top, with that eyelet and ribbon. I think it would be fun to have a few different ribbons that could be threaded through, to make it work with a wider variety of outfits!
I love the idea of using different colored ribbons on that eyelet top! Brilliant! in fact, I have an eyelet blouse I thrifted last year (not vintage, but is very Edwardian-esque; a style I like to pair with my skirts during the summer months), and wonder if I could use that idea…
♥ Casey
Thanks for sharing. Love the ads.
How wonderful! The silhouette of that first dress is just perfect!
Ah, spoonflower. I’m trying to pretend it doesn’t exist because I know it will be detrimental to my bank balance.
haha! Yes!!! lol.
♥ Casey
I bet silicone strips like the kind on strapless bras or hold-up stockings would probably work
I absolutely never tire of saddle shoes either, and while I only own one pair at the moment (classic black and white), I dream of one day being able to more to that collection (especially if they look like these stellar 1947 styles).
Wishing you a terrific Tuesday,
♥ Jessica
Ohhh I’m going nuts for that telephone novelty print! I know I already have one telephone circle skirt, but I feel there’s still room in my wardrobe for more! Oh I just looked at the larger image and it’s got a TELEPHONE DIAL BELT! I think I need some air…
xx Charlotte
Tuppence Ha’penny Vintage
It just gets better on closer inspection!
One can never have too many telephone print garments… 
♥ Casey
Thanks for sharing all these adorable ads Casey. I love all the clothes….so cute. And the shoes that the girl is wearing in the first ad are so quaint
The first one is something I would wear every day. So pretty!