The judgments are harsh, and nobody is worried about subtlety in these mean and bad ads that ran in popular magazines many decades ago.
Vintage beauty & fashion
See how dress styles have evolved from the 1600s to the 1990s Explore the evolution of dress styles from the 1640s to the 1990s, beginning
Want to try out some short 1950s hairstyles, or just are looking to see what they were like? Here, check out more than a dozen authentic retro ‘dos from the 50s!
Step into a world of timeless grace with 1950s wedding dresses — where lace meets luxury for peak vintage bridal elegance.
See portraits of vintage Halloween pin-up girls from the 1930s and 1940s – themed photos featuring famous actresses and beautiful models.
Cowboy boots are more than just footwear; they symbolize tradition, individuality, and the spirit of adventure. Have a look back at how the styles have evolved.
In the 1950s, the petticoat crinoline made a triumphant return to the fashion scene for skirts and dresses, with a bounce in its step and a swish in its sway.
Take a tour through our vast collection of vintage Ray-Ban sunglasses, and see how this brand has been shading our eyes with style for nearly a century.
Perfumes from the 1950s do more than just smell wonderful; they capture the spirit of the era! Here’s a look back at some of popular favorites.
From awful double entendres to horrible diseases to the just plain bizarre, here are some vintage bad product names that used to appear on grocery store shelves.
Throughout the 20th century, the nursing profession and vintage nursing uniforms evolved in step with society.
Here’s a look back in time to see some of the popular old bar soap brands from decades past – many long forgotten, and some that still are available to this day!
Who remembers when these vintage 1950s Singer sewing machines were new? One big seller was the Swing-Needle SINGER Automatic, which came in black or beige, in lovely cabinet or portable style.
As long as antique buttons have adorned our clothing and shoes, people have been collecting them. Made from a multitude of materials – from metal to bone, wood to plastic – buttons are miniature pieces of everyday history.
Direct from ’50s fashion experts come these tips for calculating a woman’s body measurements for the ideal figure. See how much things have changed!
Prell shampoo was popular since its introduction in the 1940s, and was best-known for being bright emerald green. Here, see how the product – and the brand’s message – changed from the ’40s to the ’80s!
Both gaucho pants and culottes have a wide, flowing cut — and that can make them look very similar at first glance. But there are some key differences!
The 50s was a stunning decade for fashion, and hats of the era were no exception. These beauties will make you wish 1950s hats would make a comeback!
If retro and vintage fashion are your thing, check out these seven fantastic styles of footwear styles from the past! Featuring laces, T-straps and buttons,
Along with some great vintage hairstyle photos below, you will also get real-life beauty advice from newspapers published in the 40s and 50s, which offered readers tips on how to get perfect pin curls every time.
Whether you need 50s costumes for a themed party, Halloween party, or a cosplay event, here are some ideas that are perfect for the era.
Apparently stuck for a way to make toilet paper – particularly rolls of colored toilet tissue – more attractive to ’50s housewives, advertising executives turned to the world of glamour and fashion for an assist.
There was no question that these 1950s gloves for women were stylish – but they were also a required accessory for any proper lady. See pictures of dozens of styles, plus get vintage fashion tips & glove etiquette.
Red, pink, gold & beyond – See the top vintage nail polish brands and colors from the 20th century, with shades & styles from decades ago – see how manicures have changed over the years!
For more than 100 years, if you needed a new pair of sneakers or sandals, oxfords or saddle shoes, you had to visit one or more vintage shoe stores. Through more than 100 photos, see what it was like!
Who remembers this long-running old ad campaign, showing how vintage Jergens Lotion helped with ‘detergent hands’ – dry, reddened skin from hand-washing dishes?
These vintage summer clothes from the fifties, all made of cool cottons, were designed for carefree living and summer comfort. Stripes predominated in the fabrics chosen, lending color and dash to these wearable designs.
These vintage Lady Buxton wallets came in classic designs made of leather and leather-like materials, many having a small unique design feature to set them apart without being ostentatious.
The history of Levi’s jeans shows that the power of a really good idea – like super-durable clothing that people like to wear – can make for a business that stays strong for more than 160 years.
When vintage Dial Soap debuted in the late forties, one of their selling points was ‘Dial smells good — not strong, not sissy.’ See how the product – and the message – changed over the years!
Back in the fifties, hairstyles took a lot of work just to be presentable. To help all that hard work stick around, millions of women used these popular 1950s hairspray brands. Here’s a look back!
When you look at these vintage Longines watches, think back to the era when wristwatches were as ubiquitous as our phones today – and almost as important.
This carefree tie-on poncho is cut in just four identical pieces and put together with simple straight sewing. Best of all, it has a dozen uses, can be made in any number of different fabrics, and cut to any length you like.
Take a look back at these vintage jewelry boxes that were so popular, including some with fold-out storage and – of course – spinning ballerinas.
Donning a brilliant red leotard, Audrey Hepburn demonstrated a series of yoga-like exercises. ‘I’ve tried to incorporate what I’ve seen in animals so the human body can benefit from them.’
Vintage Wrangler jeans made their mark on America by partnering with rodeo professionals, and playing up their western cowboy image. Here’s a look back at the clothing styles they offered in the ’50s!
Anita Shops was a small but popular shop for women’s clothes, starting in the ’50s through the ’70s. Here’s a look at some of their vintage fashions!
Once people accepted that pregnant women could be stylish and need not remain hidden, the designs of vintage ’50s maternity fashion were surprisingly varied. Here’s a look!
Keds vintage sneakers made their debut in 1916, and are still a widely-recognized brand more than a century later. Here’s a look back at some of their most popular footwear fashions from decades past!
Compared to now, teenage girls in the 1950s had a lot of strict rules and etiquette considerations – and the consequences of falling short in certain areas could have a pretty considerable effect on her life. Here’s a look at the kind of messaging teens got back then.
In the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s, old-fashioned maternity wear existed – but its main job was to help the mom-to-be hide her pregnancy. Here’s a look back at fashions to help women camouflage that bump!
Take a look back at dozens of vintage gift sets for women from the ’50s, ’60s & ’70s, filled with fancy fragrances, makeup, skincare products & more!
One little piece of felt, cut in a simple shape, a few quick stitches – and, presto! – a hat! Here are some simple vintage one-piece hats you can sew.
Want to make some simple retro ’50s style jewelry? If you’ve got the gift for DIY crafts, we have the how-to guide for you, direct from the fifties.
In these vintage ads from the ’50s, the message was clear: ‘If you don’t wash with Lysol, you’ll smell bad, and your husband won’t love you anymore.’
Decades ago, super-sized costume jewelry was popular. See some big vintage rings set with semiprecious stones, and others with stones and beads for a super-sized eye-catching display.
Get unforgettable ’50s eye makeup with these vintage beauty tips straight from the fifties! Find out the best ways to use eyeshadow, liner, mascara & more.
The iconic Breck shampoo ads were meant to look sweet & wholesome, and a few of the Breck Girls went on to become famous actresses. Take a look!
Not only would these sexist vintage ads not sell well today, but they’d also cause a huge social media backlash. See 50 of the most obnoxious examples here.
These vintage bullet bras (also called sweater bras) were considered flattering and sexy around the ’50s. Take a look back and see what you think of the style!
Betty Grable’s legs: They have now achieved the stature of a major Hollywood landmark LIFE – June 7, 1943 No one since Paavo Nurmi has
Long nose? Thin mouth? Here are some ways to minimize your facial flaws with the help of vintage-style glasses, with based on fashion tips direct from the fifties!
Companies promoted it. Celebrities touted it. Everyday people paid attention, and then spent hours in the sun, trying to get the perfect suntan.
These vintage swimsuits from the ’50s said they’d ‘slim the hips, diminish the waist, and give your bustline the gently rounded new look.’ See
Legendary beauty Lillie Langtry was a statuesque blonde with blue eyes, a perfect complexion and a ravishing figure. She was acclaimed by the social set, and became the mistress of The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII.
Take a look at this vintage White Rain shampoo commercial from 1954 — so achingly wholesome and sincere, it’s easy to see why some ’50s stereotypes persist today.
For Valentine’s Day or any day, you can re-create these pretty heart cross-stitch patterns with these designs and directions from 1955.
This collection of vintage evening gowns is so over-the-top, you don’t have to even like fashion to appreciate the oomph factor of these formal dresses.
These amazing vintage evening dresses were as glittery and shimmering as they were form-fitting and unforgiving of an extra ounce. But there’s more to the story beyond just gorgeous models and stunning gowns.
You can create new fashions from old clothing! Here, see how a moth-eaten bathrobe and skirt, an outgrown blouse, knee-worn slacks were converted into sparkling new accessories.
It’s happened at last — fashion grows up this season. Gone is the little-girl look — the doll dress, cinched waist, and crinolines — it’s the woman who is now the darling of designers.
In an age when comparatively few people have room for ball gowns, top French fashion designers live in surroundings which make their most opulent evening dresses look like the natural outfits to wear.
When it comes to 1950s spring fashions for women, there are more straight shoulders than last year. Are skirts shorter? Yes, but not unbecomingly so. Fourteen or fifteen inches from the floor, according to your height. The newest hat is almost shoulder-wide.
Toni Owen, the fashion designer of the unusual ’50s eveningwear coordinates shown here, says separates are perfect if you like to dress for evening dates without overdressing.
Ads for a diet plans seems totally commonplace today, but in the early 1950s — especially so soon after the war, which meant food was
If men “hate the sight of you” read this (1930s) Good news for thousands of girls who have no sex appeal (1940s) Don’t be skinny!
Casual dresses of the ’50s were pretty on their own, but still the style mavens commanded women, ‘You’ll wear these American-made fashions from now on, wherever the sun shines.’
Avisco Rayon, blended with silk or dacron, has a soft, lightweight touch which is so enjoyable in the summer. Handmacher tailors these superbly-fitting unlined suits in fabrics that owe more than half their composure to Avisco rayon fibers.
Woman’s Day “Switch-Mates”: 3+3=12 A+B 1. The smart casual suit is off to college, the big-city job, or anywhere. Versatile as the weather are this short
Old Nitey Nite pajama sleepers for kids (1949) Now it’s buy time for Nitey Nite. Now these popular sleepers, sturdily tailored of healthful, absorbent, feather-
Chances are, excepting for regional quirks, a student of teenage habits could pinpoint your age (within five years), social status in high school and academic achievement, just from what you wore at high school.
