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To contribute to this collective history project, send pictures and stories about the older women in your life to americanagefashion@gmail.com. The more information you can include (date, place, etc.), the better.-
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Category Archives: 1950s
A Stylish Stout Woman at the Beach, 1953
In the 1920s, makers of plus size clothing, what was then called “stoutwear,” invented different names and sizes for different kinds of larger bodies. A big breasted figure with a relatively small waist was named a “stylish stout.” It was … Continue reading
A Navajo Fourth of July, 1953
Whatever you wore for the Fourth of July celebration, it was probably not nearly as beautiful as this Navajo woman’s outfit. The shirt is most likely velvet, the traditional fabric for Navajo women’s festive clothing. It is adorned with silver … Continue reading
Window Shopping in Mobile, Alabama, 1956
If the Facebook page “Mid Century in Color” is any indication, most amateur photographers using color film in the US in the mid twentieth century were white—and they created an image of an all-white America. Luckily, professional photographers of color … Continue reading
Learning from the Facebook Group “Mid Century in Color”
Sometimes I wonder just who Facebook thinks I am, sending me links to sites about farms and baby animals. But recently the mysterious algorithm provided something I treasure—a link to the wonderful resource Mid Century in Color: Amateur Photographic Slides … Continue reading
Maree’s Fashion Cycle
Many sociologists who study fashion try to determine when and for what reason people buy clothes. For a long time, the assumption was that older people tended to slow down consumption as they aged. Why? Often they have a smaller … Continue reading
Summer at Martha’s Vineyard, 1950s
It is the wrong season for this picture, but I couldn’t resist since it contains some of my favorite elements—the many kinds of pants and shorts worn in the 1950s and a stark generational contrast between the old and young. … Continue reading
Posted in 1940s, 1950s
Tagged African American, generations, Massachusetts, pants, shoes, sportswear
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Mae Reeves, Queen of Hats
You might know the names of famous black fashion designers—Ann Lowe is having a moment on sewing sites right now. But how about black milliners? One the biggest names in that field is Mae Reeves (1912-2016), who ran an extremely … Continue reading
Posted in 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990
Tagged African American, hats/headcoverings, Pennsylvania
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Portrait of a Woman with Butterfly
In honor of Black History Month, I’ve been searching for collections of photographs of African Americans that might include older women. One rich source I discovered is the private collection of Mike Cochran, given to the Portal of Texas History. … Continue reading
Holiday Greetings from Ida Arneson, 1957
Is anyone named Ida anymore? It might be due for a comeback. This card was a lucky eBay find combing two favorite elements—an unlikely Christmas greeting and a sewing theme. I suspect Mrs. Ida Arneson is a widow, since there … Continue reading
Say It With Flowers, 1958
Standing out like a canary among the pigeons, the woman in the yellow dress catches our eye. With her light colored hair, bare arms, and fit and flair dress, she looks a lot younger than her companions to the left. … Continue reading