Girl Group, 1955

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

This photograph calls out for a story, and here is mine. The most dressed up woman in the photo, the one wearing a white hat and big beads, is a small town girl who went to New York to work for Mademoiselle magazine.  She has come home to see old friends at an evening gathering.  The woman on the right, perhaps the hostess, is enjoying one of her contributions to the magazine.

Given the two pairs of white shoes on view, we know for sure it’s summer.  The woman on the left, in a checked sleeveless shirtwaist dress, wears white lace up oxfords, the summer shoes of choice for many older women.  The one on the right wears a similar outfit, but with sandals instead.

The guest of honor appears to come from a different fashion universe, or at least a different climate. Her dress has longer sleeves and what looks like a fuller skirt.  She alone is in a hat, a popular small style called a half hat.  Her jewelry, a chunky necklace and matching earrings, stands out more. And let’s not overlook those fancy open-toed high heels.

I’d love to hear your interpretation of picture.  And what do you think they are drinking?

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One Response to Girl Group, 1955

  1. Jen O says:

    What I noticed first was their body language. The seated woman on the right wearing the hat feels super uncomfortable (for being dressed wrong?). Not only are her legs crossed away from the others, but she’s actually leaning away from them, holding her drink in her left hand, now, that’s just not friendly! This is just the opposite of the woman at the other end of the sofa whose very interested in what is going on (news from the big city?). The center woman has her legs crossed away from the woman in a hat, and sits upright, while she looks over (not friendly but trying to be social). The hostess seated closer to the camera? She’s also crossed her leg away from hat lady as she reads the magazine. That visitor is clearly out of their social sphere–from New York you say? I’d have to agree.

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