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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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Tag Archives: shirtwaist
Felipe Family Women, 1979
In family photos that span the generations you can often see how women hold on to styles that make them feel comfortable, regardless of current trends. In this photograph of a Mexican American family in Corona, California, the three older … Continue reading
Sunkist Group Photo in Orange, 1961
The city of Orange–located in Orange County, California–is named after citrus. When I grew up in the fifties, there were still orange groves everywhere. No surprise that the major citrus company, Sunkist, had a big packing plant there. Today the … Continue reading
Maggie Walker and the St. Luke’s Penny Saving Bank
Maggie Lena Walker (1864-1934) is not a household name, but she made a huge difference in the lives of African Americans in the Richmond, Virginia area. In 1903, she was the first woman of any race to found a bank. … Continue reading
The Black Women of California’s Central Valley
During the Great Depression, when waves of migrants came to California to escape the drought, Black cotton farmers were part of the population transfer. Some were recruited by California cotton growers, while others came on their own. More migrated after … Continue reading
Posted in 1960s
Tagged African American, California, hats/headcoverings, jewelry, shirtwaist
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Hatless in a Hat Shop, 1942
The photos taken by the Farm Security Administration and Office of War Information during the Great Depression and Second World War offer many insights into how ordinary Americans survived hard times. One small slice of history was recorded by photographer … Continue reading
A Southern California Thanksgiving, 1906
Why is this family eating outside on Thanksgiving, you might ask. Late November can be hot in Southern California, as the Santa Ana winds sweep in from the desert. As I write on this Thanksgiving over 100 years later, the … Continue reading
Burning the Mortgage, 1915
Photographs often document big moments in life—the wedding, the baby, the new house. A tradition in Black churches is to mark the end of mortgage payments, the moment when property finally belongs to the residents, with a mortgage burning ceremony. … Continue reading
Posted in 1910s
Tagged African American, colors, lace, Michigan, shirtwaist, special occasion
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What to Wear to a Cold War Summit, 1959
During the late 1950s, when Nikita Khrushchev came to power in the Soviet Union, there was a brief thaw in the Cold War between that country and the United States. One sign of the shift was a big exhibit of … Continue reading
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
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