Contact me
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.-
-
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
- Rhoda K on Domestic Scene, 1954
- Judith on Domestic Scene, 1954
- Jann Gumbiner on Book Review–Bill Cunningham: On the Street
- Rhoda K on Book Review–Bill Cunningham: On the Street
- Marilise on Book Review–Bill Cunningham: On the Street
Categories
Tags
- About Me
- advertising
- advice literature
- African American
- Asian American
- book review
- California
- coats
- colors
- comparative
- designers
- first ladies
- fur
- generations
- glasses
- hair
- half sizes
- hats/headcoverings
- Illinois
- jewelry
- lace
- Mrs. Exeter
- New Look
- New York
- pants
- pantsuits
- Pennsylvania
- photographer
- popular culture
- power dressing
- sewing
- sheath dress
- shirtwaist
- shoes
- sizes
- skin
- special occasion
- sportswear
- textile patterns
- textile prints
- textiles
- Washington DC
- women's organizations
- World War One
- World War Two
Meta
Reference Links
Tag Archives: shirtwaist
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
2 Comments
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
Four Women, Four Styles
This photo is from a large collection collected by the Hur and Hahn families. It features Frances Hur, who I believe is second from right, and a group of friends. Unfortunately, the photos are not as well documented as one … Continue reading
Gramie and Grampi Cut the Cake, 1960
“Gramie and Grampi with the cake Annie made for you,” reads the message on the back of this photo. At first I thought this might be an anniversary celebration cake for the older couple, but the caption tells a different … Continue reading
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
Big Birthday, Big Cake–1961
When this photo appeared in the Valley Times in 1961, the accompanying text read, “Five generations of the Prince family were on hand to help celebrate the 90th birthday of Mrs. Emma E. Prince, a woman who honeymooned to the … Continue reading