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Tag Archives: shirtwaist
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
Getting Out the Vote, 1956
The current election has reminded us once again that African American women are the bedrock of the Democratic Party. They also did a lot of the hard work of turning California from red (as it was when I was growing … Continue reading
Posted in 1950s
Tagged African American, California, resources, sheath dress, shirtwaist, shoes
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Two Sisters, Two Styles
A reader from Colorado sent this wonderful photo along with a story, my favorite kind of contribution. Center and right are two sisters, with facial shapes, hair styles and eye glasses looking very much the same. However, the similarity ends … Continue reading
Mismatched Pair, 1958
Before the summer passes us by, I thought it was high time for some bathing suits. At first I guessed this might be a Mother-Daughter snap shot, but someone has helpfully written on the back, “Mother and Etta Doey at … Continue reading
Preparing for the Prom, 1959
There won’t be a senior prom for many this year, so this 1959 photo seems especially poignant. The daughter is all gussied up—is it the actual day of the prom or was she just posing to document the dress? It … Continue reading
The Neighbors at Mission Court, 1919
Are you wearing your mask? These residents of Mission Court in Pasadena California are all abiding by the rules. As luck would have it, I found a Wikipedia entry for the small apartment complex, which is now on the National … Continue reading
For the Love of Buttons, World War Two Era
I was drawn to this photo because of the wonderful button design on the younger woman’s hat. What a creative way to use little pearl buttons! Her older companion’s outfit sports many buttons too, not only running up the shirtwaist … Continue reading
Women and War Bonds, 1917
When women are depicted in political posters, they are most often young and appealing or heavily idealized, like Liberty herself. I’ve looked at a lot of war posters in my day—they are a convenient teaching tool—and the older woman in … Continue reading
A Skirt with Fur Trim, mid 1910s
Here’s an elegant update to a classic style. This older woman wears all the components of the classic shirtwaist look–a white blouse and a dark skirt–that had been an American fashion standard for years. However, the fur trim added to … Continue reading
Church Sunday, August 1969
It looks like these four have just come out of church services. Their different styles show how younger and older women adapted to the big fashion shifts of this decade. Even though her hair is still brown, I’m guessing that … Continue reading