~AUGUST 1950 SEVENTEEN~A few years ago my daughter graduated from high school and we celebrated by going antique hunting (she loves old jewelry!). While shopping together at a local Antique Mall I happened upon this fabulous vintage 1950's Seventeen Magazine. Since Adrie's Grandmother (my Momma!) graduated from high school in 1952 I thought it would be a sweet gift for my girl. I wanted her to see what life (and clothing) was like when her Gramma was her age. My girl was 17 at the time and I was quite sure she would be both surprised and amused at both the articles and the pictures.
~LOTS OF SUITS~The Magazine has almost 300 pages and is filled to the brim with pictures of the most fabulous fashions. Can you image that today? Three hundred pages? Skirts, sweaters, dresses, stocking, lingerie and shoes filled almost every page...guess what was missing????
PANTS!
~SKIRT AND SWEATER COMBOS~I'm quite sure my Mother wore a little duo such as the one above. She loved skirts and sweaters and she is wearing a sweet little set in her high school graduation picture...
~LEATHER HEELS MADE IN THE USA~I would soooo wear these shoes today....
~MORE FABULOUS SHOES~And any of these as well!
~BE STILL MY HEART~As much as I love PINK (Yes! Yes I do!) I would absolutely pass on this little number! I'm so grateful for Spandex!
~NO THANK YOU!~I thank God every single time I see these pointy BRAS that the fashions changed BEFORE I required such a device!
When I watch old black and white movies I'm amazed at the teeny tiny waists of the women, pencil straight skirts and those chests that seem to scream out "LOOK HERE! LOOK HERE!"
When I watch old black and white movies I'm amazed at the teeny tiny waists of the women, pencil straight skirts and those chests that seem to scream out "LOOK HERE! LOOK HERE!"
~NO FOOLERS?~Check this ad out! No kidding! Look close! "No Pads - No Puffs - No Foolers".
Hysterical!
Hysterical!
~WAS THIS APPEALING?~I distinctly remember my Momma looking exactly like this (Hi Mom!) :). By the time I got myself OUT of this little contraption it would be time to get back up again and put it all back on for the day....
No thanks!
No thanks!
~CREAM SHAMPOO~Fairly inexpensive shampoo...even for 1950's standards! Wonder what those young girls would think about my $10.00 per bottle of shampoo???? I betcha they'd FAINT!
~GORGEOUS FORMAL FASHIONS~Everything the magazine showcased was ultra feminine and tasteful. No raunchy clothing and certainly no thongs peeking out of extra, extra low blue jeans.
Surprisingly, there were articles written about attending college (yes!), decorating a dorm room on a budget, as well as advertisements for engagement rings and Hope Chests.
Tupperware Parties, too!
Surprisingly, there were articles written about attending college (yes!), decorating a dorm room on a budget, as well as advertisements for engagement rings and Hope Chests.
Tupperware Parties, too!
~CASHMERE BOUQUET~I love this sweet Ad for Cashmere Bouquet Body Talc. You wouldn't even believe the number of articles for deodorants and creams! So many names I've never heard of before... Guess they were all surpassed by SECRET, SURE, RIGHT GUARD, etc.
~THE MOST REVEALING AD ~I look like this when I put on my Antiperspirant... (I do!) :)
~LEG CREAMS AND SHAVING~And I look exactly like this when I shave my legs and apply lotion!
Aren't you jealous???
~ENID, OKLAHOMA MENTIONED BY NAME~Just MAYBE the reason this Magazine was still in one piece and found in Oklahoma is because it contained an article about teenagers in my very State. It was a sweet read about the band class of 1950 in Enid, Oklahoma.
I hope you enjoyed the tour of yesteryear. Isn't it amazing how far we've come? We've certainly made progress in many things that have indeed made our lives richer, better...
Still...can't help but wonder (the girdles and pointy bras aside) where we would be in 2009 had we not abandoned some of the values of the 1950's for the ones we choose to embrace today...
Something to think about~
Love and Blessings...Rebecca
I hope you enjoyed the tour of yesteryear. Isn't it amazing how far we've come? We've certainly made progress in many things that have indeed made our lives richer, better...
Still...can't help but wonder (the girdles and pointy bras aside) where we would be in 2009 had we not abandoned some of the values of the 1950's for the ones we choose to embrace today...
Something to think about~
Love and Blessings...Rebecca
19 comments:
Oh my how romantic were the clothes in those days, I love the 20's through to the 50's era, boy they really knew *style* back then... as for those shoes, my Darlin'is a *shorty* without shoes on I am taller than him so they are out of the question of wearing but what I would give..... my Taska just had a look at them & squealed *they are like the ones I want* what goes around comes around! Such a romantic era (except for the pointy bra) oh & hey Reb thik our figures must be the same...bahahaha... yeah right.... what I would give...
Good grief Lady you have some great 2die4's.....
Lyn xxxx
Oh my how romantic were the clothes in those days, I love the 20's through to the 50's era, boy they really knew *style* back then... as for those shoes, my Darlin'is a *shorty* without shoes on I am taller than him so they are out of the question of wearing but what I would give..... my Taska just had a look at them & squealed *they are like the ones I want* what goes around comes around! Such a romantic era (except for the pointy bra) oh & hey Reb thik our figures must be the same...bahahaha... yeah right.... what I would give...
Good grief Lady you have some great 2die4's.....
Lyn xxxx
Oh, how I loved that magazine. I think I started buying my magazines in 1956 or so. I even could buy it in Holland. And yes that was fashion in those days. Cn't believe it now. LOL. We all followed the filmstars. Memories :))
Have a nice day
how fun is this to look thru...I agree about the bras..lol...Hope all is well with you..been a bit since I could last visit your place....have a good weekend..
Good morning Rebecca...I love the vintage Seventeen magazine. I'm 37 and remember as a young girl reading it. I didn't realize they went back that far...what a treasure. Thanks for sharing....
Abby:)
Good morning Rebecca! What a great magazine! What memories! Ha!
I remember using the powder room at the home of my friend when I was a little girl and as little friends did back then, we went into the powder room together.
Hanging to dry in the shower was the pointy cone bra which belonged to her mother!! What fun I had "trying it on" and prancing around the powder room giggling!
Well, her mom found out and her daughter was forbidden to play with me anymore! Oh well! ☺
Glad you're feeling better- and miss K, too! It is remarkable how much your 2 girls look alike! what fun! ♥
Chuckle time! OMG I remember Mother SQUEEZING into that pokie old stay-girdle around herself ... then cinching up those 'ties' to hold herself 'in'. It was amazing how 'much' you could 'cinch' in!
I remember teacher Mrs. F (anonymous) standing before her class & twitchin' & itchin' in those horrible girdles ... the class in stitches. LOL!
Well, the change in our lifestyles are certainly different than when we were raised in our uncomplicated childhoods. I can imagine, tho, had it not changed what a wonderful world it would be ... Oops! that is a song, isn't it ... well, see, someone was also 'wondering' in that song.
The thing I think is most important is that we were raised when morals & conscience & respect were alive.
Have a beautiful weekend, my friend.
Hi Rebecca -
That is so funny - I wonder what our daughters would think of how we dressed in the 60's.
Personally, I was all about cinnamon nylons and a garter belt. hehe. Especially cute with a short run and a dot of nailpolish - clear is best but any color will do.
Have a great garage saling day -
Marsha
Seventeen magazine was my favourite growing up. I loved how it was a huge magazine - so much larger than all the others & rememeber how disappointed I was when they made their publication the same size as the others. I wish I had held on to mine too. What a fun find at the antique mall :-)
Wow, I think you could hurt someone in one of those bras! Don't turn quick in a crowded room or you might poke someone's eye out! Yikes.
Those shoes though, dreamy.
This was fun Rebecca, thanks!
Smiles,
Lisa
Sweet Rebecca...I LOVED this post. I didn't even know that Seventeen was published back then! And 300 pages.That's a book! It was so fun to see those crazy girdle ads. When I think of my mom struggling into one of those I laugh out loud. I can still remember her putting hers on every time she even went to the grocery store.UGH
Oh by the way...the nightie in the antiperspirant ad...that is the very gown I sleep in every night when I go to bed. I hate how it tangles up around me and almost chokes me while I sleep.
I loved reading this fun post!!!
Hugs,
June
Hi Becky--
Thanks for the SEVENTEEN Tour. It was my favorite magazine as a teen. I recall the first "Mail Order" I made from this magazine. A black hooded satine raincoat with a plaid lining. Cost $10.95 --WOW! That was expensive in 1949.
In the 50's I didn't go for the {Points), but I did like the "Lovables" which were popular during that era, and a GOOD foundation garment was very important. I still believe that is true. The girdles were often uncomfortable, but your clothing fit nicely -- no tummy-tucks needed! LOL
Glad you are feeling better. Miss you.
Hugs-- Mom
What an amazing treasure! I am such a 50's girl!! I think maybe I lived then in another life I love it so much! What a sweet post! Thanks for sharing!
Hugs, Lisa
Great magizine. MY sister likes those pointy bras. LOL! I like my all squashed and flat . I had my boobs. LOL!
Hello Rebecca, that was so fun! Yes, I remember all of those things too, and wish we had the simpler, gentler times today that there were in the 50's... ladies were ladies and the clothes were so chic! I think we would be in ALOT better place today if those values were still around... they are with me, I just wish they were with everyone... Bisous... Julie Marie
Hmm...didn't Madonna try to wear something like that back in the 80's? Thank God it didn't catch on! Sometimes I do wish we didn't get so 'urban' or whatever you want to call it. I want to believe that life could have been so simple as it seemd in the 50's and early sixties. I remember playing with my Barbie and all the wonderful clothes...ahhhh..we can dream......right??
Hi Rebecca,
Ok! I just have to say this and PLEASE delete this comment if you are embarrassed by my remark, but I think those lovely undergarments are actually Birth Control. What single male is going to be interested by the time a young woman sheds such lovely attire. Hey! Maybe we should try to bring the style back...it could cut back on some teen pregnancy issues in this country...ha! ha!
Ok, bad humor and I'm so sorry, but I did love your post so much it made me laugh ;-)))).
xoxo Cori
Just like to mention the model on the cover is my mother, Joan Olson.
From Minneapolis via LA, worked in New York and Paris in the early 50's, up to 1959 with the birth of her fourth son.
Did many covers for Seventeen as well as Vogue, Elle, Marie-Claire and many others.
The Fifties were the Golden Age of Fashion.
Charles
WOW...LOVED THIS COMMENT FROM AN OLD BLOG POST. i STILL HAVE THIS MAGAZINE. MY MOMMA HAS SINCE PASSED AND I LOOK AT IT OFTEN AND THINK OF HER. I ALWAYS THOUGHT THE WOMAN ON THE COVER/NOW KNOWN AS YOUR MOTHER, WAS BEAUTIFUL.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING. MADE ME TEAR UP!
REBECCA
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