Swing Fashionista » Vintage Photos

1930s Hair Styles

Michelle — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 17:57:24 +0000

My interest in vintage hair began when I was a child, as I have always loved the 20s, 30s and 40s, but I actually began styling my own hair in vintage styles back 1999 when I started swing dancing. I have also run vintage hair workshops many times in the last 12 years. The 1930s softly waved and curled feminine hairstyles are my favourite and I drool over old pics from the time. I have a short middy cut myself so I can wear a 30s look when I want to. Sadly, ladies today don’t have the benefit of being able to go to the salon on a weekly basis to have their hair ‘wet set and styled’ as they did back in the day. The ‘beauty salon’ certainly was a different place back then. I once read in an old hairdressing magazine that around 50% of a salons’ business (from the 20s to the late 50s) came from ‘setting’ hair alone. Today it’s all about cut and colour.

Most of the waved and curled 30s styles required sculpting and constant upkeep. So wearing a hair net to bed with pin curls, wavers clips or rollers to maintain it was just part of every day life for ladies of the day, unless of course, you were lucky enough to have hair that waved or curled naturally and easily. Husbands and boyfriends back then certainly were used to seeing their ladies in curlers regularly. Was just part of life.

Women that could afford to go to the salon on a regular basis usually went for a ‘wet set and style’, which would last up to a week if you protected it while you slept. For those of you new to vintage hair speak, a wet set involved having your hair pin curled or finger waved in the style you wanted while the hair was wet, then sitting under a hood dryer for an hour or so at the salon, until the hair was completely dry. Then the hair would be brushed out and combed into the style required by the hairdresser. Certainly a lengthy process, but worth it for a week of hair that retained its style. This was a common practice right up until the 1960s in salons. Many ladies of the day (like my Nana and Grandmother) who weren’t flush with money, learned to style and set their own hair at home in the 30s, 40s and 50s for the most part and went to salon once a month.

Tips for 30s waves:
What many people don’t realise is that finger waves were actually designed to enhance, tame and smooth the waved, curly tresses of those lucky enough to have them. The waves and curls were stretched and moulded into the looks in the pics shown. But for those like myself who have dead straight hair (ugg) – I was given some invaluable tips a few years back from a lovely ex-hairstylist named ‘Lily‘ who is now in her 90s. This is how told me she used to set waves and curls for her straight-haired clients in the 30s:

- wet set hair with setting lotion under a hood dryer (or overnight) to give yourself a good curly base to work with
- THEN brush out the tight curls, smoothing the hair and relaxing it a bit
- use a styling comb to sculpt the curls on top and sides of your head into soft waves and ridges and clip them into place with wavers (so much easier when the hair is already curled). It’s all about the sculpting.
- sculpt the smaller curls so they are softer around the back of your head/ears etc using the comb and your fingers. Spray on some hairspray to set.

So – curling first, drying, THEN waving for us straight haired lot! For years I wondered why trying to achieve soft finger waves was so much harder with straight hair … simple, because they were designed to beautify curly hair! So, salons of the day had to come up with techniques to help out the straight-haired gals like to me achieve these amazing styles too. Information has just been lost over the years as the older generation pass away. Anyhoo, here are some great style to inspire you. My fav 30s ladies are Carole Lombard, Myrna Loy and Ginger Rogers.

Vintage photographer in focus: Fabulous Elmer Fryer

Michelle — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:55:15 +0000

Elmer Fryer was another wonderful photographer of Hollywood stars and celebrities. When I think of vintage Hollywood – Fryer and Hurrell always come to mind instantly. Fryer joined Warner in 1929 and during the 1930s he took portraits of Bette Davis, Kay Francis, Barbara Stanwyck, Myrna Loy, Louise Brooks, Loretta Young, Ann Dvorak, James Cagney, Errol Flynn, Henry Fonda and many other Warner Brothers stars. Sadly, Fryer died young at age 46, only 3 years after he left Warner Brothers in 1941. But, he left us a wonderful legacy to share in his photography.

I love the way Fryer designed his shots by using poses to suit the subject and to enhance their beauty. He seemed to have an uncanny sense of style and there is such an elegance to his work, especially with his use of black and white props, clothing and deep shadows. I adore the shot of Errol Flynn as I think it captures his personality perfectly – the handsome, cheeky, Aussie larrikin.

* All pics are linked back to their original sources

1930s Men’s fashion snap shots: 2

Michelle — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 06:57:21 +0000

More stylish men from the era I adore most, the 1930s. This time featuring knitwear including swimwear, winter woolies and sportswear.

Source: Christian Montone

Bondi Beach, Australia, c. 1932. Source: Vintage Venus

German teenagers in the snow, c. 1930s. Source: Ipernity

Spectacular examples of sweaters (or jumpers as we call them in Oz), Plus Fours and knee high socks. Source: Fedora Lounge

Hair waving items from the 1934 Sears catalogue

Michelle — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:34:54 +0000

I found this wonderful page courtesy of Lileks.com a long while ago and just HAD to share it today. After looking over it I realised that I actually have more than half of these items in my own collection! I have used the water wavers quite often (my profile pic is a water wave set) and my rather substantial box of vintage hair doo-dads contains Curly Lox Curlers, Wide Wide Curlers, Kurly Kews, WW combs, Kurl Kuiks, Wavos and Kid Kurlers.

It’s also fun to see the original prices and descriptions of these items. The Baldwin Marcellers are amazing! I’ve seen some online for sale on occasion and they look rather complex to use! And the Nayrs Waving Cap, what a nifty looking device. Wish I could find an old one of those and give it try! Oh blow me down! There’s one for sale at Taste-T Vintage!!

Vintage photographer in focus: Simply stunning Steichen

Michelle — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 17:26:21 +0000

I was pulling out some of my books on vintage photography today and was reminded of how much I love Edward Steichen. I adore his simple lines and the way uses shadow and light. Steichen’s photos of gowns designed by Paul Poiret in the magazine Art et Décoration in 1911 are some of the very first modern fashion photographs and he helped define an era of glamour and elegance. Along with fashion work, he also photographed stunning portraits of movie stars and well-known faces of the day including Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Charlie Chaplin, Gloria Swanson, Norma Shearer, Greta Garbo, Anna May Wong, Pola Negri, Loretta Young, Lilian Gish, Amelia Earhart and Joan Crawford. Hope you enjoy these classic images.

http://www.npg.si.edu/exhibit/steichen/

1930s Men’s fashion snap shots: 1

Michelle — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:00:49 +0000

Everyday men of the 1930s. Such wonderful shots of men relaxing, going about their everyday business and hanging out with friends. Even the casual clothing of the day never looks just ‘thrown together’. The various pieces of each ensemble always appear to be chosen with care. I LOVE the third pic from the top. Those chaps look like they are having a ball! Thanks to The Sartorialist for the last 4 pics.

Photo: Brian Hilligoss

Photo: Tin Trunk

Vintage Christmas cuties…

Michelle — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:30:58 +0000

Just because it’s the festive season…and these are all so lovely. The 1st Carole Lombard pic (2nd row right) is simply stunning. Can you guess who the first lovely lady is? It’s Lucille Ball.

Photographer in focus: Max Dupain…an Australian icon

Michelle — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:29:52 +0000

I adore black and white photography from the 1920s to the 50s and have many favourites including Man Ray, Steichen, Madame D’ora, Hurrell, Hoyningen-Huene, Atget, Fryer, Cunningham etc but how many of you have heard of iconic Australian photographer Max Dupain?

Born in Sydney in 1911, he photographed the city from the early 1930s through to just before his death in 1992. He mostly was interested in photographing the architecture, the landscape, the beaches and the cities of Australia. The man understood the strong light in Australia and how to use it effectively.

Dupain’s style was based on simplicity and he remained a great advocate of black and white photography throughout his career as he felt that colour was restricting. He continued to photograph until his death in July, 1992. I love his work and have a few of his prints famed around my house. Many of his pictures look like they could have been taken yesterday – his most famous shot, The Sunbaker, is one of these. I hope you enjoy the small collection I have put together for you. You can find all these pics in the Max Dupain Collection.

The Sunbaker - 1937

Jean with wire mesh - 1937

1933

1937

1939

1930s beach and lounging pyjamas…how I love thee

Michelle — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 01:54:35 +0000

As a lover of 1930s fashion, in my humble opinion one of the most stylish garments to emerge from the 20s and 30s were beach or ‘lounge’ pyjamas. They just ooze elegance and sophistication and are visually very iconic. Until the 1920s, pyjamas were pretty much only worn as sleepwear, then sometime in the 1920s they made their way outdoors as a cover-up over swimming costumes on the beaches of the French Riveria. When crepe pyjamas were first worn at the seaside, trouser wearing women were rare sight and still very much confined to beach and promenade areas.

The trend took off all over the globe (the photo above is from the UK) and beach pyjamas soon also became casual-wear for less formal outdoor events in the warmer months. Many women took to wearing them around the home as ‘lounging pyjamas’ when entertaining or just relaxing.

In the 1920s, beach or lounge pajamas were usually a top and trouser set with matching jacket. By the 1930s, one-piece, jumpsuit-style pajamas were very popular and many featured a very wide leg. Fabric like shantung, linen or cotton was accepted for the for beach and lounging pajamas, but as they became widely popular in the 1930s, many were also available in rayon. Pyjamas were made in an amazing array of bold colors and patterns, as you will see in some of pictures and old advertisements I have added here. Many of the patterns were influenced by Japanese and Chinese art which was seen as very exotic at that time.

With lounge pyjamas a new category of clothing emereged: resort wear. With it’s bright designs and lightweight fabrics, resort wear was all about relaxing and holidaying and even today, when viewing the elegant vintage posters advertising these garments, I immediately think of luxury yachts, beaches, boardwalks and sunny weather. I have a wonderful 1930s Australian travel poster advertising Bondi Beach and all the women illustrated wearing beach pyjamas. With our weather here in Oz – they must have a been a blessing back in the day

Stars like Greta Garbo and Joan Crawford had a lot to do with making lounging pyjamas extremely popular worldwide as they donned them in several of their movies during the 1930s and women everywhere took notice.

I hope you enjoy some of my favourite images here. I regularly wear and own many pairs of high-waisted, flowy, wide legged trousers, which I find extremely flattering, so I’m a big fan of beach pyjamas. Which reminds me; I am still to make a pair from a Wearing History pattern (below) that I purchased early this year. My friend Lauren has done a wonderful job of putting this pattern together, so if you love lounging PJs, you can now indulge yoursel. Also, thanks to La Mode Pyjama for her wonderful blog containing a collection of beautiful photos, vintage advertising, posters and patterns of beach and lounging PJs. It’s where I pilfered some of these pics from

Gil Elvgren Pinups: Reality to Fantasy

Sharon — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:29:16 +0000

How interesting to see the difference between reality and the final product in Elvgren’s pinups. I’d never seen these before…