Want to buy or sell something? Check the classifieds
  • The Fedora Lounge is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

Everyday Women of the Golden Era

Messages
1,184
Location
NJ/phila
Hi All

Lots of great curly hair. Question, was it considered unlady like for a lady to be seen in hair curlers?
I don't recall my mom or grandmom ever walking around the house in head curlers.
Just wondering about how the times have now changed.
Best regards
CCJ
 

LizzieMaine

Bartender
Messages
33,089
Location
Where The Tourists Meet The Sea
If a woman went out in curlers -- which in the 30s or 40s would have most likely been pincurls, pinned flat to the head, and not round rollers which were more common in the fifties and sixties -- she would have covered them in a headcloth, either tied up at the top of the head Rosie-style or tied under the chin like a babushka. Around the house it wasn't uncommon for a woman to wear a boudoir cap over whatever arrangement she used to pin up her hair before getting around to taking the pins out.
 

HadleyH

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,811
Location
Top of the Hill
Learning to type in the 1920s ...everyday students

image006_zps2e83c59f.jpg
 

Heather

Practically Family
Messages
656
Location
Southern Maine, USA
I saw a cute, little old woman not that long ago at a Borders book store who had her hair wrapped up in a scarf. I could see some pincurls peeking out beneath it. It made me smile. She was adorable and I really wanted to strike up a conversation with her.
 

Alice Blue

One of the Regulars
Messages
153
Location
Western Massachusetts
From the LOC 1930s-40s in Color set on Flickr:

2178246047


http://www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/2178246047/in/set-72157603671370361

Vermont State Fair, Rutland VT, 1939. The girls in their dresses remind me of photos of my Mom and her three sisters turned out in matching dresses just a few years later.

2179121608


http://www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/2179121608/in/set-72157603671370361

Winner at the Delta County Fair, Colorado, 1940

2178248615


http://www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/2178248615/in/set-72157603671370361

Commuters, who have just come off the train, waiting for the bus to go home, Lowell, Mass., 1941. This one is interesting to me because of the hats and the large bags or boxes the women are holding. All much plainer than the accessories portrayed on sewing pattern envelope covers.
 
Last edited:

JessKelly

New in Town
Messages
17
Location
Tasmania
Alice Blue thank you for posting this picture! I like all the different patterns on their dresses; it's almost as though the wallpaper has crept over a few of them :)
 

Alice Blue

One of the Regulars
Messages
153
Location
Western Massachusetts

Attachments

  • saddle%u00252520shoe%2520biker%2520gang%2520640.jpg
    saddle%u00252520shoe%2520biker%2520gang%2520640.jpg
    115.9 KB · Views: 283
Last edited:

Late to the Party

Familiar Face
Women in my family. I'll give ages and dates if I know them, and place if I think it is useful.

EdLeta1915-vi.jpg

1915. Paternal grandparents. About 25 years old. Summer time. Not married yet.

MomBette1936-vi.jpg

1933? Mom (b1927) and her sister (b1921)

BetteMom1934-vi.jpg

1934. Mom (7) and her sister (13).

GorhamCousins1938_teenagers-vi.jpg

1938. Mom's cousins. Teenagers. Summer at the lake.

ClaraBetteGma-vi.jpg

1939. Middle is maternal aunt - about 18. Left one of her school friends. Right, grandmother (42).

LeeStuderGorham1941_44yrs-vi.jpg

1941. My maternal grandmother. 44 years old.

Mom1941-vi.jpg

1941. Mom, 13-14 years old.

MomsCollegeSuit1946about-vi.jpg

about 1946. My mother, young college woman. Either she or her mother made the suit - light blue.

SadieGimbyCarmichael1953-vi.jpg

about 1953. one of my dad's cousins - 50-60 years old. I'm not sure about this. It could be one of the cousin's daughter.
 

Amy Jeanne

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,852
Location
Colorado
992806_10151569333104164_1072801793_n.jpg

What's in those cups? lol

972283_10151549770999164_20303518_n.jpg

Bettie Page in 39/40 when she was just a "regular" gal. I love her style!

326b10529e580bdb695e4d875812bc2d.jpg

40s women. May have posted this before, but here it is again....

625457_10151427131994164_1447743457_n.jpg

I *adore* this photo!! 1944.
 

fashion frank

One Too Many
Messages
1,173
Location
Woonsocket Rhode Island
..and again, and again.. because it's amazing!
I love their necklaces! :D

As I guy posting in this section ( hope you gals don't mind ), I just wanted to point out to you gals that what I like best
about the days gone by is ,that women back then just somehow looked more 'ladylike' than they do today especially when it comes to hairstyles.

I work at a eastcoast ivy leauge university and I see all types of women in my daily work hours , from young female
student's to middle aged women who work there and then just everyday women who might happen to be in the area.

I play a little mental game with myself of make a mental note count of how many women I see either dressed well, hair
and face "done" and or both.

I hate to say it but most days the count in either case never gets above 5 or 6 at the most if I'm lucky and rarely do I see a doubleheader that is apperal and or make up and hair done.

For the most part, most of the women I see everyday the "uniform" of the day is hair up in a ponytail with a scrunchie and sweatpants and or jeans.

I myself never leave the house without coat, hat and tie and always try to look presentable.

It just makes me wonder, when did the decline in how women look today and or the absent of "consciousness" about how
they look take place and or the reasons for this happening?

I look forward to any and all of your viewpoints on this topic and thanks for letting me into the ladies section to satisfy my curiosity on this topic.

All the Best ,Fashion Frank
 

Forum statistics

Threads
107,350
Messages
3,034,870
Members
52,782
Latest member
aronhoustongy
Top