Air conditioning was not mainstream in 1956. Some public buildings offered it, but at home window units were expensive and uncommon. Women tried to stay cool by wearing lightweight fabrics, although slips, bras and girdles were still de rigueur. Today, summer dresses from 1956 that were made to beat the heat.
On Friday, I asked my Facebook fans what they'd like to see on the blog this week. Eleanor requested a post about vintage spring and summer suits for travel. They were so elegant! I'm with you Eleanor. I like to people-watch in airports and I'm always pleasantly surprised when I see a woman traveling in a suit. She looks so much more sophisticated than the majority who are wearing sweats and flip-flops. For your inspiration today, suits for travel from 1956.
Above, Handmacher gray flannel sheath dress with matching bolero jacket accented with a white linen collar. Sold for $70 in 1956 (about $570 in today's dollar.) Hat by Emme.
Davidow wool and mohair tweed suit with matching tasseled scarf. The jacket is belted. Sold for $150 in 1956 (about $1,220 in today's dollar.) Saddlebag styled purse by MacArthur.
David Crystal pale gray glen plaid suit in a rayon/Dacron blend. Dacron? That's polyester. This suit would resist wrinkling and be perfect for those long train trips. Sold for $40 in 1956 (about $325 in today's dollar.) Handbag by Josef.
Mr. Mort lightweight wool sheath dress in buttercup yellow paired with a plaid bolero jacket. Sold for $50 in 1956 (about $407 in today's dollar.) Bag by Maxwell Schill (me want!)
Swansdown wool suit with a bloused-back jacket for more ease during long trips. Sold for $60 in 1956 (about $488 in today's dollar.)
How do you dress for travel? Do you go for chic or do you prefer comfort?
On Friday, I asked my Facebook fans what they'd like to see on the blog this week. Honore requested a post about spring coats. Whatever happened to spring coats anyway? I'm so tired of my gray heavy wool winter coat and my leopard print down jacket. It's time for something different, but my waterproof rain jacket just won't do.
Vintage spring coats are usually made of lighter weight wool or cashmere, cotton poplin, or rayon gabardine. They are often in lighter and brighter colors than the heavy blacks, browns, and grays of winter. 1950s clutch coats are perfect for spring, as they have no buttons and can be worn open on warmer days. The examples shown here are all from 1956.
Above, a bright daffodil yellow clutch coat in lightweight Worumbo wool.
Lilli Ann made this swing coat in lightweight turquoise wool. What a great color for spring!
Bergdorf Goodman exclusive lightweight wool coat tailored with just 2 buttons up high. Came in beige, red, or navy. Perfect to wear over a spring dress!
Warren of Stafford raincoat with a loose back and big buttoned pockets.
Clyde cashmere clutch coat has push-up sleeves that work well with long kidskin gloves. Love that bag!
I've been inspired to store my gray wool winter coat and pull out my vintage 1950s pale pink cashmere clutch coat. Thanks, Honore! What about you? Do you have spring weight coat in your closet?
Nothing feels more summer-y than stripes. Beachy, breezy, and nautical, stripes are always in style. These photos are all from 1956.
Above: Brigance of Sportsmaker uses blue and white striped cotton jersey for a bathing suit with matching straight beach shirt that gets belted for added shape. Set sold for $43 in 1956 (about $345 in today's dollar.)
Claire McCardell cotton sateen beach poncho to wear over a swimsuit or shorts. Red, green, and yellow. Sold for $20 in 1956 (about $160 in today's dollar.)
Tina Leser glazed cotton dress in bold yellow and white stripes. Sold for $50 in 1956 (about $401 in today's dollar.)
Sir James rayon sunsuit in navy and gold stripes with brass buckles and buttons. Sold for $13 in 1956 (about $104 in today's dollar.)
Helga silk/cotton blend dress in blue, white, and coral. The pleats in the skirt change the look of the stripes. Sold for $70 in 1956 (about $561 in today's dollar.)
Do you love to wear stripes? Which is your favorite?
Rose gardens seemed to grow rampantly on silk dresses for spring in 1956. Nothing could be more feminine and all of these dresses bring to mind warm evenings on the veranda with gentle whiffs of nature's most elegant scent, a garden of roses. Ahhhhhhh.
Christian Dior
Henry a la Pensee
Christian Dior
Jacques Fath
Nina Ricci
You're going to have to click to enlarge this picture to appreciate the details here. Bernhard Altmann layers two cashmere sweaters. The deep golden yellow cardigan has polka-dot cut-outs. It is worn over another short sleeved sweater that is half black, half white. Wow. Just wow. Set sold for $150 in 1956 (about $1206 in today's dollar.)
For a fascinating read about the history of the Bernhard Altmann company, check out the bio at the Vintage Fashion Guild Label Resource. Much of the information came directly from Altmann's son.
My father-in-law after the liberation of Paris in 1944.
If I owned this Samuel Robert metallic gold leather coat from 1956, you can bet it would be going with me to Paris. For now, it will have to be a new dream.
What could be more perfect to wear on Halloween than this orange wool houndstooth dress and cape ensemble by Bonnie Cashin from 1956. Edged in leather binding, the cape has a large hook closure at the neck.
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