The history of corduroy

By | October 20th, 2022|Categories: 1950s Fashions, Fashion, Textiles|Tags: , |

Fall is here, the perfect time for corduroy clothes of all types. It’s warm, durable, and oh-so-cozy, just what one wants for the transition from summer to the colder months. Just thinking about corduroy clothing makes me picture walking through my neighborhood park and enjoying the bright-colored leaves that Denver is blessed with right now. [...]

Keep your poodle skirt dry: 1950s rainwear

By | August 18th, 2022|Categories: 1950s Fashions, 1950s fun, Accessories|

As I am typing this a huge storm is making its way through Denver. It is a joy to be sitting in front of a large open window enjoying it from my dry third-floor apartment. The cool air coming in is very welcome after the heatwave that we have experienced along with much of the [...]

Four classic fashion icons and the history of the ponytail

By | July 28th, 2022|Categories: 1950s Fashions, 1950s fun, Fashion history|Tags: |

I have always associated ponytails with summer. I had my hair done every day growing up and my mom tended to put me in ponytails more often than not during the warmer months (or shall I say, hotter, as I am from Arizona). As someone who is well-versed in 19th-century fashion, I am aware that [...]

The history of the sundress in three American designers

By | July 3rd, 2022|Categories: 1950s Fashions, Fashion|Tags: , |

I live for sundress season! Easy, breezy, and feminine. I am getting out a lot more than I did the last two summers and have already enjoyed adding some to my collection. It has naturally got me thinking about the history of the casual but cute item of clothing and how it became so common. [...]

Easter Bonnets: A Pastel History

By | March 10th, 2022|Categories: 1950s Fashions, Accessories, Fashion, Hats, Holidays, Victorian Era, Victorian Era Celebrations|

Well - each time I think I have gone down my favorite rabbit hole researching a blog post for Recollections I quickly find myself tearing myself out of another one. I have planned to do a post this week on Easter bonnets for about a year now, and when I began, it sure was hard [...]

A very, merry 1950s Thanksgiving

By | November 21st, 2021|Categories: 1950s Fashions, 1950s fun, Entertainment, History of the home, Holidays|Tags: , |

The 1950s was a fun time for holiday celebrations. The post-war glee was still at a high level and there was an emphasis on domestic life that made for parties and get-togethers that were more festive and creative than they had been in the past. Thanksgiving in the 1950s was an especially great opportunity for [...]

Women's aprons through time

By | September 16th, 2021|Categories: 1950s Fashions, Downton Abbey, Fashion, History of the home, Victorian Fashions, Women's History|

It occurred to me some months back that there are some very distinct trends when it comes to women’s aprons. We see them come and go through history and with specific styles when they do. Though we call anything meant to protect a woman’s clothing from harm caused by domestic duties an ‘apron’, they are [...]

1950s accessories

By | May 16th, 2021|Categories: 1950s Fashions, 1950s fun, Accessories, Fashion, Hats|Tags: , , |

The 1950s was the final decade with fairly prescribed clothing. Once 1960 hit things got a lot less complicated as far as women’s clothing was concerned, and it got there quickly. But looking back, fashion really held onto things during that decade. 1950s accessories were expected, were vast in their variety, and required for completing [...]

The 1950s cocktail party

By | May 11th, 2021|Categories: 1950s Fashions, 1950s fun, Entertainment, History of the home, Women's History|Tags: , |

Last week I wrote about what I believe is the unrecognized fashion gem of the 1950s: the housedress. I find it so interesting that women placed so much emphasis on having new, pressed, stylish dresses to wear around the house and for errands each day, yet we often leave it out when discussing the fashion [...]