I've always loved vintage coats, particularly vintage coats from the 1930s and the late 1920s. I'm quite partial to anything from the 1930s though as it is one of my favorite eras for fashion.

Here are some gorgeous vintage 1930s coats from vintage catalogs and a few advertisements as well.





These last few coats date into the late 30s early 40s and you can really how wide the shoulders are starting to get and the hemlines got a bit shorter. In my 30s biased opinion, you just can't beat the coat from the 1930s… theta long lean elegant silhouette for outerwear. I just love it!

Vintage Montgomery Ward catalogs from the 1940s and the 1950s are my favorite vintage department store catalogs to collect. The photography, layout, typography...everything is just perfect and so relevant to the style and look I aim to achieve for Adored Vintage. I'm particularly smitten with these vintage catalogs because of the muted color hues (usually in the cream and grey family) they use for their cover images. The design is so minimalistic and just completely ahead of its time. Bravo catalog designer, whomever you may be!



First up, we have some amazing vintage 1940s coats. The shapes are almost always a-line with broad shoulders. These coats are both simple and luxe looking made from thick wools and accented with fur. While I'm not particularly a personal fan of 1940s coats (my small frame just can't pull it off), I know several gals love these vintage coats and wear them with modern ease.



Next let's move on to the dresses featured in this Montgomery Ward 1940s department store catalog. Most of the photos are in sepia tones, so I have no idea what the actual dress colors are (although the catalog descriptions do describe what colors the dress come in). I love the dresses directly below. Casual daywear for the 1940s and the row below them are dubbed "Brunch Coats". Isn't that fabulous? I'm going to dub one of my wrap dresses a Brunch Coat. Vintage 1940s day dresses like these periodically make their way into the Adored Vintage shop.



Moving on to sweaters! Now, I may not be such a big fan of 1940s coats...but I do have a very soft spot for 1940s sweaters! I don't come across too many during my vintage hunting and gathering trips, but when I do, I mostly keep these knitted beauties for myself. These shown are terrific choices for a Holiday Party don't you think?



This Montgomery Ward catalog also features several pages of beautiful vintage blouses, vintage skirts, and even "Work Clothes" for women! I love (absolutely adore!) these pantsuits and overalls as work clothes. I may have to look into hunting down a pair of these for myself someday!

The vintage blouses all have typical 1940s fashion trends such as extended shoulders, dolman sleeves, and neckline details. The first skirt (top left) I am just crazy over! All those buttons, the panel in front, those pockets! Maybe in someday this vintage gem of a skirt will find it's way to me.



And lastly here are some vintage accessories from the 1940s! The catalog doesn't cover accessories too heavily and there are only a couple of pages of vintage hats, belts, and gloves. I absolutely love that all the shoes are either black or brown and complement the handbags! It would be so easy to play mix-n-match with these vintage shoes and vintage bags!

I spotted these vintage Montgomery Ward catalog scans from 1961 on flickr and I had to share! The summer dresses are oh so pretty and I just adore all the charming prints!



This is the cover of the Summer 1961 catalog and I just love these colors together! But then again, peach is one of my favorite colors! It looks so sweet paired with the mint green, don't you think?

Which of these vintage dresses would you wear this summer?


src: // capricornevintage on flickr

My heart did go all a flutter upon seeing these most exquisite antique blouses in this vintage catalog scans from Eaton's 1920-1921. Don't you wish you could just wave a magic wand over these pages and the actual garments would show up in front of you. (Obviously you wish this too, LOL, who wouldn't?!)

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Image credits: Charmrmaine Zoe - Vintage Eaton Catalog Scans

"Shine or Shower, you'll be right in fashion in our all weather wonders."


I absolutely love old catalog copy! So, for a change of pace, and perhaps to inspire some of you vintage sellers who write descriptions for your vintage wares, here are snippets from this vintage catalog scan.

SNAPPY STRIPED ACCENTS
"Glamor raincoat, hat and umbrella will shine fashionably in any kind of weather. Snappy combination of rich gabadine and candy-striped taffeta..."

BACK-INTEREST COAT
"In all kinds of weather, the year round, you'll love wearing this water-repellent cotton tweed ensemble that's really in fashion! Back bowed-and-pleated coast is so stunning with its pointed collar, push up sleeves, vertical welt pockets."

MIRACLE MILIUM LINING
"All-purpose water-repellent corduroy companions to wear in any weather... any time of day! Boxy coat has unusual Empire-back tab detail, Puritan-type collar, adjustable turnback cuffs, vertical welt pockets. Milium-insulated rayon-and-acetate lining gives warmth without weight."

Vintage peep toe slingbacks, so darn cute! I love the chic little details on these, especially the tiny bow on the back of the ankle. I'm simply dying over the navy blue slingbacks with the white dashed threading, can't you just see those being remade today?

All of these shoes are quite classic and if you can't hunt down the vintage pair, a quick pop over to Endless.com will probably result in a vintage inspired pair. I'm not quite sure about gloves, I've never cared much for them, although I still think they are quite appropriate for the opera. I do however, ADORE the white "double nylon" pair for $1.09 (save .40!) those are just so cute!

Image Credits: All scanned catalog images from Cemetarian -Alden Catalog 1955