More vintage wedding photographs part four

I thought that it was about time to take a look at some more vintage wedding photographs as I have managed to add a few more to my collection. For others, take a look at these posts here, here, here and here.

This is such a lovely 1920's bridal party. All the women are in cloche hats, all of which are different. The men are all in three piece suits. The man on the left has his jacket open and it is just possible to make out the fob of his pocket watch. It also looks like his trousers may be a smidgen too short for him. The bride looks great in her pretty dress which looks to have silk circles appliqued around the hem and neckline. She is wearing a double strand of pearls. The bridesmaid on the right has the best shoes, t-bars with cut outs and a great heel height. She looks very similar to the bride, I think they must be sisters.

This is the bridesmaid on the left in the first picture. I was so pleased to find a second picture from this wedding. As she is standing in this photo we get a much clearer view of her outfit, such a pretty floaty dress with a handkerchief hem and sleeves. The print is floral, stylised poppies in several colours I think, with sprays of leaves that look like the foliage in the bouquets. Her hat is double layered, a sheer layer under a net/lace/straw outer. She is wearing a fine chain with diamante type jewels.

Moving on to the 1930's.

I would very much like her outfit! At first I thought it was a two piece but on closer inspection I think it is a dress made of some kind of herringbone weave material. It has fantastically huge buttons, I can't decide if they are flowers or clusters of gems. They are great though, they add glamour to an otherwise plain outfit. Topped off by a very lovely hat. Is she the bride? I don't think so but is part of the bridal party maybe. Mother of the bride? I would love to know.

Look at the groom's super shiny topper! He is wearing a tailcoat with a lighter coloured waistcoat underneath and has very fine pinstripes on his trousers and his carrying his white gloves. The bride has a beautiful floor length lace veil and an amazing paper/floral headpiece. I can't see much of her dress as the massive bouquet is in the way! She is also carrying a lucky horseshoe. They both look so very happy, great smiles!

I think this photograph is from the early 1940's.

Another wonderful set of floral print attired bridesmaids. The print looks like bunches of roses and chrysanthemums. The dresses have Peter Pan collars and sleeves which are puffed at the shoulders and gathered down the arm. They are all wearing a floral headband. The detail I like most about their outfits is the poesy of felt flowers pinned at the throat in the join of the collar. So pretty!

The bride is wearing a dress made from beautiful lace and has a double layer veil in two lengths. She looks to be wearing a heart shaped locket. The groom is wearing a marvellous pin stripe suit with a paisley tie. Snappy dresser! The woman on the right is wearing a dress worth a second look. I like the contrast stripe at the edge of the crossover front. There is floral applique on each shoulder which matches that on her cummerbund style belt. I would rather like that dress for myself. I am guessing but think that she is the bride's mother and the bridesmaid sat in front of her is the bride's little sister.

Here we have a wartime wedding. The bride is wearing a two piece suit which looks to be made from velvet and is very simple in design. Her headpiece looks like it may be made from ruched velvet, it is very pretty. She is carrying a lucky horseshoe. The men are all in three piece suits, the one on the left appears to be plain and the other two are pinstriped. The man on the right is holding gloves inside his hat.

I know that these two are called Jack and Gwendoline as I bought this photo and the next from a relative of theirs who had several copies of these photos. It is so nice to talk to someone who knew all about the people in the picture and to find out some things about them. Another wartime wedding here with Gwendoline in a two piece suit which has more detail in it's cut then the one in the previous photo. I like the curved pocket detail. She is wearing a triple strand of pearls and her corsage looks to be made from three orchids. I really like her hat which has some veiling and a double rose bloom detail. Jack is in a three piece suit and is wearing a stripey tie. I think it is such a lovely photograph.

This is Tony and Irene. Tony is Gwendoline's brother and he used to tease her, saying that she had fat legs, and always called her Jumbo! What a lovely brother! If you look at the previous photo I think you will agree that there is nothing out of the ordinary about Gwendoline's legs so I hope she didn't have a complex after being called Jumbo.

Irene is wearing a very simple but beautiful V necked dress with a ruched bodice, long sleeves and a long lace trimmed veil. She is wearing a triple strand of pearls. Her hair flowers look like lilies. Irene is carrying a massive bouquet of red carnations, ferns and heather and is holding a lucky horseshoe.

Tony is wearing pinstriped trousers with a dark jacket, a white shirt and a checked tie. He is carrying white gloves. he has obviously taken great care of his hair!

I think this next photo is either from the late 1940's or the early 1950's, probably the later.

I like this photo of a very happy couple posing outside the church which in my head, is a tiny countryside church. The bride is wearing a dress with a shirt like, long sleeved, wide collared bodice and a flared, floor length skirt. The dress material looks interesting, it has a raised/embossed pattern on it, I can't tell what that pattern is sadly. The bride's veil is almost floor length and where it is attached to her hair she has curved sprays of flowers which are really pretty.

The groom is in a dark tailcoat, a lighter waistcoat, a white shirt and pinstriped trousers. He is really grinning at the camera!

The final photograph is from the 1950's.

This looks like the parents of the bride and groom with the best man, bridesmaid, flower girl and page boy. It isn't possible to see much detail of either the bride or groom's outfits. The bride does appear to have a long veil, long sleeves and to be carrying lucky horseshoes. I really like the bridesmaid's dress, with it's wide skirt and it's pretty shawl style neckline. The page boy seems to be chuckling away to himself!

That is it from my latest vintage wedding photograph findings. There will be another post when I have managed to track down some more!

Fashions of 1923

My friend has a fabulous collection of paper ephemera, maps, old books, old ledgers, magazines, catalogues, letters, comics etc, some of which she uses in her beautiful works made from paper. You can view some of her work here: A thousand paper wishes. Do take a look, she makes gorgeous things.

A while ago she lent me a catalogue and a couple of magazines that she thought I might be interested in, which she found in a flea market and were too beautiful to cut up. They are all French, two of which feature the fashions of 1923 and one which features fashions of 1912. I thought we could look at the 1923 ones today.

Le Petit Echo de la Mode was a weekly French fashion magazine founded in 1879. The last issue was published in 1983. If you are interested in fashion history take a look at this site which has a collection of these magazine covers to browse through. The 1940's and 1950's ones are really beautiful.

The dress on the far right is called Papillon. I love the large bow at the back and how the the material of the skirt is repeated in the sleeves.

These are, from left, Esmeralda, Huberte, Martine and Claude. Martine is the one for me, I like the two plain bands of ribbon and then the long, sweeping feathers.

On the second row on the far left is some sort of house dress/robe/dressing gown. I would feel very glamorous in this.

I would have the one on the right, I like the scalloped edging and the sun hat.

I particularly like all three dresses at the bottom of the page but if I had to choose just one it would be Jeannette, in the middle. I like the way the plain fabric at the sides drapes away to show that lovely print.

The colour illustrations are especially beautiful. The rust coloured dress with the sailor tie neck and all the fabulous fringing does it for me. If I was a small child I would have that cherry print dress like a shot.

These are all a bit marvellous. However, mustard dress with mustard shows and a print parasol is mine!

I think it would have to be the green suit, especially if I could have the accessories as the hat and bag are gorgeous.

 Not that keen on either of these outfits but it is a lovely illustration.

With a name like Highlander I have to choose the one on the left!

A little knitted jacket. I can't follow a French pattern but I think the instructions are all there.

I must be having a thing about print as I like the outfit in the middle the most. It looks very comfortable yet stylish.

The chrysanthemum covered robe please!

Any of the three on the right would do for me.

I like the suit on the far right, plain with patterned lapels, cuffs and band round the jacket bottom.

If you are in the mood for more 1920's fashions take a look at my Pinterest board.

Mrs Cuppleditch's hats - Part Two

Hopefully you have started this 1970's hat adventure with me in Part One. Again, this is a photo heavy post but I just couldn't resist all of those hats!

Perhaps I should start with a quote from Mrs Cuppleditch herself.

This made me giggle! However I do think she is making an important point about hats. Sometimes what you adore is not what suits you and in the case of a hat this can make or break your look. I think it is very helpful to have a good hat trying on session with a friend, maybe in a department store (where there is a large selection of styles), so that you can see what suits you and get advice before shopping for lovely vintage hats. Do take a friend who isn't afraid to tell you when you look fabulous, but also, when you look a bugger (as my granny would say). I find my sister is particularly good at this.

Mrs Cuppleditch bought many of her hats from a Louth shop called The Hat Box.

This is such a lovely advert and if the shop was still there I would definitely be paying it a visit.  The final sentence says it is 'situated in the shadow of the spire'. This refers to the spire of the church St. James which has the tallest church spire in England, fact fans! Here it is:

Here is some of The Hat Box's packaging. I think the fonts are gorgeous. Imagine buying your brand new hat and walking out of the shop with it wrapped wonderfully!

The hat on the left is a semi turban pill box in cream fur, tipped with natural ginger fur. It has a brown satin lining.

I think that this would make a fabulous wedding hat. It is a turban in cream rayon nylon decorated with two roses.

 This beautiful hat is a half brim with dusky pink feathers.

Mrs Cuppleditch was quite a fan of fur hats and there are some beautiful looking ones in her collection.

This beret is made of buckram, pleated at the crown and covered with three brown velvet tubes. It has three mink tails as decoration and has a maroon taffeta lining.

This chocolate brown velvet hat would be so cosy in winter. It has nine strings coming off the crown, each ending in a tuft of mink. There is an extra tuft on the crown covering where the strings join.

A skull cap in coffee brown and rust fur with twelve mink tails around the crown. The centre of the hat has two velvet loops. The lining is salmon pink taffeta.

I really like this turban/scarf hat. It is made from purple fabric with a cream geometric pattern on it. I think the pleating is so pretty and I like the bow on the back. It is lined in cream fabric.

I have included two views of this hat as I think it's construction is really interesting. I like the variations in colour alongside the pleats, it looks so pretty.

This is another turban style hat in colours ranging from purples to rusts.

Here are three views of this hat, it is another that I really like. It is a pleated beret in cream/mushroom nylon with a ribbon inset. It is by Mitzi Boutique. I like the pleating in the fabric and the cascade at the back.

I like the massive raspberry bow on this.

Another swimming cap type hat. A back of head pull on with turquoise and white flowers, covered in netting.

Navy and electric blue feathers. I like the pom pom cluster of feathers on the top.

A navy beret with large cream flowers.

A beret in French navy dense weave satin/rayon with polka dot veiling. This is pretty and subtle, it is lovely.

A beret in deep grape felt with a brown leather trim in two pieces, edged in mink. I think that this is a gorgeous hat, simple and very effective.

A coral pink pill box with all over flowers and netting. Swimming caps strike again!

I love this one. A beret with soft smoky blue feathers and undyed pheasant feathers. It cost £13.95 in the 1970's, so quite expensive.

The tassel makes this look like a sleeping cap to me! It is a maroon velvet beret.

A pill box in maroon cotton velvet with maroon feathers.

Quite a strange creation! A pill box in daffodil yellow net with fabric flowers.

This is a turban like hat in a coral pink with lots of pleats and some netting. This is the last one of Mrs Cuppleditch's hats that I took a photograph of. I think I got nearly all of them, I just missed a few that were awkward to get a good shot of. I am quite amazed that this is just one woman's hat collection but I am pleased that Mrs Cuppleditch was so partial to a hat and was so careful to keep them all and keep them in such good condition.

The museum also had some hats on display in the exhibition that were from the same era and on loan from members of the general public.

What a statement hat! It is like wearing a large halo.

The most exciting part for me was this next very special hat.

This is my mum's cream straw hat which she wore on her wedding day in 1973. The trend at the time was for a hat with a veil and Mum bought her hat from Marshall and Snelgrove in Oxford Street, London. She made her own dress which can be seen in this next picture.

Mum also lent the museum the hat that her mum wore on that day. It was bought from one of two shops, one of which was The Hat Box in Louth. You can see it in the picture below. Somehow I didn't manage to take a picture of it at the exhibition, an omission I am really annoyed about!

It was fabulous to see Mum's and Grandma's hats there, to see a piece of our family history fit in with a fashion narrative of the 1970's.