Everyday Women of the Golden Era

[LizzieMaine]

We all know the highly-idealized images of Golden Era women -- movie stars, magazine models, pinups, etc. -- but for most of us, those looks are great to see but neither practical nor attainable for everyday life. So here's a thread where we can draw inspiration from images of ordinary gals of the Era -- the hair isn't always picture-perfect, the makeup isn't flawless, the clothes didn't just come off a designer's rack, but they're still attractive -- and that's the way most women have always looked.

Here's a few to start with, courtesy of the ever-valuable Life Magazine archives:

Office worker, 1940

Sunglass wearer, 1938

Mother and kids, 1940

Airplane mechanic, 1940

Lecture audience, 1940

Plenty more out there -- find them online or find them in your own family album, and post them here!

 

["Skeet" McD]

Great Thread....

As usual. Thank you, Lizzie!

"Skeet"

 

[Mojito]

Love this idea!

Here's my Nana - a very non-1930s ideal shape, with her husband Maurice and babies:

 

[JennyLou]

Thank you so much LizzieMaine for posting these photos. What a coincidence! Just last night I was looking for pictures on the web of ordinary women from back then to get some inspiration for my next sewing project. I didnt have much luck. I want to sew a dress that an ordinary women would have worn back then. This new thread is just what I need. Tanks again.
~JennyLou

 

[Lotta Little]

What a great thread. Mojito--I love that baby's cape, great picture.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Here's a few more, again courtesy of the Life Archives --

Office workers, 1947

"Typical Teen-Ager," in after-school clothes, 1944

Another "typical Teen-Ager," in school clothes, 1944

College girl, 1940

Another college girl, 1940

And from my own archives, my grandmother and mother, 1942:

 

[Elizabeth.F]

If anybody's interested, here's my great-grandparents in 1937:

 

[cherry lips]

I love this thread already, and it's only just begun!:eusa_clap

 

[Audrey Horne]

The first two are my grandmother (on the right), the third is my great aunt. These should be from the mid 40s.

 

[LizzieMaine]

If anybody's interested, here's my great-grandparents in 1937:

*Great* shot -- especially her shoes!

 

[goldwyn girl]

Great thread !!!

 

[Mr. 'H']

If anybody's interested, here's my great-grandparents in 1937:

I love these type of shots of people with vehicles. People were smaller and generally thinner so the machines looked massive. Look at that bike! Impressive. This was exaggerated in car advertisements where the people were made to look even smaller inside an enormous automobile.

 

[swingkitten85]

I have a bunch of old photos I've picked up at antique shops and such of everyday people from the 1930s and 40s. Here are a few that I found on my harddrive (I've got to scan all the others still... lol)

I always love seeing how normal people followed the styles of the day in their own fashion!

 

[macollins]

Anyone have any pictures of soldiers/sailors from World War II?

 

[Miss Sis]

Try the WW2 part of the forum. Bound to be plenty of pics in there.

 

[PS]

Call me crazy but these women look more tidy and smart which makes them glamorous to me, than the modern women i see everyday! Great thread!

 

[Lauren]

I LOVE this thread! Real women are so much better than movie stars, in my opinion. I love film stars for glamour, but this is the type of beauty we could achieve realistically and still retain who we are. Love it. :eusa_clap

 

[zetwal]

Well done -

 

[Mid-fogey]

Interesting...

...how not being obese and putting a little effort into dress and appearance makes these ladies compare favorably to their modern contemporaries -- without the benefit of braces, contract lenses, etc.

Fedora Lounge ladies excepted of course...

 

[Audrey Horne]

Great Aunt and Uncle.

More family.