Where To Watch
5 vintage ads from the 1940s that show the decade's cozy winter style
Who said that cold weather halts fashion statements?
In the 1940s, winter was a season that brought out the best of the best in terms of coats, hats and stylish boots.
While people waited for the snow to fall, staying warm was a must and the primary way to do so was with layers of clothing. Yet, that didn't mean what you wore had to be boring or basic. In the words of Telly Savalas, clothing attire can be a crucial part of your personality. It doesn't have to be luxurious or expensive, yet it should express who you are.
Vintage ads are great ways to see how companies advertised their products in past decades and what was in style for the season.
Here are five ads from the 1940s that showcase the decade's cozy winter style.
1. Champ Hat Ads
The hats shown in the advertisement are called homburgs. However, many refer to them as dress hats. Homburgs can be seen throughout the years, mainly the '40s-'60s, worn by working-class men, especially men in law enforcement positions. They were almost on the head of every male actor in Western series like Bonanza, Gunsmoke and more.
Homburg hats could be worn throughout the year.
Did you know?: The hat was popularised in the 1890s by Edward VII after he visited Bad Homburg in Hesse, Germany. After bringing back a hat of this style, every man wanted one.
2. Stylish Suede Glove Ads
Shoes are supposed to be the main focus of this ad, but the gloves on the model's hands stand out more than anything. These are stylish and protective weather gloves for men's and women's hands, and there were even smaller versions for children. Men can be seen with short, leather gloves, while women primarily wore longer, suede ones.
Did you know?: Gloves have been around for a while, dating back close to the 1500s, but long gloves, like the one in the ad, were invented as a fashion statement for women.
3. Mink Fur Coat Ads
Nothing makes a winter fashion statement more than a fur coat. These are on the expensive side of staying warm and were worn by middle-class and wealthy women from the '40s to now. As times changed, different types of faux fur coats appeared, becoming an affordable, stylish option. They were always seen as a sign of luxury.
Did you know?: In the 1500s, fur was initially used for trading.
4. Commuter Boot Ads
In the advertisement, you can see that versatile styling boots were trendy in the '40s. You could wear them over your pants or under, and your feet would remain warm. Leather boots were more stylish in the winter and could be seen on men, women and children.
Did you know?: The earliest mention of leather boots can be traced back to the 11th century.
5. Men's Fashion Coat Ads
What went along well with the Homburg hats in the '40s? Men's fashion overcoats. You know, the solid ones with six big buttons. These coats came in many colors, but Black and Khaki were seen the most in television shows and films.
Did you know?:These overcoats were mainly wool, and some were said to have two layers, one for warmth and a waterproof one.
SEE MORE: 5 Leave It to Beaver holiday dinner-style outfits
What if you had a holiday-themed dinner where everyone dressed like it was the late '50s to early '60s?
Related
64 Comments
I have to say, I still watch daily but, today return to Mayberry was a terribly Written & Directed show for TAGS!
Just pitiful.
They did not bother to pay for a good writers, script or director.
The truth is the truth.
The pictures displayed by ME TV above are Fedora's not Homburg!
Unfortunately I don't have a tree stump removal suit for when I'm working outside like OWD of Green Acres. It's not unusual to stop by and find me in my suit without the jacket reading the paper, puffing on a cigar on the front porch or dining on the patio. 2 different neighbor ladies, one in her 50's thinks I'm a nut and one in her 30's finds it cool!
Me, I'm just old fashioned me!
Furs eventually earned the worst stigma which could be imagined. But our neighbor in the suburbs raised Mink. [ Don't throw the coal at me. ] And they were a gorgeous accessory. We never saw protestors in "Union Square" throwing paint at people wearing leather or purchasing Down feather pillows, or eating meat. Which wouldn't have been nearly as dramatic a protest. But all that is a discussion for another day, and requires a great deal of perspective.
Anyway, it was an interesting look back. Thanks MeTV Staff for the nostalgia!
My father had a beard, and other than a winter hat, I never saw him wear a hat. But he'd go off to collect biological specimens. For a decade, there was a narwhal tusk in my room.
Watching PM into the TV Movie version (recently being shown) she was incredibly consistent in all her nuances. She made the character so real.
I was reading recently where mt Scottish great grandmother said she knew enough Cree to hold a conversation. That was in Red River, now Winnipeg Manitoba, in the 1800s. That's very different from westerns. But Red River was a Metis place, most had Native relatives.