We muse and go all wistful over images of yesteryear and we think they should be black and white, slightly fuzzy and preferably with a bit of creased sepia marks. Our conceptions of bygone eras are mostly dotted with stereotypes and "facts" that have been passed down. The 1940s' for instance wasn't all war propaganda posters with blonde hair and red lipstick or Southern belles in frothy gowns often depicted in black and white. As I was doing a lot of Flickr searching today, I came across these images that Elegance is Refusal had uploaded from vintage issues of Vogue. Note the dates because even I had to raise my eyebrows a little at the earliness of the years. The poses, the judgement of light and the scenarios/set-ups all look extremely contemporary and the fact that they are in colour instantly make you think of an era other than the 40s'. The dust is well and truly brushed off.
1939
1941
1944
1948
1949
1966 - Yes, this one isn't of the 40s' but I just had to point this one to say that there was a reason I have never warmed to flares and it is because they have never been as extreme and exaggerated as these ones. I want giant flappy flared trews and I want them now.
