Sail away on a sea of polka-dots, cherries and nostalgia

These quaint little photos – and I mean that literally: they are all about 4cm x 6cm – are out of my friend’s family photo collection. They show her Great-aunty Belle and friends on a cruise to Europe, in the late 1940s, presumably well after the war. Also, below you’ll see the original photo packet.

What I find fascinating, apart from the peek into a personal past, is how alike all the women dressed! Of course we all know already that serious followers of fashion had to abide by certain rules: dresses were a certain length from season to season, gloves in the city, etc. Even all these women’s hairstyles are similar. It makes me appreciate just how eclectic fashion is today and how spoiled for choice we all are.

I am also pleased to see polka-dots appear in the picture on the top-right. The beach photo shows two women wearing high-waisted shorts with matching polo-style shirts.

And a great chapeau moment on the right: not plain old polka-dots, but cherries, which makes me completely ecstatic!

In the bottom-right photo, the woman on the right is carrying a box-shaped bag – a real vintage gem that I’d love to get my hands on. All the women’s outfits are similar, featuring pleated skirts, fitted jackets and very sensible shoes so that one may traverse the wilds of Italy in comfort.

I feel a forties blog or three coming on. And there will be polka-dots, that I can assure you!