I’ve started to grow quite a collection of vintage magazines recently, mostly from the thirties to the sixties. I love looking at all the old adverts and they’re a great resource for dating vintage clothes. Over the weekend I picked up this stack of Girls Own and Heiress magazines dating from the late forties to early fifties.
I will be sharing some of the best bits from inside my magazines but today I wanted to show off the pretty front covers. Aren’t they beautiful…
Do you own any vintage magazines? Do you use them for inspiration? Please comment below.
14 Comments
catwalkcreative
September 2, 2013 at 8:07 amHeiress magazine is a new one to me so I’m looking forward to seeing more. My own collection includes 1920s and 30s, 1960s/70s/80s. As you say, they’re a great reference source and for dating clothing styles too.
vintagefrills
September 2, 2013 at 8:10 amI’ve never heard of Heiress either and can’t really find out anything either. There’s so much good stuff inside them too. As they’re for older girls there are lot’s of sewing, cooking and beauty tips in there. Makes brilliant reading!
Rebecca Margaret Ann Hughes
April 27, 2020 at 3:12 pmHeiress is Girls’ Own, they just changed the name towards the end of the publication in 1956
Sarah
September 2, 2013 at 10:03 amI enjoy looking at vintage magazines, too. The ads alone are worth it. The biggest collection I have is a set of Workbasket magazine from the mid to late forties. I really like them, because I know it was a magazine my grandmother subscribed to at that time. Although these aren’t hers, it’s still fun to look through them knowing she was reading the same articles.
Your magazines look beautiful, and I look forward to seeing more of them. Thanks for sharing!
vintagefrills
September 2, 2013 at 2:37 pmThat’s a lovely thought that she was reading the same thing all those years ago!
I love the ads in vintage magazines, especially after watching Mad Men.
Sarah
September 2, 2013 at 2:44 pmI wish I could buy some of the thins advertised, and all those ones to help you gain weight are hilarious. Thanks again for sharing!
vintagefrenchchic
September 2, 2013 at 1:58 pmWhat a great find! I love magazines from the same eras. Can’t wait to read more from what you find.
vintagefrills
September 9, 2013 at 9:11 amI will definitely do a post later this week with some vintage advertising in it. These are full of fantastic ones!
thevintagetraveler
September 2, 2013 at 2:23 pmOh, these are great! I especially love the girl and her Scottie. I’m ashamed to admit how many vintage magazines I own. They are a constant source of inspiration and of insight into the past.
vintagefrills
September 2, 2013 at 2:39 pmThey are fantastic. No where else do you get fashion, beauty, recipes, social commentary etc etc all in one place. They are an amazing reference.
Shybiker
September 2, 2013 at 3:21 pmOh, I love these! I didn’t know there were girl’s magazines from the past. So intriguing.
vintagefrills
September 9, 2013 at 9:11 amThey’re fabulous and so inspiration for vintage hunting!
Jessica Cangiano
September 3, 2013 at 6:50 amI adore vintage magazines soooo much (though that likely don’t come as a huge shock ;D), and would buy them by the box (or trunk!) if there were more to be had around these parts still, but alas I rarely seem to encounter than and shipping from the States or overseas is usually quite high so my collection is more on the modest size. A few new ones do make it in each though thankfully, and I always read them over and over again, soaking up each great images, interesting story, charming illustration and cool yesteryear ad.
♥ Jessica
vintagefrills
September 9, 2013 at 9:13 amThey are really hard to find, and so expensive on eBay! I never leave one behind if I see one at a boot sale.