This beautiful portrait of a woman in the early 1900's shows how a turn of the century updo is done.

Early 1900's Classic Updo

This beautiful young woman is wearing her long hair pulled up into a faux bob that is created with curls and bobby pins to show a bit more a modern look for that time period as opposed to a simple slicked back style. She has her bangs parted off to the side with a short part. The top of the crown is brushed back and there is some lift here that is done with back combing. Pin curls placed when hair is wet allows for styling after it has dried. There is most likely a low bun placed at the back to hold the length up.

In the 1920's women began cutting their length shorter into fashionable bobs but this is step prior to that bravery of chopping it all off.

She is wearing a dress that has a square neck with lace and applique as well as pleats along the shoulder. She is wearing a large medallion necklace held on a silver chain. This is a fine example of some fashion of this era.

She is not wearing any make-up for a totally natural look.

What a darling little girl here in this black and white photo that looks to be a primary school portrait.

1940's primary school portrait

She has soft curls that were most likely created with pin curls placed on damp hair and then allowed to dry at which point they were gently brushed out. She has a side part and with the use of bobby pins, the strands are gathered into place. On one side the curls are placed above the ear and on the other side they are pulled over and centered behind a darling plastic bow clip which was quite popular with the feminine little girls. This is a short style that is cut at collar length in the back and on the sides the bottom of the ears are showing just a touch. She has medium brown locks to match her eyes. She has a shy looking smile.

Her blouse is white with ruffles on the collar and down the front. Her sleeves are puffy. This is truly an endearing photograph that shows the style for this decade.

This vintage black and white photo shows a grandmother, mother, and daughter sitting on the couch with a Christmas tree in the background.

3 generations of women

The grandmother has a short 'do with big curls that were probably made with rollers placed on top and back combing created the height. She is wearing dark rimmed glasses typical of this era.

The teenage girl is wearing a big bouffant which was very popular for the younger generation in the early 1960's. She has very fine hair which made this style especially challenging. Sugar water was used as a way to get the strands to stiffen like gel would do. The underneath layers are ratted at the roots and outer layers are smoothed over. The bangs are combed up and back with just a few strands left out on one side. The sides come down at ear level and the back is up off of the collar.

The mother has a short hairstyle as well. Hers is smoother and neater and a smaller version of the bouffant. Her bangs are brushed up and back as well as the sides. She is wearing a boat neck top with a print that matches her pedal pushers.

 

These sepia photographs from the turn of century offer some great examples of hair and clothes from that time period.

 

Family Portrait 1900's

This first one shows a portrait of a husband and wife posing with their baby. The embossing shows an imprint from Sterling Studio of Tacoma, WA. The woman has her straight brunette hair pulled back in a simple updo with a part down the middle and she is bang-less. This was before women began cutting their locks in shorter lengths and it was considered feminine to sport long hair even though they usually wore it up for practicality. Her husband is balding and hair is very thin on the top of the head. The baby is wearing a white dress and it is hard to know whether this is a girl or boy since they often dressed both in dresses at this age. The mother has a very modest full length Victorian style dress that has a high button collar and ornate lacy accessories at the neckline. She has a wide belt and long sleeves. There is a longer necklace that has something at the end of it which is tucked into the belt. This would be a pocket watch. The father is wearing a dark suit with a white shirt and tie and vest. Folks were very formal when out in public.

Young Woman 1900's

This next picture is of a young woman posing next to a chair and she is wearing a full length garment that has a suit jacket appearance with a skirt that has tiers and fringe at each layer. Long sleeves and button up with a high collar as well. A lovely scarf is tied into a bow at her neckline which helps to make this dark and dreary look a touch more feminine. Her strands are slicked back with a middle part. A no style hairstyle for sure.

Teen Women Early 1900's

These two teenage girls are posing outside sitting on large tree branches and sporting Victorian garb and fancy big hats. One has French braids with a middle part and big bow placed at the back. The other young lady has ringlets that dangle from the back of her updo. They have very blank expressions which was quite common and hands are folded in laps.

close up

Lovely Victorian Woman

This last photo shows a lovely young woman posing for her portrait a side full length view with her head turned and hands folded behind her. She has a full length pleated skirt in a dark color with a white frilly blouse. She has short bangs and a wavy updo and a large hat with a sash as well as flowers in her hair. The hat is placed tipped at an angle.

This is one of my favorite pictures of my mom sitting on the dock with my dad's boat in the background.

1950's Sunbathing Beauty

This was taken before they got married and my grandma had written on the back of the photo that it was taken on their trip to St Maries, ID on the St Joe River. The boat that you can see in the background is a Criss Craft with the name Schuss Boomer. The Colonial American Flag is proudly flying in the good old red, white, and blue.

My mother's hair is worn short and curly. She certainly had a perm as her locks were not naturally like that. She also slept on pin curls that she brushed out in the morning. She had very fine hair so this worked well for her brunette mane. And you have got to love the white cat eye sunglasses that were all the stylish rage at the time. Her swimsuit is black and one piece with the legs coming down low which was more modest that those seen today. And of course the classic cigarette in hand as everyone smoked back then.