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Vintage Brides We Love 
Pg. 2
Vintage 1930's-1940's

 

 

The Joseph Horne Company of Pittsburgh featured this full page advertisement in the Autumn, 1939 issue of The Bride's magazine.

Ad Copy Read:
"Autumn's Bride will wear a bustle, says our Bridal Secretary, just back from Paris.
  The gracefully flowing train further accents the back-swept silhouette of this model in ivory satin."

The gown was rayon slipper satin, lined in silk crepe.  Large shoulder pads helped support the weight of the gown and train.

The Bride's Magazine, Autumn, 1939
Collection of Gulden & Brown©

 

This pre-WWII advertisement for Neiman Marcus  featured a wedding gown specially designed by Nettie Rosenstein.  The gown was made from sleek rayon satin and featured a draped bust with vee neckline.

Note the traditional bouquet arrangement of  a prayer book and trailing vines of maidenhair fern and stephanotis blossoms.

1939 Ad copy read:  
"Tradition among families of note in the South and West... trousseaux by Neiman-Marcus.  The bride and her wedding party turn to Neiman-Marcus for distinguished fashions and incomparable service... come to the Bridal Secretary for expert assistance... look forward, from their debutante days, to a Neiman-Marcus wedding as an adventure in beauty and perfection."

 


The Bride's Magazine, Autumn, 1939

 

 

Gulden and Brown Use Only: DO NOT COPY

 


1930's Ivory Silk Satin, draped and cowled neckline and cape back of  pleated satin between raglan seams.

Estimation circa 1934.  Worn by actress Constance Bennet.

Constance Bennet was THE clotheshorse for the mid-thirties and once cautioned her fans, "Never follow fads.  There is a difference between novelty and originality.  The former is for women who allow others to think for them.  The latter for those who think for themselves."

Image Copyrighted ©

 


This 1940's Bride knew exactly what she wanted and chose to offset her illusion net satin gown with a dramatic bouquet of blush pink anthurium.

Her headpiece also complimented the shape of her bouquet.  Note the large bow carried by the bridesmaid and how it balances the oversized bridal bouquet and compliments her own dress.  A smaller bridesmaid bouquet would have made the already large bridal bouquet appear gargantuan.

For this wedding, accessorizing classic clothing with the unusual oversized flowers was the key to success.

 

Gulden and Brown Use Only: DO NOT COPY

 

This gown was featured on the April 1947 cover of  Mademoiselle Magazines annual Brides issue.

Again we see the usage of Cattleya orchids as a simple if not elegant bridal corsage bouquet.

1947 Ad Copy Read:
"A memory making bridal gown defining your tiny waist with a pointed bodice and full, full skirt."  "By Pandora in Cohama's lustrous Bur-Mil rayon satin.

Headwear of a lace pelerine hood for the bride was created by Lily Dache."

 Mademoiselle Magazine April 1947
Collection of Gulden & Brown

Image Copyrighted ©

 


Matter-Bourges Photograph of an Irene Hayes creation.

Stephanotis blossoms form their own chic cocktail hat veil.

Cover of The Bride's Magazine, Summer of 1940.

Image Copyrighted ©

 

 

 

Gulden and Brown Use Only: DO NOT COPY

This 1949 pattern cover from McCall's shows a gorgeous bias cut vee-neck satin gown with a dropped Basque waist seam.

The skull cap head piece could be made from velvet or satin and trimmed with lily of the valley and velvet leaves.

The veil is cascading cathedral with a blusher front.  Variations of the veil style options are shown at top, from a circle veil to a bonnet.

Image Copyrighted ©


The Bride's Magazine, Summer 1944

Image Copyrighted ©


The Jay Thorpe gown that Wynn Richards photographed above was one of the most extravagant, custom made couture gowns found in the World during the wartime year of 1944.  The bombings in Europe had taken their toll while American manufacturing was left unscathed, allowing the Jay Thorpe company to offer a few gowns by special order.

This wedding dress as designed by Kathryn Kuhn was the ultimate in glamour during a time of rationing and simplicity.  The gown was custom made to specifications and very likely cost the princely sum of $650 on 1944.  Cost Conversion of the gown in today's dollars would be $6,632.00, a bargain at today's designer prices.

In the 1940's, the Jay Thorpe Gown Showroom was located at 24 West 57th Street in Manhattan.  That same location today is the home of many upscale art galleries.

The Forget-Me-Not Bride, designed by Kathryn Kuhn.

1944 Ad Copy Read:

"Snowy pure silk marquisette, lightly traced with embroidered blue forget me-knots.  To be treasured for generations.  Made to order. Bridal Salon.

The bride's diamond necklace, by Cartier.

"Our Bridal Consultant, Miss Wilma Allen, is at your service always."

The Bride's Magazine, Summer 1944

 


All Rights Reserved: 1997-2007
All photographs on this page have been digitally remastered and hand colored by photographer Lauren Lavonne
No unauthorized use of text or photos is permitted. Thank you!

 


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Vintage 1930's to 1940's Brides We Love

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