These are my grandparents, holding my mother (on the right) and her sister in the late 1940s.

These are my grandparents, Richardt and Elizabeth Taylor, on their wedding day in 1944. As was common with many young women in the 1930s and ’40s, my grandmother wore a dressy suit for her wedding, including a matching hat with veil.

Flattering day dresses from the mid-1940s. Note the details of the gathered shoulder seams and scallops on the dress on the left.

The ruffled, casual look of the country girl–even down to the braids the model on the left is wearing! Note the yoke with gathers beneath — this style repeats over and over again in the 1940s.

The dress on the right looks just right for an afternoon shopping. The one on the right has a more casual yet still “put-together” look.

It is easy to see the beginnings of 1950s “New Look” styling in this 1948 pattern by McCall’s. The skirts are fuller, and the focus is on the waist. This is especially noticeable on the dress with the diagonal stripes emphasizing the hourglass shape.

These suits are beautifully tailored and very appropriate for Fall and Winter wear.

The dress on the right would be appropriate to wear to an afternoon party or daytime wedding. The one on the left is suited for shopping or a town outing.

Smart dresses for day wear. Note the top-stitched shoulder yoke–a common style in this period.

I especially like the short-sleeved version of this 1940s suit.