Thou Shalt Not Covet Another Woman’s Beehive
Category: Style
1949: Year Of The Better Sweater
Greetings from the perky staff of the 1949 Redskin Yearbook from Oklahoma A&M University! Before folks wore Christmas sweaters ironically, they wore them to keep warm during winter. 1949 was clearly a sweater heyday, with these two staffers partial to forest creatures. Each time Barney Neal checked his reflection in the mirror, he reminded himself, “Hey, Barney–if that deer can jump over that stick, you can overcome any obstacle.” Sweaters were empowering!
This pretty co-ed favored moose.
Others preferred fowl. A bird in flight sent a clear message: Don’t even try to clip my wings, honey. The war is over, I’m free as a bird, and this bird you cannot change.
Polar bears were big with the big men on campus, especially bears in face-to-face confrontation.
Sweaters even ventured into Aztec territory! So multi-cultural! His gal Suzy nearly exhausted herself applauding his fashion choice and had to rest her palms on this 1905 stone.
And don’t forget: sweaters were great to wear while sharing gossip! Look at Phyllis wearing a platypus sweater. So gauche! Everyone knows bunnies and swans are where it’s at.
Sweater Girls
Shiny Happy Person
The Flowering Of New England
I don’t know what I like more in this one: the repeating V sweater, the paper girl’s white overalls, Mrs. Maddux’s sexy but amazingly outdated hairstyle, or the sassy stance she has, hands on narrow hips. I think it’s the stance.
Preventing Bad Hair Days In The Netherlands
In the early 1900s, Dutch schoolchildren covered their hair with bonnets, presumably to keep errant hairs from falling in their Lunchables and Capri Suns come lunchtime. Nobody likes finding hairs in her food, right? Free from the burden of maintaining stylish locks, they could focus on their studies, rather than their appearance. See how carefree and joyful they look?
These peaked and winged caps often brought out the mischievous nature of the wearer, especially in combination with the bib known as the kraplap (in case crap falls in your lap?).
As the century progressed, sassy youngsters tilted their hats back to showcase a good bang day (which this girl clearly was not having, but she’s selling it, so props).
In modern times, tradition has not faded, as evidenced by this ruddy-cheeked girl from Volendam, North Holland in the Netherlands. It’s so high, it could conceal a rooster’s comb.
Not your cup of tea? Well, I wouldn’t let the Dutch know, as they are the tallest people on the planet, and could probably pummel you. On average, its women stand 5.6 feet tall, and its men over six feet. Add the bonnet, and they’re giants.
Combo #4
Every Last One Bobbed
From what I gather, a “sponsor” was like the head of the pep squad. Betty Greer (“origin of the pep”) had maids, all with modern bobbed hair. But it doesn’t sound like she sponsored in the sense of providing funds. Although–props for your nice pearls and mink stole, Betty. 
And here are the boys for whom they cheered. These youthful guys, born at the turn of the century, long gone.
Most of their kids are probably gone, too. But Berton’s hair lives on forever.
Brow Be Gone
In the late 1970s, the powers that be decided that foreheads were only useful as a canvas to showcase bangs, and forehead skin should be hidden altogether. By the fall of 1979, most hip teens had followed suit and were ready freddy for school picture day.
Even Caucasion afros came forward. Baby, you make my love come down.
Often, blond boys were indistinguishable from blond girls.
Then there’s this style, which would later morph into the “He wants you, too, Malachi” style from Children of the Corn.
Fashion’s dictates did not exclude any creed nor color. Rules is rules.
This girl missed the memo. She thought Marcia Brady was still groovy. By January, she was being homeschooled.
Judge Reinhold got the memo, but he got it late. Bless his heart.
Covered foreheads made dudes look hot, like poor men’s Oak Ridge Boys. How did the ladies ever decide upon a suitor?
Coveted styles included The Future Domestic Violencer, The Camaro On Blocks, and The 7-11 Graveyard Shift.
But if the goal was to entirely cover the forehead, to the extent that one’s eyesight was in peril, then there could only be one victor. Steve Wagner, you were that man.
Costume Ideas From Days Of Yore, Part I
The posture and expression of this 1949 flapper throwback suggest she knows more secrets of the night than her cowboy companion. Sassy with those plumes in her hair!
Below could be an actual 1941 Halloween function. I spy Indians Native Americans, a swami, baby dolls…
Send in the clowns in 1960.
That’s a lot of polka dots!
Football Stadium Barely Large Enough To Contain This Level Of Fabulous
The fabulous Martha Cartwright, 1949’s Sweetheart of the University of Texas, chats with poor-man’s Gregory Peck, clearly not ready for this jelly. Woman at right seems to concur. So not ready for that jelly.
Any beauty queen worth her mettle knows you have to bring in spring with some drama. Martha liked to walk the rock wall in her kelly green frock. Supermodel, work.
Thankfully, she still had time to clown around at the SMU game with Ace, Phyllis, and John. What a ham!
Unicorn Fabulous
I Don't Get It 