Christmas Shopping - 1930s

I don't usually look this way, but I've been
Christmas shopping - Myrna Loy as Nora Charles, The Thin Man (1934)

Above: Nora's Christmas shopping outfit, from the Baroness Von Vintage's blog, Tea with the Vintage Baroness (see her own Nora-inspired outfit too!). For a map of literary Nora's shopping trip, see the Walking off the Big Apple blog. Top: Ruth Hall, 1931

Gloves for "her", December 1939.

1939. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, at the plea of the National Retail Dry Goods Association, proclaimed November 23rd, the next to last Thursday in November to be Thanksgiving Day, in order to extend the Christmas holiday shopping season by one week. The merchants had made this request previously, in 1933, but it didn’t go over. To look through Vogue’s Christmas Gifts Issue in either of those years, you would never know there was any such thing as a Depression.

Slippers – can’t go wrong with these. 1939.

Luxurious lingerie from Best & Co., 1933.

Depression? What Depression? Tiffany jewels, one of Vogue’s Christmas gift ideas, December 1, 1933.

Mark Cross fine leather goods and travel cases, 1933.

Furs – the glamorous gift. December 1, 1939 Vogue.

More gift ideas from Sak’s 1939.

All of the big beauty houses offered gorgeous sets at Christmas time: Helena Rubenstein, Elizabeth Arden, and Cutex, 1936.

Perfume then as now a popular gift. Chanel ad, 1938. Caron, 1933.

Stockings, always a welcome gift. December 1939.

Gifts for "Him"

Gift suggestions from Wilson Brothers in Esquire, 1935. Polo shirts, wool socks in "bold colors" and the new "Fair Isle" pattern as well as Argylls, mufflers in vivid patterns, silk "lounging pyjamas," with the famous Nobelt waistline, "Wilstay" shirts, hankies in new pastel colors, broken-stripe ties, sports jacket of knitted pure wool in checked pattern, pleated back with belt, socks with embroidered trim, ties featuring "new Foulard type figures," leather rugby gloves.

Maybe your fellow has always wanted a Rolls…Razor? Vogue, 1936. The Man About Town got a similar set up for Christmas last year, and liked it. The people at classicshaving.com gave excellent service.

Electric razors are also classic. This one was advertised in Esquire, November 1935.

For the well-groomed man, 1938. These were sold in pairs and can often be found new in the box. Some have gorgeous Deco designs on the backs.

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