VINTAGE BRIDAL MAGAZINES

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Once upon a time in the 1950s, this is what the cover of  Bride's looked like.  Okay so not all Eisenhower-era brides looked like cake toppers. True, we may not have ODed on so many bridal magazines back then but there's no lack of originality here as this bride has shucked her veil for a pleated organza hat echoing the pleating on her magnificent dress. . . . . 

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In the 50's you still went to the department store to get your gown (and everything else).  Salons were inside department stores and every big one like Lord and Taylor or Macy's had one.  BTW: There were no real  'big name' designers in bridal back then save Priscilla Kidder in Boston and a few other manufacturers, only store labels.  If you were a designer, the store hired you to do custom work or you manufactured for the store or store(s).  How times have changed.