Wednesday, November 12, 2014

It's Beginning to Look alot Like Christmas Sweaters

The 1940s and 50s where definitely the hey day of the recently much maligned Christmas Sweater.  Mid century adds and photos show smiling, sporty, men and women in chic Holliday sweaters.  More often then not the sweater in question is from Jantzen. 



image source


Founded in 1916 Jantzen began as a swimwear brand that originated in Portland Oregon.  The Jantzen diving girl in her red swim suit became a famous logo.



The suits where stylish, but also undeniably sporty,  meant for athletic pursuits and not just  splashing.   In the late 1930s the company added sweaters to their line, many of them Holliday themed. 



Image Source
The famous diving girl still visible on the label:

image source the vintage traveler
Jantzen is still around and manufacturing swim suits, but the sweaters are a thing of the past.   I've always been a big proponent of seasonal and Holliday dressing and I badly wanted a mid-century Christmas sweater of my own.  Luckily, as they were such a popular item, there are lots around, I was able to find an affordable one in good condition from Garb Oh Vintage.  My sweater may not be a Jantzen, there is no label, but it looks very much line one and I absolutely love it.  


I wore it with a holly hair clip from Chatter Blossom,




my corduroy 1940s pants from Hey Day vintage, and a pair of 1940s overshoes form Adeline's Attic and even if it is weeks early I felt quite Christmasey!




I plan to enjoy this sweater for many Christmases to come, in fact I can think of only one sweater, courtesy of The Mary Sue blog, that might be even better:


 



13 comments:

  1. I love the sweater and the adorable pictures of you guys together. Enjoy!

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  2. I really like a quirky sweater and yours is fabulous. And oh my! What could be better than a Star Trek Christmas sweater with a Klingon Greetings from Warf himself!
    Sarah

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  3. Very nice sweater! I'm excited to break out some of my winter wear as well. It has already started to get chilly here in Chicago.

    My dad found it amusing that the bathing suit appears to come with a matching santa-style hat. Did they expect you to wear that hat when swimming?! :)

    -Love,
    Sid.

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  4. Those are lovely images. I love the green sweater. And you look very pretty and Christmassy in your sweater!

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  5. Love those old sweater patterns - where do they get those poses!
    Ohhh, your sweater is gorgeous. Just adore Norbert's underbite :)
    Lynne x

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  6. Cute! I used to have a Jantzen swimsuit that I LOVED. (So sad that it died and I couldn't find one like it again....) I had no idea they made sweaters too! That "make it snow" sweater is too funny.

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  7. Love the star trek sweater and your retro style. :)

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  8. Your whole outfit is super cute!!! I love that hair clip from Chatter Blossom. It signs with the spirit of winter.

    ♥ Jessica

    *PS* Thank you very much for your enthusiasm and taking part in Chronically Vintage's exciting Vintage Secret Santa gift exchange, dear Kate. I'm thrilled that you're a part of it!

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  9. Rubbish Christmas sweaters are so the trend over here. Seems like the worse they are the better. Have a tremendous Thursday.
    Best wishes Molly

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  10. Great jumper, nice to see one in colours other than red, white or green.

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