September 14, 2007: Dressing for Disneyland

Werner Weiss · 09-13-2007, 08:16 PM

This week, Yesterland goes back to the 1950s with photos that provide a glimpse of how guests used to dress for a day at Disneyland.

Link to Dressing for Disneyland in the 1950s at Yesterland.

Please discuss Dressing for Disneyland here.

retrodiz · 09-13-2007, 11:45 PM

Ah, that brought a tear to my eye.

My favorite family Disneyland photo from the 50s shows my mom, sisters and I dressed in blouses and matching plaid full skirts, with my dad and brother in plaid short-sleeved shirts of the same material. We were one smart looking crew.....

Yes, times have sure changed. The only ones who get dressed up to go to Disneyland these days are the little girls; I don't know when I've seen so many Cinderellas, Snow Whites and Princess Auroras traipsing along in their Disney finery!

pussnboots · 09-14-2007, 03:40 AM

I love this article. How wonderful was fashion back then?

I don't dress nearly as fancy as those men did, but I try to wear chinos, polos and somewhat dressy shoes (Crocs I'm never tempted to wear, thankfully), just so that I won't be called a hypocrite when I say:

How nice would it be if people nowadays put just a little more effort into their outfits in the morning? And what's with all the flip flops?

Steve DeGaetano · 09-14-2007, 06:07 AM

Great article, Werner! The colors on those vintage photos are so vibrant!

wulfblat · 09-14-2007, 07:59 AM

Even in the early 60s, when I first visited the park as a child, people still dressed up when visiting Disneyland.

I really enjoy looking at the park photos from the 70s and 80s: a lot of people thought they were dressing up nicely, but oh the styles and colors hurt the eyes (It burns! It burns!).

Elayne and I just returned from our trip to Disneyland, and while we thought we were dressed casually, we felt overdressed compared with most other guests.

danyoung · 09-14-2007, 08:19 AM

While I enjoyed the photos and the comparisons, I'm betting that you could take a picture from just about anywhere in the country and find the same situation. You just didn't go out in shorts and a t-shirt in the 50's. I don't think people specifically dressed up for Disneyland - they just dressed the way they always did when going anywhere.

Barbossa · 09-14-2007, 09:28 AM

Notice how people were slimmer back then?

Werner Weiss · 09-14-2007, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danyoung

While I enjoyed the photos and the comparisons, I'm betting that you could take a picture from just about anywhere in the country and find the same situation. You just didn't go out in shorts and a t-shirt in the 50's.

I agree, and I mentioned that toward the end of the article.

Quote:

Originally Posted by danyoung

I don't think people specifically dressed up for Disneyland - they just dressed the way they always did when going anywhere.

Remembering back 40 years ago, my mother would say, "this is a Disneyland dress," about a few of her dresses. Although we only went to Disneyland about once a year, she had definite ideas about the right kind of dress for a lady to wear to Disneyland. That doesn't mean that she would not wear such a dress to other places.

I can't vouch for what her criteria were, but I think it was something along the lines of being a nice daytime dress, but not too fancy.

AmandasDad · 09-14-2007, 10:03 AM

I like dressing well for Disneyland. For one like me who goes infrequently, it makes it all the more special.

We dressed to the nines for dinner at Club 33 for my birthday. We go a lot of approving looks on the way there and the matre d' thanked us for "dressing for dinner".

MotherPenguin · 09-14-2007, 10:11 AM

I think the difference in the way people dress now reflects a general decline in courtesy over the same period of time. People now are less concerned about how they appear to others because they really don't care about anyone but themselves.

I think it's a sign of respect to dress appropriately for whatever occasion and place you find yourself. Nobody wants to see someone in their rattiest sweat pants and the vulgar t-shirt that they thought was so funny the last time they were at the mall. But that's what you get no matter where you are, Disneyland, airports, the grocery store.

People won't change their clothes until they change their attitudes. And I'm not holding my breath.

Zwitek · 09-14-2007, 10:37 AM

My lady and I tend to dress nicer than most during the day at Disneyland. Usually a short sleeve collared shirt for me, some non-denim pants, decent shoes, and she in a sun dress of some sort. Looking at the pictures posted, we'd fit right in during the day in the 1950's.

We like to look nice in places where people used to look nice at. We can wear T-shirts to a ball game, or really anywhere these days. Something about looking nice at Disneyland just makes the day more enjoyable.

We usually return at night dressed more formally, and it makes for some better than average vacation pictures.

Thanks for the great article, and the wonderful vintage pictures!

pussnboots · 09-14-2007, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zwitek

My lady and I tend to dress nicer than most during the day at Disneyland. Usually a short sleeve collared shirt for me, some non-denim pants, decent shoes, and she in a sun dress of some sort. Looking at the pictures posted, we'd fit right in during the day in the 1950's.

We like to look nice in places where people used to look nice at. We can wear T-shirts to a ball game, or really anywhere these days. Something about looking nice at Disneyland just makes the day more enjoyable.

We usually return at night dressed more formally, and it makes for some better than average vacation pictures.

Thanks for the great article, and the wonderful vintage pictures!

Me likey a lotty. Just hope the fur is faux...

Zwitek · 09-14-2007, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pussnboots

Me likey a lotty. Just hope the fur is faux...

Definitely Faux.

*TicTocDragon* · 09-14-2007, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barbossa

Notice how people were slimmer back then?

Sure did, not as many distractions as we have today.

I remember Grad nite when they only allowed nicely dressed Teens in. We were told we would behave better if we were dressed up. That didn't last long either way.

GrimmGreen · 09-14-2007, 12:05 PM

i'm voting that we institute a "YESTERLAND DAY" at Disneyland , we all dress up nice like it's 1955 and go to Disneyland and only ride the classic rides and take LOTS of pictures

this would be so great , imagine the reaction when they see 50 micechatters all dressed up riding Peter Pan , ha ha ha

09-13-2007, 08:16 PM	#1
Werner Weiss Curator of Yesterland Curator of Yesterland Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 336	September 14, 2007: Dressing for Disneyland This week, Yesterland goes back to the 1950s with photos that provide a glimpse of how guests used to dress for a day at Disneyland. Link to Dressing for Disneyland in the 1950s at Yesterland. Please discuss Dressing for Disneyland here. __________________ Werner Weiss Curator of Yesterland, featuring discontinued Disneyland attractions

09-13-2007, 11:45 PM	#2
retrodiz New Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 18	Re: September 14, 2007: Dressing for Disneyland Ah, that brought a tear to my eye. My favorite family Disneyland photo from the 50s shows my mom, sisters and I dressed in blouses and matching plaid full skirts, with my dad and brother in plaid short-sleeved shirts of the same material. We were one smart looking crew..... Yes, times have sure changed. The only ones who get dressed up to go to Disneyland these days are the little girls; I don't know when I've seen so many Cinderellas, Snow Whites and Princess Auroras traipsing along in their Disney finery!

09-14-2007, 03:40 AM	#3
pussnboots Hark! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Under the influence Posts: 1,605	Re: September 14, 2007: Dressing for Disneyland I love this article. How wonderful was fashion back then? I don't dress nearly as fancy as those men did, but I try to wear chinos, polos and somewhat dressy shoes (Crocs I'm never tempted to wear, thankfully), just so that I won't be called a hypocrite when I say: How nice would it be if people nowadays put just a little more effort into their outfits in the morning? And what's with all the flip flops? __________________

09-14-2007, 06:07 AM	#4
Steve DeGaetano Member MiceAge Columnist Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,473	Re: September 14, 2007: Dressing for Disneyland Great article, Werner! The colors on those vintage photos are so vibrant! __________________ Steve My new book, From Plantation to Theme Park: The Story of Disneyland Railroad Locomotive No. 5, the Ward Kimball is now available! You can read more about the book and place your order here: www.steampassages.com Last edited by Steve DeGaetano; 09-14-2007 at 06:21 AM.

09-14-2007, 07:59 AM	#5
wulfblat Weasel Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Portland, OR USA Posts: 151	Re: September 14, 2007: Dressing for Disneyland Even in the early 60s, when I first visited the park as a child, people still dressed up when visiting Disneyland. I really enjoy looking at the park photos from the 70s and 80s: a lot of people thought they were dressing up nicely, but oh the styles and colors hurt the eyes (It burns! It burns!). Elayne and I just returned from our trip to Disneyland, and while we thought we were dressed casually, we felt overdressed compared with most other guests.

09-14-2007, 08:19 AM	#6
danyoung Video Engineering God Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dallas Posts: 1,773	Re: September 14, 2007: Dressing for Disneyland While I enjoyed the photos and the comparisons, I'm betting that you could take a picture from just about anywhere in the country and find the same situation. You just didn't go out in shorts and a t-shirt in the 50's. I don't think people specifically dressed up for Disneyland - they just dressed the way they always did when going anywhere.

09-14-2007, 09:28 AM	#7
Barbossa Nuke the Fridge!! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kelowna, BC, Canada Posts: 2,141	Re: September 14, 2007: Dressing for Disneyland Notice how people were slimmer back then? __________________ “Those of us who had been up all night were in no mood for coffee and donuts. We wanted strong drink!” –Johnny Depp, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

09-14-2007, 10:03 AM	#9
AmandasDad Colorado Bound? Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 308	Re: September 14, 2007: Dressing for Disneyland I like dressing well for Disneyland. For one like me who goes infrequently, it makes it all the more special. We dressed to the nines for dinner at Club 33 for my birthday. We go a lot of approving looks on the way there and the matre d' thanked us for "dressing for dinner". __________________ -AmandasDad

09-14-2007, 10:11 AM	#10
MotherPenguin Starwisher Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Chained to the stove Posts: 76	Re: September 14, 2007: Dressing for Disneyland I think the difference in the way people dress now reflects a general decline in courtesy over the same period of time. People now are less concerned about how they appear to others because they really don't care about anyone but themselves. I think it's a sign of respect to dress appropriately for whatever occasion and place you find yourself. Nobody wants to see someone in their rattiest sweat pants and the vulgar t-shirt that they thought was so funny the last time they were at the mall. But that's what you get no matter where you are, Disneyland, airports, the grocery store. People won't change their clothes until they change their attitudes. And I'm not holding my breath. __________________ Don't make me come in there!

09-14-2007, 10:37 AM	#11
Zwitek New Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Berkeley, CA Posts: 3	Re: September 14, 2007: Dressing for Disneyland My lady and I tend to dress nicer than most during the day at Disneyland. Usually a short sleeve collared shirt for me, some non-denim pants, decent shoes, and she in a sun dress of some sort. Looking at the pictures posted, we'd fit right in during the day in the 1950's. We like to look nice in places where people used to look nice at. We can wear T-shirts to a ball game, or really anywhere these days. Something about looking nice at Disneyland just makes the day more enjoyable. We usually return at night dressed more formally, and it makes for some better than average vacation pictures. Thanks for the great article, and the wonderful vintage pictures!

09-14-2007, 12:05 PM	#15
GrimmGreen been away for a while Join Date: May 2006 Location: Carson City Nevada , no it's not near Vegas Posts: 961	Re: September 14, 2007: Dressing for Disneyland i'm voting that we institute a "YESTERLAND DAY" at Disneyland , we all dress up nice like it's 1955 and go to Disneyland and only ride the classic rides and take LOTS of pictures this would be so great , imagine the reaction when they see 50 micechatters all dressed up riding Peter Pan , ha ha ha __________________ Like everyone else , i have a myspace My Maleficent tattoo

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode