An archival photo of the corner of 8th Avenue and 125th Street (walking towards the east) circa 1955 shows how every day society went about their day in what would be considered formal dressing in this decade. Harlem residents still tend to dress up nowadays when going out at night and this can be seen especially with the older generation. This picture of the past was taken in the mid 1950s but clothing decades overlapped more back in the early half of the century. All of the men's suits and women's wear still look more like the 1940s to our eye. The back belted men's jacket is an especially nice detail that would have been more popular in that previous decade.
Image courtesy the digital collection at the Museum of the City of New York
I remember the late 50's and early 60's and hats were de rigeur for both genders. One didn't go out without one's hat on. Even school children. I went to St. Catherine of Genoa School in Sugar Hill and along with the traditional school blazer and tie there was a hat to match the school's overcoat. The girls wore a green plaid hat to match their uniform dresses.
ReplyDeleteIf you look at the old parade photos from Harlem beginning about 1919, notice that all the men were wearing 'boaters,' similar to the one's that Michael Henry Adams can be seen wearing today.
My grandparents often told me how on Sunday's no matter if you were going to Church or not, one dressed up in one's finest Sunday outfit and promenaded down 7th Avenue to about 114th Street, turned around and promenaded northwards up Seventh Ave. This was because you would likely meet someone from "down-home" (the South) and this way when they saw you looking so good, the next time they'd call or write home, they'd say; "...chile, I saw so-and-so Sunday in this fine suit and hat,...(he) me must be doing good as fine as he(she) looked." No matter that the opposite may have been true (jobless, penniless, renting a room or kitchenette) one was in Harlem and wanted to give the impression that they truly were doing well.
My maternal grandfather was a machinist when he first came here in '37 or '38 (back in the days when we made things in the USA). Wore greasy coveralls at work and rented a small room without kitchen privileges on Hamilton Terrace. So he ate his meals at Father Divine's Church on Lenox Ave. So he'd rush back to his room uptown, bathe, change into his suit and head down to Father Divine's, pay his .25 and get a full dinner with a choice of Lemonade or Iced Tea and Peach Cobbler for dessert. When one entered Father Divine's establishment you were required to greet him by saying; "Peace Brother!" To which Father Divine would respond; "Truly Wonderful!"
Thank you again Greg! The insider stories are truly wonderful to hear.
ReplyDelete