When I was a little girl I was a Girl Scout Brownie, the mini version of Girl Scouts. All I remember is making puppets and most of all, wanting to become a Girl Scout for the cool uniform. I still have a bunch of badges that never made it on a sash or vest, one day I'll do something with them.
Anyway, since then I've always wanted a girl scout uniform, and in recent years, a vintage one. But whenever I came across one, it would be much too small so I figured I'd just leave that dream behind and forget about it. Here's a little secret, you are more likely to find something you've been looking for for ages, when you stop looking.
I went to work the other day to visit my boss and she was showing me a bunch of stuff she had just purchased from a theatre company, and as soon as she held up this dress I said "Ahhhh! I want it!" And then she showed me the matching scarf and socks (Socks!!!!), and that was the icing on the cake.
I'm pretty sure the uniform is from the 1940s, it has that style, and the little picture above looks like a 40s girl in the same uniform. If anyone knows anything else let me know!
Now, I wish I had some thin mints....
1940s girl scout uniform-Urban Eccentric Vintage
38 comments:
ironically i was wearing thin mints out of the freezer a few hours ago... haha. this is fantastic!
OMG the Girl Scout salute!
Hahaha, sometimes I miss being a Girl Scout. Not really. But maybe just a little.
Very cute! I was a Brownie myself and miss it terribly. The cookies are still fantastic
Gah! This is so cool! I have a 1970s-ish Girl Scout dress, but this is 1000 times more awesome!
I am soooo evnying you right now! I WILL find my own uniform someday :)
My oldest daughter is a Brownie and all she has is an ugly brown vest! This uniform is AMAZING! I've got a couple boxes of Thin Mints in the freezer! Actually (don't tell Girl Scouts I said this), I can make Thin Mints that taste WAAAAAAAY better than the original!
So many memories!!!
this is too adorable. you look so happy with your find. i'm thrilled for you. i love those socks in particular.
Congratulations! I know that feeling of finding something you've always wanted when you least expect it. The uniform is adorable, can't believe the matching socks, and it fits you perfectly. You need to get an old canvas tent now!
When I lived in America I was a brownie... I finally got to graduate into a girl scout, but then we moved back to Australia :( where, oddly, when I tried to join new groups they didn't accept my badges or karate belts as proof that I was up to that level, and both clubs wanted me to start again from the bottom! Naturally, my 12 year old self refused out of righteous indignation. I wish I had gotten to wear a nice uniform like this though!
That uniform looks so cool!! I love the adorable matching socks and the little hat!! Would never have imagined a scout uniform looking so glamorous!
From Carys of La Ville Inconnue
how sweet!!!
the socks are adorable!
Ha, this is adorable!
Great job!
www.vivivintage.com
Ha Ha! I have been wanting a girl scout uniform forever too! I found one once a few years ago at the antique show but I do not think I wanted to pay the price they had on it plus it was just the dress only not the whole outfit. I was never a girl scout but when I was in highschool I was a sea scout and I spent every weekend on the Columbia River learning to sail a 19ft sail boat which was great fun!
Ah-MAZING!!!
Sarah
theantiquepearl.blogspot.com
I was a girl scout in from 8-18. If you want more info on Girl Scout Uniforms, there is a sort of tiny museum of girl scout uniforms at Girl Scout Headquarters in Lake Oswego. I am sure they would love to see pictures of you in yours and show you around to all the different ones they have.
Too cute! I only made it as a Brownie for a couple months, thanks to a very embarrassing incident, a'hem..... the uniforms of yesteryear were definitely way more adorable than current ones - love it!
You should have borrowed the Brownie and GS gold barrettes I have sitting around! I also have a pair of vintage green girlscouts backseam tights (no kidding), but they need to be darned for moth chews. HOWEVER... if you're willing to do the work on them and think you must have them, let me know. They're in my "someday" box...
LOL I just bought a girl scout shirt from the 60's the other day, I wanted it so bad so I got one! I love vintage girl scout. I was one till a cadet. I have stray badges laying around as well LOL
Hi,
It's flowergirl (we've apparently got the same eye color) I am positive that the uniform is from the 40's, I once saw a picture of my grandma (in the 40’s) wearing a similar uniform in one of her scrapbooks but god knows where it is now (sniff sniff). I'm not so sure about the belt though :) Super cute as always!
that looks too adorable and comfy. Love it!
Solanah! That's awesome!
My mother was a Girl Scout well into the 60s/her teenage years. I wonder if she kept her uniform.
oh super mignon !
Oh Gosh, so vintage!!!!
Waaaaa, i love your blogs very much!
Love,
stella
Oh my goodness--you look so cute!!! :D Isn't it the most exciting feeling when you find something that you've been hunting for ages for? ;)
♥ Casey
blog | elegantmusings.com
Oh I've always wanted on too! I think I'll have to find a pattern and make it.
It's so darling!
Great uniform! I've vaguely got some sort of 1940s uniform on my wishlist (been watching ww2 documentaries today!)
xx Charlotte
Tuppence Ha'penny
Hehe cute! I always wanted to be a Brownie :)
How cute. It was always my dream to be a Girl Scout, too. I only went to one of their camps during our spring vacation.
When I was a Brownie Girl Scout, we were in a parade and got to wear vintage girl scout uniforms. I liked the dress I got to wear soooo much better than our normal khaki-shorts-and-vest combo.
Later on, though, our troop pretty much ditched uniforms and just wore pretty clothes to go places.
Hello! Ran across your blog looking up information on old girl scout stuff--I became interested in vintage Girl Scout uniforms after my seven year old decided she wanted a 1960's uniform to wear to Brownie meetings. Your uniform puzzled me at first because of the zipper front--all the uniforms I've seen had buttons. But with a little research, I figured out it is a 1939 Intermediate (ages 10-14) Girl Scout uniform. What a fantastic find!
Donna, thank you for your informative comment! Great to know the year, makes it even more special. Your daughter sounds awesome, I hope she finds what she's looking for I see the smaller uniforms now and then, just the other day I found a little girl scout romper! it was about ten sizes too small though :)
xoxo
Solanah
We managed to find her an entire outfit, including jeans and a shirt for camp. You can see her wearing the clothes here (including several blurry photos that she was too impatient to re-take)
http://purplekappa.typepad.com/purple_kappa/2010/09/twist-me-and-turn-me-and-show-me-an-elf.html
I'm enjoying looking through your blog, you have some wonderful clothes!
Oh. my. goodness.
She is soooo cute! What excellent finds, it's amazing all the different types/styles of clothing associated with the girl scouts and brownies. Do you mind if I share this link on my facebook? Her style is just too cute.
Thanks so much for stopping back by!
xoxo
Solanah
Thank you! That would be fine if you wanted to share the link.
Haha, the matching trefoil socks are too cute!
Cute uniform, pre-40s, back when wearing a GS uniform was considered an honor (Think of how members of the military carry themselves when wearing their dress uniforms nowadays).
Note that the fabric is grey-green, originally chosen because it was deemed flattering for all girls, no matter what their eye color. The zippers were introduced in 1930s, eliminating the need for a "modesty shield" at the neckline. Consequently this uniform style is intended to be worn with the zipper all the way up. The tie was tied with a square knot, rather than the granny knot you used (Not to worry; most likely the first one of your fellow Girl Scouts who spotted you would've been sure to help you get it "right" before anybody else saw you -- GASP! -- with a wonky tie, which would've been the '30s thru '50s GS version of walking into a light post while texting). Also, starching and ironing your uniform was considered What You Did (and inspections helped decide who was chosen for special roles, such as carrying the flags, etc).
There were many hand-me-down uniforms worn, so it wouldn't have been too unusual to see this uniform worn in the '40s. The WW2 era uniforms used buttons and less fabric because of war-era clothing restrictions.
Hope you are still enjoying this lovely dress. :-)
Do be careful of the buttons because this particular era's are known to get fragile and crumbly with age.
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