The past few days it’s been starting to feel like summer here and I can’t wait to wear summer clothes.

This year I’m especially inspired by the bright colours and simple shapes of early 60s clothes and the playsuits and platform sandals of the late 30s and 40s, and hoop earrings!

I’m also very into nautical and cruise inspired 30s and 40s clothes, though I feel like that’s another post!

I found these first three pictures via Q’s Daydream and they perfectly sum up that early 60s summer look I love. Original source: My Fashion Database

Elizabeth Taylor in a headscarf and hoop earrings.

Great 50s playsuits. Source: Burda Archive

I love the strapless dress and the earrings. Source: Burda Archive

The outfit with the white halter dress is great. Source: Burda Archive

Source: Burda Archive

Great outfits! Source: Sears archive at Ancestry.com

I love all of these beach coverups. Source: Sears archive at Ancestry.com

Marilyn looking gorgeous in sherbet orange.

Such a great dress. (I wonder if this is Palm Springs?)

Elizabeth Taylor. I love the scarves and the sleeved swimsuit.

Joan Collins. I love loose crop tops worn with tight pants or shorts like this.

Joan Collins again.

Brigitte Bardot.

Sophia Loren.

Jayne Mansfield. I love the combination of lemon yellow with white details.

Sophia Loren.

Sophia again, these colours are beautiful, especially against her hair and skin tone.

Jane Russell.

Barbara Stanwyck.

Veda Ann Borg.

My favourite picture of Joan Collins.

Dorothy Lamour.

Ann Blyth. I love this outfit. The playsuit, the sandals, that drawstring bag! Source: My Vintage Vogue

Anne St Marie. “Wearing a one piece halter top satin striped dress, by Hope Skillman. Photographed by Roger Prigent.” Source: Dovima is Devine

Lauren Bacall in a great outfit. I love the colour, the midriff baring top, the bolero, the sandals, the chunky gold bracelets and hoop earrings.

Patricia Roc. Source: Dr. Macro

Natalie Wood. Source: Dr. Macro

Brigitte Bardot.

Joan Collins.

Source: Bukowskis auction catalogue

Jeanne Crain.

Ann Sheridan. Source: David Paris

This halter top on Dovima is perfection.

Joan Collins.

Fanny Fan. Source: Soft Film

Fay Wray. Source: Maudelynn’s Menagerie

Jayne Mansfield.

Ginger Rogers.

Another great halter look.

Ginger Rogers. Source: Jeanjeanie61

Jeanne Crain.

Yet another great halter outfit, from LaDonna July 1952. Source: What I Found

Great terrycloth coverup on Patricia Lam Fung. Source: Soft Film

The perfect 30s summer look. Source: Musée Nicéphore Niépce

Marilyn Monroe. One of my very favourite outfits of hers.

Source: My Vintage Vogue

Ann Sheridan.

Yvonne De Carlo. Source: Allposters

Jayne Mansfield.

Anne Gwynne.

Rita Hayworth.

Maureen O’hara. Source: Vintagegal

Elizabeth Taylor. Source: Vintagegal

Vogue 1960. Source: Herringbone and Houndstooth