Fashion From the 1950s

The 1950s were the start of freedom in fashion for both men and women, the confinement of style started to dwindle. It all started in the late 1940s when Christian Dior started a “new look”.

This look consisted of mid-calf length skirts and pointed bust. Women looked more tailored and classier. Popular trends for women included suits with peplum jackets, pearls, and pencil skirts- trends that are popular in this day and age. The clothing of the 1950s were figure fitting and somewhat simple. Outfits were accessorized with scarfs, gloves, cat-eyed sunglasses, and large hoop earrings (starting in 1953).

In the spring collection of 1952 the “wandering waistline” was a trend for women. Dior created a dress in which the waistline was higher to give women a more curvy look. The wandering waistline trend was also popular in swimsuit. The younger women of the 1950s would wear petticoats under full skirts with leather belts around their waist to emphasize curves.

The natural look was the trend for makeup in the 1950s; most women wore a pencil line on the edge of their eyes and had a slant in the corner. The doe-eye trend was also a popular trend within higher fashion and celebrities.

In 1957 the trend started to shift, women were now wearing short suit jackets that were not fitted like in the earlier 1950s. Jackets were also opened to show off blouses and necklaces such as long pearls and colored stones. Blouses started to become a focal point of an outfit in this year. Pleated skirts were a new trend and this was wore a lot my by college girls in this era.

For men, the 1950s were the start of mixing and matching of waistcoats with complimentary colors for business suits and semi-formal events. Men wore fabrics such as corduroy, silk, and velvet; suit colors beside black became more popular. Men wore bolder patters on their sock, ties, and socks compared to earlier eras.

Top celebrities of this era were Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, and Lucille Ball (from I Love Lucy). All of the women were classy and to this day are symbols in fashion and Hollywood legacies. Aubrey Hepburn was a fashion icon and is known for her role in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Marilyn Monroe was a major sex symbol and fashion icon that women (including myself) still admire to this day.

The 1950s were an era of class, freedom of fashion, and showing off your figure. The trends of the 1950s

were influenced my Christian Dior and Coco Chanel. Several trends of the 1950s are coming back to style today such as peplum tops, hoop earrings, and blouses as focal points of an outfit. The 1950s were a decade that paved the way in women’s fashion and allowing women to have as much fashion freedom as we have today.

Ethical Questions:

• Was the shift in fashion related to the societal high pressure to get married in the 1950s?
• Does a trend occur just because two top designers say you should wear it?
• Does style exist or are we all just followers?
• The fashion trends of the 1950s came from Paris, do Americans just follow the French?

Shawnna Hall-Enoch and Danielle Cajigas

References 
"Fashion in the 1950s." RetroWaste. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2014.