Many people associate the 1950s with poodle skirts and ponytails, jeans, and sleek hairstyles. Teenagers were wearing these styles, but what were the rest of us wearing? The 1950s saw a new wave of fashion choices for both sexes. Although the individuals in your mid-century family photos wore a wide range of fashions, there were certain recurring motifs. See what you might see and why below. The Tales of the 1950s Fashions
A lot of war-torn nations were still reconstructing as the 1950s got underway. Many regions where there had been shortages of goods now had them available again. Returned soldiers had frequently tied the knot and begun families, while many had quit their jobs to become stay-at-home mothers and spouses. Certain nations, such as the US, promoted consumerism as a means of bolstering their economies.
stylist 1950s man standing by a car
Outside of Paris, France—long the West’s center of fashion—designers rose to prominence both during and after the war. The greater geographic diversity of designers in the 1950s meant a wider selection of styles. New synthetic textiles also presented new opportunities for apparel that could be mass-produced. Strong consumer spending increased the need for apparel and accessories to go with every fashion. Fashion publications and movie stars showcased new looks and demonstrated how to appropriately wear emerging fashion trends.
Woman wearing garment with print of cats holding cat
Women’s 1950s Fashion
Women’s Clothing
French fashion designer Christian Dior introduced his sophisticated, lavish “New Look” for ladies in 1947, and it was still in style in the 1950s. The dresses featured long skirts, pronounced hips, tight waistlines, and rounded shoulders. The New Look embraced an ideal of beautiful femininity and welcomed the end of wartime thrift. Numerous 1950s fashions featured the design, ranging from casual shirtwaists and sundresses to ensembles with circle skirts draped in crinoline, coatdresses, and formal attire.
There were several well-liked female silhouettes besides Dior’s New Look. A woman’s torso was covered with pencil dresses from the bodice to the mid-calf hemline. For a similar style, pencil skirts might be worn with fitted shirts tucked in. The waist was relaxed or moved in other dress designs of the decade, like bell-shaped skirts, A-line dresses, and sack dresses.
Six women are dressed in 1950s styles.
Women welcomed these new designs throughout the Western world and beyond. In West Germany, the New Look was particularly well-liked. Pencil silhouettes and the New Look were two things Australian ladies adored. All of these Western styles may be seen in the costumes seen on film footage from a 1950s Japanese fashion show.
Fashion of the 1950s was influenced by Audrey Hepburn.
Women’s Casual Attire
Women’s pants and casual attire got more and more popular. American women fashion designers were particularly well-known for producing wearable, everyday items that could accommodate the varied needs of busy women, like playsuits, trousers, and designer sportswear. The casual yet stylish outfit gained popularity thanks to actress Audrey Hepburn, who wore dark, narrow slacks with basic boat-neck shirts and low pumps.
The Beatnik look significantly simplified a woman’s appearance. Beatnik looks were sharp and tailored for both dresses and pants. Dark neutrals were the predominant color scheme, with the exception of ethnic or bohemian accents.
A woman dressed in gloves, hatred, pearls, flowers, and other 1950s fashion
Women’s Accessories and Shoes
“A pair of shoes for every occasion” is a concept that embodies the mindset of the 1950s. It was difficult to resist the never-ending array of new shoe designs for women; these shoes were more elegant, comfy, durable, and lightweight than before. You may have closed-toe pumps, heels, flats, wedges, sandals, moccasins, and other styles in a range of plain or patterned hues.
Hats remained stylish, although devoid of function. Notable styles included recognizable pillboxes, veiled fascinators, delicate Juliette caps, flat pancakes, and summertime straw hats with wide brims. Rather than donning hats, other women covered their hair with vibrant scarves. Coordination of costume jewelry, gloves, and boxy, short-handled handbags or clutch purses might have completed a ladies’ ensemble.
1950s Men’s Fashion
There was a noticeable shift in men’s fashion towards a more casual look, partly due to American influence. Many men dressed in roomy, conservatively colored suits with narrow ties at the beginning of the 1950s. Men’s clothing became increasingly casual, colorful, and textured as the decade went on. Men frequently wore colorful shirts with pants and lightweight sports coats for relaxation. Knee-length shorts and Hawaiian-style shirts quickly became summertime favorites.
Disney dresses in a 1950s outfit.
Although there was less diversity in men’s shoes than in women’s, they were far more useful. A suit looked great with black or brown leather dress shoes, such as wingtip oxfords. Men may choose to wear saddle shoes or penny loafers for more relaxed occasions.
1950s Youth and Teen Fashions Teens wore casual attire and accessories from the 1950s.
The 1950s saw a shift away from wearing like their parents in young men. The Teddy Boy look was inspired by vintage Savile Row in London Teddy suits. The appearance was finished with straight stovepipe pants, velvet-collar coats, white shirts, brightly colored socks, suede creeper shoes, and meticulously styled hair. Hollywood icons Marlon Brando and James Dean made jeans, white shirts, leather jackets, and greased-back hair fashionable in the United States.
small child with an ice cream cone and lovely clothing
Teenage females frequently opted for more childlike versions of their mothers’ fashion sense. A pencil skirt or a round circle skirt were typically worn with a fitted shirt with a Peter Pan collar tucked into a broad, elastic cinch belt. (Other embellishments were at least as popular as the now-iconic “poodle skirt,” which was just a full circular skirt with poodle decoration.) Cardigans and other fitted sweaters were occasionally worn on their own or over blouses. Saddle shoes, white bobby socks, and neck-knotted scarves may have completed the ensemble for teenage girls.
1950s Fashion in Family Pictures
Examine the 1950s family photos you have and discover the fashions your ancestors liked. To ensure that others can enjoy these pictures as well, think about posting them on FamilySearch Memories and adding the hashtag “1950s fashion” to the image!
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