Fashion in the 50s
The 1950s spawned a wide variety of distinctive and original styles, presented with a new age classic twist. For the United States, which recently recovered from catastrophic tragedies related to World War II, the 1950s brought restored hope; an opportunity for a new way of life whose destiny would be decided only by them. This metamorphosis of America was strongly represented by fashion.
Women especially dramatically altered the way they dressed and presented themselves; During the evolution of an increasingly liberated society, women began to favor casual, relaxed clothing over the traditional dress rules and associated formality of previous decades. Some of the most admired new trends for women in the 1950s included button-down sweaters with simple necklines, fitted tops, and full knee-length skirts. However, the most prevalent fashion for women during this time was dresses. Most of the dresses were worn casually and accented with circle skirts, halter straps, or small collars. The evening dresses looked soft yet bold, in many pastel hues and accompanied by bold ruffles, tulle trim, and dazzling velvet bows. The tight-fitting nightwear of this period, which was generally sleeveless or strapless, was also emphasized with pure silk.
Increasingly popular, the full skirts of the 1950s needed some form of support to maximize their appearance. To address this problem, nylon petticoats were exclusively created to be worn in conjunction with full skirts to create fullness. Nylon was a favorable material due to its high quality and easy care. This fullness that she created transformed the skirt that gave nothing but a soft click, into a glamorous royal flutter. Another significant fashion of this period is the swing coat, developed in the late 1940s by Jacques Fath. The silhouette of the coat was “designed perfectly to cover wide skirts, and also ideal for the high postwar pregnancy rate.” Another trend in the 1950s was the “trapeze dress: a balanced dress that is almost triangular in shape and designed to be worn with low shoes and combed hairdos.” The trapeze dress was later modified into a shorter doll tent-style dress, which was popular in the next decade. Perhaps one of the most classic fashions of the 1950s was Christian Dior’s H-line from 1954, which consisted of a slim tunic-style suit with a slim skirt. His other popular fashions during this period were his A and Y lines. Dior has long been a dominant force in the fashion world, especially in the 1950s. His creative and generally voluminous garments gave women a flair. more feminine. Another designer, Hubert Givenchy created a Parisian-style dress in 1957 which he named Sack. The Sack started the trend for straighter-waisted dresses. Initially, it evolved into the “pleated fitted sheath dress and later the loose, short straight dress”.
Coco Chanel was another major fashion designer in the 1950s. In contrast to the popular floppy and ruffled skirts, Chanel began creating the now classic Chanel square skirts and suit jackets in cropped and textured tweed. The materials that Chanel chose always had a rich texture, which contributed to the high prices of the finished product. Chanel’s silhouette of her suits was completely straight, divinely lined with silk. His look was classic, refined and adorned with details. Chanel also complemented many of its designs with pearl chains and collarless jackets, both considered fashionable in the 1950s. One of the most classic trends of the 1950s is the Empire line, which was introduced at the end of the decade. 1950s. This style was applied mainly to dresses and shirts, and was adored by teenagers who looked innocently childish, hence the coined phrase “baby doll style.” During the 1950s, all teenagers were expected to dress like their elders. The empire line was also a striking contrast to what most mothers were wearing at the time, contributing to its high approval among teenagers in America.
Until the 1950s, the term “teenagers” was not commonly used, and it was certainly not a target market group. But with a new range of influences, including film, television, rock music, and magazines, teens began to be respected and recognized in the community. Often dubbed the “Space Age,” the 1950s were also an important time in history for science and development. Many aspects of life changed during this period, perhaps attributed in part to the recent end of World War II. The United States had emerged from the war with prosperity and a new identity. A new consumer-based society was “advancing, aided by new developments such as the credit card system” (Baker, 6). Yet these groundbreaking conditions produced a similar effect on the fashion industry: While so many things in American lives were changing, they stayed away from radical and intense fashions and preferred the normality of standard trends. For once, being normal felt good. Another big change in the 1950s was the increase in television ownership. Popular television shows like I Love Lucy connected Americans on both sides of the Atlantic, bringing a sense of unity to the country. Segregation ended in 1954, bringing black and white students together for the first time although racial tensions were still high, and also gave rise to the existence of civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. The constant fears that communism came to the states they held many Americans tight with fear. More changes in the 1950s include the discovery of DNA, the launch of the first space satellite, a rise in women in the workplace, and, of course, rock and roll. All these economic, social and political changes in the world affected American citizens and therefore the fashion industry.
Regardless of the world’s troubles, the top fashions that drove the industry were most influenced by those who were idolized by consumers: celebrities. Some of the most popular celebrities in the 1950s include Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Ricky Nelson, and, of course, Elvis Presley. Marilyn Monroe’s sexy yet simple style was widely imitated across America by women of all shapes and sizes. Elvis Presley was another great influence in the 1950s; Not only was he adored by millions of girls, but he was also an inspiration to men. In an age when men only wore traditional attractions, Elvis broke down all barriers that limited men to navy blue suits and ties. Elvis usually wore clothes that were more popular with the African American population. His wild peg pants and zoot suits worried America’s conservative community, which barely approved of a “gender-biased, race-integrated star” (SOURCE). Elvis’s bright, baggy clothing, makeup, and so-called raunchy dances acted as evidence of his one-handed destruction of the morale of American youth. However, not all men followed the example that Elvis set. In fact, more men in this time period dressed conventionally than not.
Most men in the 1950s kept clothes in casual and modest colors, including dark blue, dark brown, and charcoal. The occasional daring young man wore pastel pink to stand out; a trend that was gaining momentum in the 1950s. Cardigan sweaters were popular with athletes and older men. Fitted vests, plaid flannels, and collared jackets were also popular. There was flexibility in men’s casual clothing, and it was common to see shirt skirts sticking out. Basic fedora-style hats were also a staple in the 1950s for men.
Hats were also a fashion accessory for women in the 1950s, for the reason that they were believed to add a final touch of glamor to any woman’s outfit. The pillbox hat, first introduced by Balenciaga and later modeled by Jackie Kennedy, became one of the trendiest accessories of the decade. In the 1950s there were several styles of glorious hats. Some hats were covered in flower petals, while others were adorned with swirls of georgette. Gloves were also often worn by women, especially those with elite social status. Some were made of cotton, which was much more affordable than leather or nylon. Although gloves came in many colors and styles, clean gloves that were white or cream were the most favored. Fur trimmings and embellished collars were also very fashionable. Brooches were also considered a glamorous accessory.
The 1950s was a decade in which fashion changed dramatically from previous generations. Multiple influences, from political debates to economic troubles, new age celebrities and the media, influenced the various styles and trends that identify the 1950s. Recovering from the casualties of World War II brought change durable to America, which was reflected in the fashions of this decade. American women yearned for glamorous simplicity in their new lives, and as a new and liberated society evolved, American women began to free themselves by choosing which fashions they believed best represented them. Not only was the 1950s important in history, it also greatly transformed the face of fashion in America.