The 1950s spawned a wide variety of original and distinctive styles, presented with a classic new age twist. For the United States, recently recovering from catastrophic tragedies related to World War II, the 1950s brought restored hope; a chance for a new way of life whose fate would be decided by them alone. 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 and 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 blouses, and knee-length skirts. However, the most prevalent fashion for women during this time was dresses. Most dresses were worn casually and were accented with circle skirts, spaghetti straps, or small collars. Evening gowns looked soft yet daring, in many pastel shades and accompanied by eye-catching ruffles, tulle trims and dazzling velvet bows. The form-fitting evening wear of this period, which was usually sleeveless or strapless, was also emphasized by sheer silk.
Increasingly popular, the full skirts of the 1950s needed some support to maximize their look. To address this issue, nylon petticoats were created exclusively to be worn in conjunction with full skirts to create volume. Nylon was a favorable material due to its high quality and easy washing. This fullness that it created transformed the skirt that gave nothing more than a soft snap, into a glamorous royal flutter. Another significant fashion from this period is the swing coat, developed in the late 1940s by Jacques Fath. The swing coat silhouette was “perfectly designed to cover full skirts and also ideal for the high post-war pregnancy rate”. Another trend in the 1950s was the “trapeze dress: a swinging dress that is almost triangular in shape and designed to be worn with low shoes and voluminous hairstyles.” The trapeze dress was later modified into a shorter doll’s tent-style dress, which was popular for the next decade. Perhaps one of the most classic fashion pieces of the 1950s was Christian Dior’s 1954 H line, 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. feminine. Another designer, Hubert Givenchy, created a Parisian-style dress in 1957 that he called Saco. The Sack started the trend for straighter-waisted dresses. Initially, it became the “tight pleated dress and later the short straight loose dress”.
Coco Chanel was another major fashion designer in the 1950s. In contrast to the popular full, ruffled skirts, Chanel began creating the now classic Chanel boxy jackets and skirts in cropped, textured tweed. The materials chosen by Chanel always had rich textures, which contributed to the high prices of the finished product. The Chanel silhouette of her suits was completely straight, divinely lined with silk. Her look was classic, refined and embellished with details. Chanel also accessorized many of her designs with pearl necklaces and collarless jackets, both of which were considered fashionable in the 1950s. One of the most classic trends of the 1950s is the empire line, which was introduced in the late 1950s. This style was applied mainly to dresses and shirts, and was loved 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 in marked contrast to what most mothers wore at the time, which contributed to its high approval among teenagers in the United States.
Until the 1950s, the term “teenagers” was not commonly used, and certainly not a target market group. But with a new range of influences, including movies, television, rock music, and magazines, teenagers began to be respected and recognized in the community. Often referred to as 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 in part attributed 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 like the credit card system” (Baker, 6). However, these innovative conditions produced a similar effect in the fashion industry: while many things changed in the lives of Americans, they steered clear of radical and intense fashions and preferred the normalcy of standard trends. For once, being normal felt good. Another big change in the 1950s was the rise 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, though racial tensions were still high, and also giving rise to civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. Persistent fears that the Communism coming to the states held many Americans back. tight with fear More changes in the 1950s include the discovery of DNA, the launch of the first space satellite, an increase in women in the workforce, and, of course, rock and roll. All these economic, social and political changes in the world affected the American citizens and therefore the fashion industry.
Regardless of the world’s problems, the major trends that propelled the industry forward 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 throughout the United States by women of all shapes and sizes. Elvis Presley was another big influence in the 1950s; He was not only adored by millions of girls, but he was also an inspiration to men. In a time when men only wore traditional attire, Elvis broke down all the barriers that limited men to navy blue suits and ties. Elvis normally wore clothing that was more popular with the African-American population. His wild skinny pants and zoot suits worried America’s conservative community, which hardly approved of a “gender-bending, racially integrated star” (SOURCE). Elvis’s bright, baggy clothing, makeup, and so-called raunchy dancing acted as evidence of his single-handed destruction of the morals of American youth. However, not all men followed the examples set by Elvis. In fact, more men in this time period dressed conventionally than not.
Most men in the 1950s kept clothing colors casual and modest, including dark blue, dark brown, and charcoal. The casually sassy youngster 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 shirttails 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 as 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 most fashionable accessories of the decade. Various styles of glorious hats existed in the 1950s. Some hats were covered with flower petals, while others were embellished with swirls of georgette. Gloves were also often worn by women, especially those of elite social status. Some were made of cotton, much more affordable than leather or nylon. Although the gloves came in many colors and styles, clean white or cream colored gloves were the most favored. Fur trimmings and embellished collars were also very much in fashion. Brooches were also considered a glamorous accessory.
The 1950s was a decade in which fashion changed drastically from previous generations. The multiple influences of political debates, economic problems, new age celebrities and the media influenced the various styles and trends that identify the 1950s. The recovery of the casualties of World War II brought a change durable to the United States, which was reflected in the fashion of this decade. American women longed for glamorous simplicity in their new lives, and as a new, liberated society evolved, women in America began to liberate themselves by choosing the fashions they felt best represented them. The 1950s were not only important in history, but also greatly transformed the face of fashion in America.