This is the third post in my series on Vintage Apparel Style. We’ve looked at the 1970s and the 1920s, now we’re time traveling to the 1950s.

Background on 50s style

During World Wat II, fashion and style had become less important as supplies and money were needed more for the war than to fill closets. In America, there were restrictions on the number of clothes one could purchase, while in Britain clothing was rationed. Simple easy to make clothes were the norm, and many women even remade men’s clothes to fit them, so as not to waste the fabric since most men at the time were in uniform.

After the war, Christian Dior’s “New Look” became the inspiration for popular styles and trends. It’s signature shape included long, full skirts, a pointed bust, small waist and rounded shoulder-line, just like in a lot of the older movies that I watch with my mother and grandmother sometimes. Also, new textile technology resulted in the creation of new synthetic and easy-care fabric finishes that fit the suburban life style after the war.

1950s Fashion For Women

Women favored a tailored , feminine look. Tailored suits with fitted jackets that had peplums. (A peplum is an elongated hem designed to look like a short skirt that is designed to be worn over a skirt or pants. Peplums have recently made a comeback and are popular in women’s fashion today.) These fitted jackets were typically worn with a narrow and long pencil skirt. Gloves and Pearls were popular accessories in 1950s fashion for women.

Lisa Fonssagrives in an tailored suit features a long pencil skirt and a fitted jacket with peplum. Photograph by Toni Frissell for Harper’s Bazaar, London, 1951 – From Wikipedia

There were also evening, day and cocktail dresses. A cocktail dress was not as formal as a dress for evening, but nicer than a day dress, and were mostly used for parties in the early-evening. Day dresses usually had a fitted bodice and full skirts, with low-cut or jewel necklines. Other popular day dress styles in 1950s fashion were shirt dresses and sun dresses with halter tops. Evening gowns were the same “ballerina length” as the day dresses with full, frothy skirts. Lower cut gowns and dresses typically were paired with bolero jackets and shrugs.

Another popular trend was an increase in the use of casual sportswear that matched the relaxed lifestyle of the suburbs. Loose printed and knit tops were popular, as casual skirts were either narrow or full.After wearing pants during the war, many women were unwilling to give them up so they became part of the fashion in the 1950s. Women’s pants were designed to be ankle-length and narrow. House boy pants were cropped at the mid-calf and shorter pants, just below the knee, were referred to as pedal pushers. The 1950s was also the time of the famous poodle skirts, though that fad didn’t last very long.

1950s Mens Fashion

For work men tended to stick towards suits. Single-breasted two–piece suits that has less padding in the shoulder area and narrower lines became popular. Pants became fuller and typically were style with cuffs. These suits tended to be dark blue dark brown and charcoal gray, with gray being the more popular color. Another color that started being worn by men was pink, but that tended to be in the more casual wear. In the late 50s a new style of suit with sharper shoulders, and jackets there were shorter and more fitted and had narrower lapels appeared in Italy and also became a trend.

Writer Truman Capote wears a pullover sweater, casual shirt, and cuffed trousers, 1959. – From Wikipedia

For more casual occasions 1950s mens fashion consisted of cardigan sweaters, usually paired with a pair a trousers or shorts. younger men wore leather jackets, white t shirts and tight pants. During this decade Tartan plaids and other various plaids became a popular pattern in menswear. Khaki-color pants also became a trend for a more casual look.

1950s Hair

Typical hairstyles of the early 50s shown here on Fernando Lamas and Danielle Darrieux – From Wikipedia

For women, hair was cut in various lengths, though most preferred a shorter hair style. Earlier on in the decade hats were frequently used in fashion. Later in the 1950s fashion hats became less frequent and hairstyles became fuller. Short and high volume was a popular style, but other styles included tight curls or bob cuts. The most popular, and more well known hair style, was the bouffant. This hair style is what the character Tracy Turnblad wears at the beginner of the movie Hair Spray.

For men, the regular haircut consisted of hair that was parted at the side and tapered at the back and sides and was clean cut. Crew cuts were also popular. But for men who wanted something a hair style that was different, and against the norm, the greased up pompadour was the hairstyle of chose. This was the style made famous by Elvis Presley and James Dean. And though the style was frowned upon in schools, it was a popular style for men of all ages.

To learn more about the styles and trends of 1950s fashion check out these resources:

Wikipedia – 1945-60 in fashion – Wiki page on the various styles and trends after WWII through the 50s

Fashion 1950-1959 – a project page on the University at Buffalo website about 1950s fashion

Wikipedia – Hairstyles in the 1950s – Wiki page that looks at popular hair styles of the 1950s

Fashion-Era.com – 1950s Fashion History, Costume History & 50s Social History – This website has many pages that look at different parts of 50s style and fashion

Living Fifties Fashion – The @LivingFifties website is dedicated to 50s fashion and is an inforative resource on the subject