1950s Clothing Style

In the decade of the 1950s, women were well groomed and smartly put together. Appearance was of great importance, and so were manners.

A good pair of heels and nice pair of gloves were part of the look, as were nicely “squared” shoulders and soft, feminine looks with fitted waistlines. Later in the decade things became a little less structured and unfitted, as textile innovations brought new easy-care fabrics to fit the suburban lifestyle.

Designer Christian Dior launched his “New Look” collection during this phase of fashion. Americans took their time to warm up to the style, but eventually every woman wanted the silhouette on their frame, which built up its immense popularity. A good set of Pearls finished the tailored but feminine feel of his bold fashion statement.

You acted and behaved like a “lady” capturing the essence of class in the way you carried yourself, as any decent woman would. Everyone aspired to this pinnacle of perfection in womanhood!

The so-called shape of the day was the hourglass. To get yourself into “figure eight” proportions was paramount to you success as a glamorous being. This was soley for the woman though, and not meant for young girls. The majority of women wore a girdle to attain this shape.

The well-known poodle skirt was fashioned after the swing skirt, which ladies wore as part of their summer ensemble. An opposite to the wide, full shape of the swing skirt was the pencil skirt, which was closely fitted and slim in line.

Sportswear changed the casual styled clothes for both men and women, and gave teenagers an opportunity to make their own fashion statements with items such as Blue Jeans and T-Shirts…though those were not deemed to be appropriate gear for the young as hoodlums and those on the fringe wore those styles, not well-behaved children. New York was at the epicenter of this transition in fashion, in the post-war period.

You will note that women wore dresses more often than not during this time for most occasions. Pants were not generally worn other than for the practical garments such as those required for service positions during the war. Pants were still reserved for the males of the decade. Women enjoyed the comfort of these garments, and bucked tradition by wearing pedal-pushers or “houseboy” pants which fell below the knee, to mid-calf.

Hats were still a very popular item for any woman’s head, and came in a variety of styles and colors. Hair was cropped short and curled, with the bouffant and beehive taking front and centre later on in the decade. Teenage girls however, wore their hair in ponytails or long and straight.

Maternity Wear was not shown much attention until the I Love Lucy television show starring that famous redheaded comedienne, Lucille Ball.

Her pregnancy on that TV show drew attention to styles made for pregnant women. The baby boom was part of this need. As a result, many a woman’s growing figure was accommodated by the “stretch panels” and “Maternity panty” which were patented during this time so that the clothing could expand as the mother’s tummy would expand, for comfort.

Overall, the fifties was a time of great prosperity, change and innovation. The fashions and styles of the day were part of the whole pop culture of that historical decade…the nifty fifties!

The Fifties family was very different from today’s generation.

Seldom did you see a single parent family as Divorce was not a common occurrence. Moms and Dads stayed together more often than not, no matter how miserable or unhappy, as pressure from society in those days caused a stigma against divorced couples.

Back in the fifties, women worked in the so-called “traditional” jobs as teachers, nurses, secretaries or librarians. There were few opportunities for women to do much else outside of the home as it was expected that they would marry and become housewives who spent their time caring for the home and family. A grim eye was cast on those women who remained single.

Men were seen in the same follow the Jones’ mentality, and were expected to marry and have children, as it was part of the norm. Employers carried the same expectations for their male employees.

Along with the baby boom of the decade, came the housing boom. Out went the outhouses, and in came the good old flush toilet. Modern conveniences were more and more plentiful. TV was enjoyed by many a household, with family sitcoms such as Ozzie & Harriet and Father Knows Best or who can forget comedians George Burns and Gracie Allen and Uncle Miltie making the scene! Those were almost always taped LIVE too!

Back then, everyone was gathered around the same television set, watching the same show as it was rare for families to have more than one TV set in the house. It was more than likely that they were a one-phone household as well!

Rock and Roll music was big and kids played music on their transistor radios or a smaller version of the old record player…remember those?!? The black wax disc is long gone these days.

Kids loved to hang out at the local Diner or Soda Shop…similar to what you’ve probably seen on episodes of Happy Days with Richie and the Fonz. Computers didn’t even exist back then, nor did today’s fast paced Video games.

The cool stuff included the Hula Hoop and Coonskin cap, like Davy Crockett wore, Barbie dolls and board games.

Times were much simpler and slower paced back in the 1950s. Styles were defined by the stars and happenings of the day…the more things change, maybe the more they stay the same!

I look at the movie magazines of the present day and see throwbacks to the fifties fashions not only in the clothes, but in the costumes and music of the current famous recording artists and in some of the interior design and architecture of the newest high-rises, houses and even comfort food Retro Diners.

It seems that people are longing to reminisce about the hip, cool and fascinating Daddy-O times like the Fabulous Styles of the Fifties!

Why not…they were wacky, wild, fun and crraaazzzzy times!