Fashions of the 1950's: The "New Look" (2024)

The "New Look"

The war was over, the boys were home, the restrictions were lifted, and the economy was reviving.
It was time. In February 1947, Christian Dior introduced the first major postwar collection, called the "Carolle Line" (16), but soon dubbed the "New Look" by American journalists in Life Magazine. Dior, along with every moderately fashion-conscious female of the times, was long wearied of the harsh Utility style clothes and their masculine quality. With his lavishly soft, purposefully elegant line, Dior did away with wartime fashions and began the flood of radical changes that were to follow. In a single movement he created one of the most distinct looks of the century. What was the "New Look?" The "New Look" is most recognizable by its curvy shape and line, a far cry from its immediate predecessors. The desired look was a womanly hourglass figure, with a tiny waist, full hips, and a plentiful bust. Shoulders were no longer squared, but rounded and natural. Jackets were pinched in at the waist, and dresses had darts to accommodate the fabric increase from small waist to large chest and hips. Skirts were mid calf and full, flowing with layers of nylon petticoats. The freedom and grandeur of the skirts gave both a glamorous feeling and appearance. Variations on skirt line and length emerged as the decade progressed, and encompassed a great variety of styles. Women were adorned with hats, gloves, shoes, and purses; all the accessories to match.

One of his more famous designs in the New Look line was "The Bar," pictured below (16)

The idea was to be an image, have a presence, and simply glow with feminine elegance and beauty.

What made it so appealing? Aesthetic sensibilities inevitably must take a backseat in times of crisis. So of course women found the wartime styles oppressive, restricting both their stylistic tastes and feminine inclinations. The New Look quickly became an iconographic symbol of youth and beauty, as well as a herald for a hopeful and promising future. Without the constant economical oppressions of war, the American public was learning the beautiful art of spending money on themselves. The overtones of frivolity in Dior's and many others' styles became socially accepted, even if not publicly acknowledged. Dior himself was quoted in saying, "Novelty is the very essence of the fashion trade." (1, p. 40) The Trickle-Down Effect Obviously, not every woman of the fifties could glide around in a brand-new formal Dior ball gown. This was particularly true in America, where the haute couture styles found on the streets of Paris had never been physically tangible. Despite the obvious price barriers, (Dior's gowns ranged from $300-$2400), they were clearly of little practical use in everyday life. For evening and formal affairs, a Dior would be totally acceptable; as would a comparable copy. Dior's designs were a conception, a model, an ideal to be strived for and sought after. He must be given credit for the vision of feminine grace and elegance that the majority of fifties styles came to strive for. But what about the average American housewife? Sears Catalogues from the era are an authentic indication of everyday style. The trickle-down effect of Dior's New Look style is distinct and marked all the way through the end of the decade. The most common adaptation was the shirtwaist dress, which showed the desired hourglass shape, but was more practical than formalwear.

Fashions of the 1950's: The "New Look" (3)

Advertisem*nt for classic shirtwaist dress (9, p. 8)

Fashions of the 1950's: The "New Look" (2024)

FAQs

What was the new look in 1950s? ›

After the horrors and restrictions of the Second World War, the New look perfectly captured the optimism felt by the British public. Looking to the female figure for inspiration designers created garments, which moulded to the curves of the body, with nipped in waists, rounded shoulder lines and fuller, longer skirts.

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What was the fashion style in the 1950s? ›

Mid 1950s style

The silhouette became softer and straighter with a higher hemline and relaxed waistline. Evening dresses were popular in medium lengths and were often made of wool chiffon or jersey fabrics. Matching hats and jackets were still common accessories to formal outfits.

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How did 1950s fashion impact society? ›

Fashion in the 1950s saw a clear gender divide. While men and boy's fashion moved towards a more casual day-to-day style, women and girl's fashion prioritized elegance, formality, and perfectly matched accessories.

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Will 50s fashion comeback? ›

Now, it seems, fashion has caught up (or gone back) to what Walton's been doing all along. For fall 2023, Prada, long a purveyor of the '50s silhouette, went all in, showing A-line white skirts, some adorned with 3D flowers.

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What was The New Look in fashion? ›

Christian Dior's reputation as one of the most important couturiers of the twentieth century was launched in 1947 with his very first collection, in which he introduced the "New Look." Featuring rounded shoulders, a cinched waist, a very full skirt, the "New Look" celebrated ultra-femininity and opulence in women's ...

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What were the fashion changes in the 1950s? ›

Women's Trends of the 1950s: The Hourglass Silhouette Reigns

Now, shoulders were softened with padding that rounded them, waists were snatched and shrunk to Victorian proportions, and hips were exaggerated with tulle and crinolines that added bulk. The goal? A supremely “feminine” silhouette.

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Why was 1950s fashion popular? ›

In the 1950s, the greater geographic diversity in designers meant more styles from which to choose. Furthermore, new synthetic fabrics offered fresh possibilities for mass-produced clothing. Strong consumer spending led to even more demand for clothing—and accessories to accompany every style.

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Why did fashion change in the 1950s? ›

Textiles in the 1950s became more advanced and wash and wear fabric became more apparent in ready to wear fashion. There was a wider range of clothing that became readily however women played the roles as homemakers. The look of a homemaker would dress for both style and comfort.

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What influenced 1950s fashion? ›

The clothing of the 1950s grew out of the return home of American men after World War II. Women had taken on a greater role while the men were away, but they returned to more narrow roles after the war and their clothes likewise grew definitively feminine.

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What was the biggest fashion trend of the 1950s? ›

1950's fashion was casual yet formal and elegant. Shoulder lines became more softened, corset waists became smaller, and rounded hips with long skirts became popular. The iconic gray felt poodle skirts emerged with white bobby socks and saddle shoes.

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How to dress like the 50s female? ›

Known fashion icons back then (like Marilyn Monroe) wore girdles around their hips to nip their bellies and waists. Early 50s style also consisted mainly of tailored tweed dresses, ankle-length dresses, low necklines, and long skirts with petticoats. Back then, Fashion had more rules and structure than now.

What colors were popular in the 1950s? ›

1950s color Colors There were three major color trends in the 50s; pastel, modern and Scandinavian. Pastel colors that were particularly popular were pink, turquoise, mint green, pale yellow and blue. Modern colors were clean and bright and included vibrant yellow, electric blue, orange, red, black and white.