History of Fashion: 1950s - Luxtailor (2024)

FAQs

What is the summary of 1950s fashion? ›

The look of the fifties is characterized by elegance. Women, in particular, were expected not only to look their best in public, but also to at home. Fine fabrics such as velvet, tulle, and silk are used for evening wear. During the day, however, manufacturers are increasingly turning to wool and cotton.

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.

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.

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.

1950s fashion overview

The end of the war also saw the return of couture fashion designers like Christian Dior, Cristóbal Balenciaga, Coco Chanel, and Hubert de Givenchy who had a major impact in the style of the decade.

Although womenswear in the 1950s prided formality, men's fashion moved towards an informality it had not yet seen before. Though young women wore tight sweaters and sought clothes that suited her age, it was young men who really started the so-called “youth culture” of the 1950s.

Key pieces included tight-fitting pencil skirts, hot pants, halter neck dresses, bustier tops and swimwear. One of the most iconic looks of the 50s was the greaser style. Originating in America, the 1950s greaser look was started by Marlon Brando and perfected by James Dean.

The 50s Silhouette

There are two main silhouettes in 50s fashion – the wasp waist with full skirt and the slim fitting pencil skirt. Both are iconic 50s looks that prevailed until 1956 and can be portrayed as super sexy or fun and flirty – depending on how you wear them.

Jean Dawnay, or 'Caroline' as she was known, was a house model for Dior during the years 1949 – 50. Her transformation from 'frumpy' post-war English model to polished Dior mannequin saw her become one of the original supermodels, later she married Prince George Galitzine.

Did Dior use black models in 1950s? ›

Church, the first successful Black model in Paris, discovered personal liberation on the runways of Christian Dior and Elsa Schiaparelli in the 1950s. She was in an industry that had been especially resistant to using any but white models to represent beauty on magazine covers and in advertisem*nts.

Christian Dior (born January 21, 1905, Granville, France—died October 24, 1957, Montecatini, Italy) was a French fashion designer whose New Look style—characterized by ultrafeminine and highly sculptured clothing—dominated fashion in the decade following World War II.

Fashions of the 1950s included figure-flattering full A-line skirts, glove-fitted pencil skirts, and tailored, crisp, and structured matching peplum jackets. The fastest way to create a modern 1950s fashion look is by choosing blazers with girdle or corsetry and a flare out over the hips.

Poodle skirts and ponytails, jeans and slick-backed hair—that's what many people consider iconic 1950s fashions. These looks were popular for teens, but what did everyone else wear? Style in the 1950s offered both men and women a new range of options.

In the 1950s, mid-century modern design was brought into the limelight. The color palette reflected the optimism of the post-war era, with vibrant and pastel hues stealing the spotlight.

1950s Fashion Overview

To think of 1950s fashion is akin to a bright summers day! Glamourous shapes, colourful prints and always exaggerated with voluminous skirts and tiny waists.

The 1950s were a decade marked by the post-World War II boom, the dawn of the Cold War and the civil rights movement in the United States.