Timeless-Elegance-The-Glamour-of-1950s-Fashion
                     Timeless Elegance The 
Glamour of 1950s Fashion
Many people see classic 1950s fashion as poodle skirts and ponytails, pants and slick-backed 
hair. While adolescents loved these looks, what did everyone else wear? 1950 fashion offered 
men and women new choices. Though they wore different fashions, the people in your mid-
century family pictures had some basic themes. Here's what you could find and the 
accompanying justification.
The Stories Behind 1950s fashion
Many war-torn countries were still reconstructing when the 50s style got started. Many places 
where products had been in low supply have replenished. Many times, returning warriors had 
married and started families; women had stopped their occupations to become stay-at-home 
wives and mothers. As a means of economic recovery, certain governments—especially the 
United States—promoted consumption.
Designers gained recognition outside of Paris, France both during and after the war. More 
geographical variation among designers meant more choices of designs in the 1950s. Moreover, 
newly developed synthetic fabrics opened doors for mass-produced clothing, making 
Retro Glamour more accessible to the public. Strong consumer spending raised demand for 
clothes and accessories to complement every trend. Fashion publications and movie stars 
pushed fresh trends and showed how to correctly wear new kinds of apparel.
Women in the 1950s Styles
Women's gowns
French designer Christian Dior debuted his beautiful, luxurious "New Look" for women in 1947, 
and it was current all through the 1950s. Dresses had expansive skirts, tight waistlines, rounded 
shoulders, and overdone hips. The New Look hailed the end of war economics and embraced the 
idea of vibrant femininity. From everyday shirtwaists and sundresses to crinoline-covered circle 
skirt ensembles, coatdresses, and formalwear, the design found expression in many 1950s 
trends.
Dior's New Look was not the only elegant shape available for ladies. Pencil gowns covered a lady 
from the bodice to the mid-calf hemline. To obtain a similar look, pair tailored, tucked-in shirts 
with pencil skirts. Other decade-shortened or relocated waistlines in dress designs included bell-
shaped skirts, A-line dresses, and sack dresses.
Casual Wear for Women
Women started wearing more casual clothing including pants. American female fashion 
designers were well-known for creating informal, utilitarian clothes—such as designer 
sportswear, pants, and playsuits—that could satisfy the many needs of working women. Audrey 
Hepburn popularized a laid-back, elegant look with dark, slender pants, simple boat-neck shirts 
and low heels.
Women's Shoes and Accessories
A pair of shoes for every occasion shows the 1950s way of thinking quite well. It was impossible 
to deny an almost endless spectrum of new kinds of women's shoes; they were more attractive, 
lightweight, sturdy, and comfortable than before. Solid and pattern hues abound for closed-toe 
pumps, stiletto heels, flats, wedges, sandals, moccasins, and other shoes.
Men's 1950s clothes
American influence clearly changed men's clothes to become more casual. Many men wore 
conservatively colored baggy suits with tight ties in the early 1950s. Men's clothing changed 
during the decade to get more textured, vibrant, and casual. Guys used to relax wearing light 
sports coats and vibrant shirts with jeans. Summer must-have items include knee-length shorts 
and Hawaiian-style tees.
1950s Fashion for Teens and Youth
Young men of the 1950s looked for other ways to present themselves than their parents. Vintage 
Edwardian (Teddy) suits made on London's Savile Row influenced the Teddy Boy style. Round out 
the look with straight stovepipe trousers, velvet-collar jackets, white shirts, colorful socks, suede 
creeper shoes, and properly combed-back hair. Movie stars such as James Dean and Marlon 
Brando helped to promote jeans, white shirts, leather jackets, and greased-back hair in the 
United States.