Celebrating 1950s Fashion

The 50s was a hopping decade in America that brought the official end of WWII, Elvis Presley, the discovery of DNA, and the creation of the Polio vaccine. During this decade, Truman leads the United States, Churchill is prime minister, and Princess Elizabeth becomes Queen at the age of 25. Our nation saw the introduction of color television, Velcro, Legos, and car seat belts. This era also brought fashion staples that we still wear today.



//1// The Shirt-Waist Dress

Its design is based off of a menswear staple. The shirt-waist dress' emphasis on the waist, small rounded shoulders, and the bust is anything but masculine. Both casual and dress versions of the shirt-waist dress were staples in a woman's closet from the time Dior introduced the "New Look" silhouette in 1947. 1950s shirt-waist dresses were worn with petticoats underneath to the increase the skirts volume, and girdles to make the waist even smaller. They could also be worn more casually without a petticoat. Such shirt-waist dresses were referred to as house dresses.

dress // shoes // clutch

//2// The Cardigan Sweater

In the 1950s cardigans became a staple since they could be worn with any style skirt. Cardigans became more decorative and elaborate with lots of beading details, specialty buttons, and designs. Helen Bond Carruthers and Bonnie Cashin were two designers who were known for their show stopping cardigans.

sweater // pants // shoes

//3// The Wiggle Skirt (The Pencil Skirt)

The sexier option for women was the wiggle (or pencil) skirt. The shape of the wiggle skirt was a high and tight pleated waist, form fitting through the hips, and slightly tapered through the knee.

top // skirt // bag // shoes

Have you incorporated 1950s fashion into your style without even knowing it?