Clothing and Fashion in 1950 Through 1960 Clothing and Fashion in 1950 Through 1960 Weman

Poodle skirts and ponytails, jeans and slick-backed hair—that'south what many people consider iconic 1950s fashions. These looks were popular for teens, but what did everyone else habiliment? Style in the 1950s offered both men and women a new range of options. The people in your mid-century family photos may have worn lots of styles, but there were some mutual themes. Here'due south what you may see and why.

The Stories behind 1950s Styles

As the 1950s dawned, many state of war-torn countries were still rebuilding. Goods were available again in many places that had seen shortages. In many cases, returning soldiers had married and started families, and women had left the workplace to become stay-at-abode wives and mothers. Some countries, including the U.s., encouraged consumerism as a way of strengthening the economy.

During and subsequently the war, designers came to prominence from places other than Paris, France (the longtime fashion capital of the West). In the 1950s, the greater geographic diverseness in designers meant more styles from which to choose. Furthermore, new synthetic fabrics offered fresh possibilities for mass-produced wearable. Strong consumer spending led to even more demand for article of clothing—and accessories to accompany every style. Film stars and mode magazines promoted new looks and showed how to wear new styles of wearable well.

Women's 1950s Styles

Women'southward Dresses

In 1947, French designer Christian Dior launched his elegant, opulent "New Look" for women, and it remained popular in the 1950s. Dresses had rounded shoulders, cinched-in waistlines, exaggerated hips, and total skirts. The New Look historic an end to wartime austerity and embraced an ideal of decorative femininity. The shape was echoed in many 1950s styles, from everyday shirtwaists and sundresses to crinoline-covered circle skirt ensembles, coatdresses, and formalwear.

Dior's New Expect wasn't the only pop silhouette for women. Pencil dresses sheathed a adult female's body from bodice to to mid-calf hemline. Pencil skirts could be paired with tailored, tucked-in blouses for a like look. Other wearing apparel designs of the decade loosened or moved the waistline, such every bit the sack dress, the A-line dress, and bell-shaped skirts.

Women around the Western world (and beyond) embraced these new styles. The New Wait was especially popular in West Deutschland. Australian women loved both the New Wait and pencil silhouettes. Film footage of a 1950s Japanese fashion bear witness reveals dresses inspired by all these Western trends.

Women'south Coincidental Clothing

Women's trousers and casual clothing became increasingly common. Female way designers in the United States were particularly known for creating practical, coincidental clothing—such as playsuits, pants, and designer sportswear—that could serve the versatile needs of active women. Actress Audrey Hepburn helped popularize a coincidental, chic expect, pairing dark, slim pants with simple gunkhole-necked tops and flat pumps.

The Beatnik way pared down a women'southward appearance fifty-fifty further. Beatnik styles (both dresses and slacks) were crisp and fitted. Colors were generally night neutrals, unembellished except for indigenous or bohemian flourishes.

Women'south Shoes and Accessories

"A pair of shoes for every occasion"—this idea sums up the 1950s mentality perfectly. An endless variety of new styles of women's shoes proved difficult to resistible; shoes were more comfortable, sturdy, lightweight, and cute than ever. Closed-toed pumps, stiletto heels, flats, wedges, sandals, moccasins, and other kinds of shoes could be purchased in a diverseness of solid or impress colors.

Hats continued to be fashionable, if optional, with choices such as iconic pillboxes, veiled fascinators, dainty Juliette caps, flat pancake hats, and large-brimmed harbinger hats for summer. Some women tied colorful scarves over their hair instead of wearing hats. A consummate ladies' outfit may accept included coordinated costume jewelry, gloves, and boxy, brusk-handled handbags or clutch purses.

Men'south 1950s Fashions

Thanks in part to U.s. influence, men's fashions became decidedly more casual. In the early 1950s, many men wore conservatively-colored, baggy suits with narrow ties. As the decade progressed, men's wardrobes became more textured, colorful, and casual. For leisure, men often donned lightweight sports coats and colored shirts paired with trousers. Hawaiian-style shirts and knee joint-length shorts became summer staples.

Men's shoes offered less variety than women's, but the shoes were a lot more practical. Wingtip oxfords or other leather clothes shoes in black or brown accompanied a accommodate. For more than casual times, men might sideslip on penny loafers or saddle shoes.

Youth and Teens Fashions in the 1950s

Young men of the 1950s found alternatives to dressing like their parents. The Teddy Boy style was based on retro-Edwardian (Teddy) suits fabricated on London's Savile Row. Straight stovepipe trousers, velvet-collar jackets, white shirts, colorful socks, suede creeper shoes, and carefully combed-back hair completed the await. In the United states, film stars Marlon Brando and James Dean popularized jeans, white shirts, leather jackets, and greased-back hair.

Teen girls often chose more than youthful interpretations of their mothers' styles. A mutual look was a fitted blouse with a Peter Pan collar tucked into a wide, elastic sure-fire chugalug with a round circle brim or a pencil skirt. (The now-iconic "poodle brim" was simply a round, full circle skirt with a poodle ornamentation on information technology, but other decorations were at least as popular.) Fitted sweaters, including cardigans, were sometimes worn alone or over a blouse. Teenage girls may have finished the expect with scarves knotted around the neck, white bobby socks, and saddle shoes.

1950s Styles in Family unit Photos

Expect through your family photos from the 1950s to see which styles your relatives favored. Consider sharing these photos on the FamilySearch Memories and tagging the picture with "1950s fashion" so others can savor them as well!

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