33 Mind-Blowing '50s Fashion Facts: Vintage Clothing Revealed!

Fashion is constantly changing, and the '50s were one of the most influential decades in this area of history.

Many people associate the '50s with women being confined to the kitchen and the home, but the time allowed women to reflect on themselves via fashion. As a result, when researching the history of fashion, this is not an age to overlook.

With the country going through significant sociological and cultural changes, clothing became an essential component of culture, also a technique to exhibit conformity and individual identity, showcasing one's place in society more than ever before. Some internet stores, such as Ballyhoo Vintage Clothing, sell plus-size vintage clothing from the '30s to the '60s.

If you enjoyed this article, please read about '50s entertainment facts and 20th-century music facts here on Kidadl.

1950 Women's Clothing

After the world war ended, renowned fashion designers such as Christian Dior, Hubert de Givenchy, and Coco Chanel, surfaced as the key influence on the decade's style.

The '50s fashion was elegant, well-groomed, and placed. In the fashion scene in the '50s, following a period of austerity during World War II, several countries' economies began to recover.

During the '50s, America had a comeback of exquisite and expensive fashion, which coincided with rationing and frugality during the war years. During this decade, designers launched several new styles and trends.

In the '50s, women's styles were known for expressing a complex blend of conservatism and glamour, with a girl-next-door appearance as well as appealing femininity.

Women who had endured the hardships of the Great Depression and World War II could now afford new trends and welcomed them all, from the grandeur of long, progressive skirts to the practicality of shorts and trousers.

Mother-daughter matching outfits and matching sister dresses were among the decade's most memorable fashions. Twinning hats with jackets were still popular formal accessories.

The popular silhouette, pioneered by Christian Dior and seen in other French collections, featured a tiny waist, a fitted upper half with pointed breasts, and a voluminous skirt that fell just below the knee. It was dubbed Dior's Corolla collection.

The 'New Look' of Christian Dior from 1947 continued to influence fashion in the '50s. The new, more feminine wardrobe is characterized by unpadded, rounded shoulders, shapely chest lines, finely defined waistlines, and billowy full skirts.

For this aim, look at the book 'Planet Fashion: 100 Years of Fashion History'. Natasha Slee wrote this book, which Cynthia Kittler masterfully illustrated.

The pages will take you on a journey through 25 scenes from the history of fashion, including the '50s. Each image features a man and a woman dressed to the nines for their respective eras.

The long thin sheath dress sporting a high v-neckline along with the slim skirt, and the short jacket were another classic of Dior's famous silhouette. The wandering waistline was a recurring theme throughout the decade.

Based on the aesthetic, it was in lines of fashion to have a high or low waist, natural waist, or even no waistline. With a fitted jacket and pencil or full skirt, Dior and Ricci developed versions of the New Look.

Tailored blouses, striped blazers, tapered pants in bright colors, and plaid or paisley designs became increasingly popular casual wear.

As the full skirt and tiny waist dynasty came to an end, fashion trends appeared to be following a seven-year pattern. An ample, pointed bosom and a straighter, gentler profile were desired in 1954.

Surprisingly, the United States was setting global fashion trends. Designers spent most of their time in 1951 innovating the sleeve. The shoulders were sleek, but the sleeves inflated dramatically in several places. Others stood out in ruffled fans or tiered pagodas. Three-quarter bell suits were popular in the past.

For school or casual wear in the '50s, teen females wore penny loafers or flats. In the '50s, a full-length white silk and lace wedding dress with a fitted bodice and full-length white veil was the perfect gown for a bride.

In a lace wedding gown made by Helen Rose, Grace Kelly marries Prince Rainier of Monaco in a religious ceremony in 1957.

Marilyn Monroe is a well-known actress. Marilyn Monroe became known not only as a sex figure but also as a fashion icon.

She was one of the few ladies of her day who included the sensual element into one's entire style, and she went on to become one of the most famous beauty and fashion icons of all time with Grace Kelly.

The latter was among the most renowned fashion icons of history. In films like Rear Window, Grace Kelly's traditional wardrobe sense came across well. Her natural, beautiful manner expressed her innate beauty. For the actress-turned-princess, Hermes produced the renowned Kelly purse to hide her 'baby bump' from the press. 

Givenchy was inspired by Audrey Hepburn, who exuded a youthful grace. Audrey had become a fashion icon who is still appreciated and copied today thanks to her petite body, which was rare in a time when the mature hour-glass silhouette was celebrated.

Audrey Hepburn, who was thin, fresh, and graceful form, defied beauty standards at the time. Audrey Hepburn, the actress, popularized a laid-back, stylish appearance.

The renowned 'little black dress' from the film 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' was among them, even though the picture was filmed in the early '60s. Women wore short shorts with shirts either tucked in or tied at the midriff at home or the beach.

Pedal pushers terminated just below the knee in a casual yet classy style, while Capri pants finished at the lower calf. Pedal pushers terminated just below the knee in a casual yet classy style, while Capri pants finished at the lower calf.

Shirtwaist dresses were a popular alternative to the more exaggerated forms and were frequently worn by TV housewives. The innovation in design that took place in the fifties can be seen in the Balenciaga evening dress.

Christobel Balenciaga, a Spanish-born designer who had relocated to Paris, went the other way to the New Look, creating loose fluid designs and continually experimenting with the silhouette.

In 1953, he invented the balloon jacket, and in 1955, the tunic dress. In 1957, he shifted gears and debuted the high-necked baby doll gown.

Tailored suits with rigid waists and emphasized hips appeared to be highly feminine. These outfits were virtually always paired with white ankle socks and sparkling black patent leather shoes, as well as meticulously combed hair, whether at a party or school. So these tips might help you dress up like the '50s girl.

1950 Men's Clothing

Men's clothing remained relatively unchanged throughout the decade. Suits, sport coats, slacks, sweaters, and casual wear were all available in similar fabrics and styles. For casual wear, bolder patterns appeared occasionally, but business attire remained relatively unchanged until the '50s.

Men's clothing grew substantially more informal, thanks in part to American influence. Many men wore dull-colored baggy suits combined with thin ties in the early '50s.

Men's outfits were drawn to textured, bright, and casual patterns as time progressed. Men wore lightweight sports jackets and colorful shirts with pants when they went out for fun. In the middle of the decade, casual men's fashion became increasingly trendy.

The famous greaser look is also originating from '50s fashion, thanks to iconic films like Grease and West Side Story. Solid white or black t-shirts with dark jeans, and leather jackets paired with leather boots were other symbols of fashion from the era.

Movie stars like James Dean iconized jeans, white shirts, leather jackets, and greased-back hair in the United States.

Chanel made blouses the focus of her designs. With the sack dress and relaxed fit top, shapes softened even further as the decade proceeded.

Colors like yellow, blue, violet, and green remained vivid, but beige and neutral tones gained appeal. The Continental suit for men that came by the end of the decade, featured short fitted jackets alongside thin lapels and precise tailoring.

Pedal pushers terminated just below the knee in a casual yet classy style, while Capri pants finished at the lower calf. Trousers In '50s fashion, tight, three-quarter-length capri pants showed off delicate ankles and appeared trendy and youthful.

They were worn much higher up on the waist than we do today, up to the natural waist, accentuated by a tight belt.

The Trends Of The '50s

The beat style became fashionable as the decade advanced, became more popular among the younger crowd, as their writings and poems acquired appeal.

Black turtlenecks, skinny black trousers, pencil skirts, black loafers, berets, and club master or wayfarer sunglasses were all part of the beatnik style. For a similar style, women might combine pencil skirts with fitted blouses that were tucked in. Barbara Billingsley, better known as June Cleaver, was a housewife who cleaned her home in pencil skirts and pearls.

For tailored apparel, block colors replaced prints, and perfectly made suits with pencil skirts or fitted dresses along the same lines were the most appropriate for work and shopping. There were three major color trends in the '50s: pastel, Scandinavian, and modern. Pink, mint green, turquoise, soft yellow, and blue were fashionable pastel color schemes in '50s interior design.

Black and white saddle shoes were fashionable among teens in the '50s, but women also wore them. They looked best with denim slacks and felt or cotton circle skirts.

A limitless array of new women's shoe styles were challenging to refuse; shoes were durable, lightweight, comfortable, and attractive than ever before. Stiletto heels, wedges, moccasins, sandals, and other types of shoes were available in solid and printed colors.

A fashionable statement was a fitted shirt with having a Peter Pan collar and a pencil skirt or circle skirt (now known as 'poodle skirt'). Cardigans and other fitted sweaters used to be either used alone or over the top.

Scarves tied around the neck and saddle shoes with white bobby socks may have completed the appearance for teenage girls. Bathing suits were either seductively contoured to the physique or designed to look like rompers for tiny girls.

Even though women began to wear pants for some occasions, the fashion atmosphere in the '50s moved towards femininity and formality. As designers introduced the cocktail dress to the public, this was especially true in evening wear.

These dresses, worn to the new cocktail party, are a cross between daywear and evening dresses, with the length of a day dress but the embellishment of an evening dress. Polka dot motifs were popular as well.

Extra-large polka dot designs were the decade's most prominent fashion statement, appearing on gowns and complementing accessories. Men's shoes had fewer options than women's shoes, but they were far more practical. Men could either wear saddle shoes or choose penny loafers for more relaxed occasions.

When it came to business clothing, conformity was the rule. Whether a simple office worker or a CEO, most businessmen and staff wore the standard 'gray flannel suit'. This clothing, on the other hand, wasn't just gray.

Women's shoes came in a limitless assortment of new styles, all of which provided more comfort, durability, and elegance than ever before. Stiletto heels, moccasins, sandals, wedges were some types of shoes that were available. White flat lace-up sneakers and black ballet flats with a bow on the toe were among the other casual shoes.

More clothing was produced faster and in a larger quantity than ever before because of innovations in mass production. Clothing grew more inexpensive as production speed improved, and off-the-rack manufacturers rushed to mimic haute couture styles. Thus it changed the fashion industry.

The Most Popular Hairstyle In The '50s

Many people regard slick-backed hair, ponytails, or poodle skirts to be legendary.

Long hair was wrapped up into ponytails or twisted into a French twist for formal occasions, popular among young girls. For a classy yet free look, the Italian cut featured short, flowing curls. Bangs were worn short and curled with both short and longer hairstyles.

In alternative styles in the '50s, the term 'beatnik' was coined to characterize a group of intellectuals, artists, and poets. The beatniks, like other bohemians of the time, rebelled against mainstream consumerism and conventional ideas. Beatnik women eschewed fashion trends and kept their hair long and natural.

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