Fashion

We know what Lucy wore, and there are plenty of pictures of Grace Kelly, but what did the average American housewife wear in the 1950s? Was it all gloves, skirts and sweaters? Find out here as we research the fab 50s fashion.

Fashion successes were Bill Blass and his blue jeans, poodle skirts made of felt and decorated with sequins and poodle appliques, pony tails for girls, and flat tops and crew cuts for guys. Saddle shoes and blue suede loafers were popular. Teenagers were defined as a separate generation and were represented by James Dean who wore blue jeans in Rebel Without a Cause and created a fashion and attitude sensation. Activities we liked were flying saucer watching , and watching and dancing to Dick Clark’s American Bandstand.

  

Men’s Fashion

Fashions for men in the 50’s are often thought of in terms of the Fonz and Grease. Well, forget that. The picture to the right is a far more mainstream view of how men actually dressed.

Men didn’t have many workplace choices for color. Dark blue, dark brown, and charcoal. Even the ties, traditionally men’s flamboyant touch, were uniform and dark. Some time would have to pass before men began to reclaim the sartorial splendor which has been historically theirs.

But yes, there were young men at school who looked just like the Fonz, but not many and they didn’t have motorcycles. And truth be told, most girls wouldn’t have gone out with any of them anyway.

Even Dad wanted to be a cowboy. Influenced by the dominance of theTV Western, eveybody went a little Yehaw. Although only kids wore the cookskin caps, menswear was adapting nicely to the “home on the range” look.

Men wore hats in the Fifties. Not sometimes. All the time. There was some variation as to style, but no man was dressed unless a hat adorned his head.

100 Years Of Fashion

Woman's Fashion

Women dressed “smartly’ in the Fifties. Good grooming and a tailored look were prized. Acting and looking “every inch the lady” was taught virtually from the cradle and wearing a dress was a given.

Notice our first ladies have heels and gloves. This was required to complete the look.A summery afternoon floral, has what was called a swing skirt. This very popular style had many forms, including the poodle skirt.

Note the wide collars at right which soften the neckline. “Peter Pan” or broad collars were a fixture of the 50s.

Contrary to whatever impression you may have gathered from watching Donna Reed or Harriett Nelson, real wives and mothers did not go around doing housework in dresses accessorized by pearls and heels. 

100 Years of Fashion