Fashion in the 50s

Edyn Sherman and Lila Kieley

Fashion in the 50’s
-The clothing wasn’t wild in color or style. They tended to stay basic and covered

-They were more on the conservative side

-women’s skirts/dresses were very long with quarter sleeves or full sleeves

-Men always wore long pants, dress shoes, and long sleeve shirts
Some Background on 50s Fashion
● During WWII there was a limited supply of thread, needles, and fabrics because of
this clothing was a big thing in the 50s
● Most clothing catalogs were oriented towards women
● Women wanted thin waists, large hips, and shapley busts
● corsets, latex slimmers and anything that would change the shapes of women's
bodies were very popular and heavily marketed towards women
Men’s Style
-Men either wore different types of hats or styled their hair differently

-Go to hats included: Fedora’s, boaters, panama hats and flap caps

-Shirt collars with a coat or with a sweater vest used to be very popular

-They always had a bowtie on or a necktie

Pin Up Fashion
● Inspired by 50s poster girls
● Meant to be a seductive look
● Usually more revealing
● “Halterneck dresses”, “bustier tops”, “tight fitting pencil skirts”, “hot pants”, and all
sorts of swimwear
Sunglass Fashion
-Sunglasses were huge in the 50’s

-Sunglasses represented wealth and fame

-Usually people would wear them to symbolize their wealth and or fame

-Women wore cat eye sunglasses which was inspired by hollywood

Greaser Fashion
● This style was more popular towards men
● Men usually wore leather jackets, with greasy slicked back hair, and usually on a
motorcycle
● For the women it was a combo of Pin up, and Rockabilly fashion
● The style originated with young working class men and teens
Women’s Style
-Women wore tea length dresses and petticoats

-When they wanted to lean away from big dresses they chose to wear

Tailored suits

-They also wore slim sheath dresses

Rockabilly Fashion
● This styles was based on the music genre with the same name
● The style combined elements from country music and rock n’ roll
● Women wore “swing dresses”, “poodle skirts”, “pencil skirts”, and more
● The style was very popular among teen girls
Brothel Creeper shoes
-These shoes became popular the following years of World War II

-Men usually styled these shoes with long pants rolled up to the ankle and long white
socks

-George Cox Limited made these shoes in 1949

Marilyn Monroe
● Marilyn created trends by just wearing whatever she wanted.
● lots of influential looks from her movies
● lots of influential looks in real life from her too
● always wearing the latest looks
● styles casual and high end clothing
Bibliography
1950’s fashion-https://fiftiesweb.com/fashion/1950s-fashion/ What men REALLY wore in the 50’s-
https://www.gentlemansgazette.com/what-men-wore-1950s/ What Did Women Wear in the 1950s? 1950s Fashion
Guide-https://vintagedancer.com/1950s/1950s-fashion-women-get-look/

Brewer, Taylah (n.d), 50s Fashion For Women, https://www.thetrendspotter.net/50s-womens-fashion/

Looks that made marilyn monroe a fashion
icon-https://www.itsrosy.com/Style+Flashback+Marilyn+Monroe#:~:text=She%20lit%20up%20a%20red,wore%20off%20the%2
0silver%20screen.

Fashion and Accessories of the 1950's-https://www.thepeoplehistory.com/50sclothes.html