1950s Fashion-The End of Solemn Clothing Designs (For the Most Part)
Wartime clothing fashions were very conservative because of rationing on natural materials. However, once the war ended in the year 1947 (between the U.S. and Germany in 1951) clothing designs took on what is commonly referred to as “The New Look”.
Fashion Designers of the Times (1950s)
Traditional high fashion was very much respected from the early to late 1950s. Elegant dress was still “in”, especially during the years of 1950 to 1957. After 1957 informal dress was more encouraged and fashion “rules” were more relaxed.
When you read about the difference between Christian Dior and Yves Saint Laurent, you will understand the difference between traditional “haut couture” dress and casual dress of the times. You also can read more about these two designers when you read about 1960s fashion as well.
Christian Dior
Christian Dior was one of the most influential designers of the post-war decade, and on into the late 1950s. He introduced to the fashion world numerous feminine items, such as two-pieced outfits comprised of an A-line or pencil skirt (tight straight skirt) and a fitted suit jacket.
Underclothes items such as corsets or bodices were also very popular during this time. These were worn under skirts or dresses in order to help a woman retain her natural curves, and to help keep her bust in place. Hip pads were also worn with some of the dresses that Dior had designed.
Some of the styles of dresses that Christian Dior created took up to several yards of fabric. This brought about great opposition in the United States because the world was still very much in poverty. However, as a whole America took to the new frivolous designs being created.
Another one of Dior’s well-known creations is a black coat made of fine wool and is fitted in the waist area. In one photo of Dior’s creations this coat is shown to have one single button in the front abdomen area, and two ends of a ribbon attached to the collar of the coat.
Christian Dior had established quite a few fashion boutiques. By the middle 1950s his shops displayed not only clothing items but perfumes, stockings, lingerie, and accessories.
Christian Dior continued to have quite a bit of an affect on the attitudes towards high fashion (haut couture) during this decade. He trained Yves Saint Laurent who took his place in the year 1957.
Yves Saint Laurent
In the first part of Yves St. Laurent’s career he worked under Dior and created unwaisted clothing. He was mostly known for his work in creating clothes for the Spindle line of clothing he created while working under Dior.
Then, Dior passed away in 1957, and St. Laurent became his successor. During Saint Laurent’s first year as Dior’s successors he created a line of clothing under Dior called “Trapeze.” One of the signature pieces of this line of clothing created is a grey wool bouclé coat dress.
Although the marketing of the Trapeze line of clothing was successful, Yves Saint Laurent was going through quite a bit of changes. It is more than likely that Dior’s death could be what has affected St. Laurent’s attitudes toward fashion in the late 1950s to early 1960s.
By 1960, St. Laurent had created a whole new line of biker and beatnick clothing (the “Left Bank Beat” collection), created from “glove leather” as well as high-quality wools, minks, crocodile skins, and other materials.
Unfortunately, Saint Laurent’s newly-created designs did not impress those he now worked with at the business he ran. Likewise, his new fashions were not received well by the public at this time.
A year later (being drafted to the army) Saint Laurent started a business of his own with another man named Pierre Bergé. By this time radical looks were becoming more acceptable, and they together created a whole new look, especially styles that were made for the younger generation.
Teenagers everywhere were starting to purchase their own clothing because they could afford to do so. Since more and more teens were purchasing clothing, manufacturers of clothes began to cater to their desires more.
By the late 1950s new fashions were being introduced. They may not have been yet widely accepted by society as a whole, but subgroups of teenagers were wearing what was considered to be “radical” at this time.
For instance, both teen girls and boy would wear jeans, boots, and a leather jacket. Some teen girls during this time would attend dances dressed in all black.
Girls also may wear a cardigan with a simple skirt and a beaded necklace. Either that or they may wear a pinafore dress or tight pants with ballet shoes.
Some teens also wore preppie clothes, such as a pair of jeans with a baggy sweater and sandals. They may have also wore other clothing items such as “wicker picker” shoes, Italian jackets (usually short ones), or fluorescent socks.
One of the more cumbersome of outfits for teen girls during this time would most likely be the bulky cotton skirt that was worn with layers of petticoats underneath. These were often not allowed in schools.
These are some of the things you may have seen advertised Below and how much fashion clothes were in the 50's
Polo Shirts 99 cents New Hampshire 1950
Chino Pants $2.98 New Hampshire 1950
Boys Shoes $4.95 New Hampshire 1950
Nylon Stockings 2 pairs for a dollar New Hampshire 1950
Mens Suits $45.00 Wisconsin 1954
Ladies Full Length Cashmere Coat $59.00 California 1959
Mens All Wool Suits $28.90 Ohio 1957
Square dance Cotton Check Dress $3.29 California 1959
Ladies Sandals $2.95 New Hampshire 1950
Mens Dress Shoes $13.98 Wisconsin 1954
Childrens Shoes From $2.95 Wisconsin 1954
Short Spring Coats $9.88 California 1959
Girls Dresses $2.98 Texas 1956
Denim jeans 13 1/2 ounzes $2.49 Michigan 1957
Boys shirt $1.10 New Jersey 1956
Boys Denim Jeans $2.49 Michigan 1958
Boys winter jacket $7.80 New Jersey 1956
Leather Jacket $4.88 New Jersey 1956
Mens shirt $3.99 New Jersey 1956
Womens handbag $1.32 New Jersey 1956
Womens skirt $4.95 New Jersey 1956
Wartime clothing fashions were very conservative because of rationing on natural materials. However, once the war ended in the year 1947 (between the U.S. and Germany in 1951) clothing designs took on what is commonly referred to as “The New Look”.
Fashion Designers of the Times (1950s)
Traditional high fashion was very much respected from the early to late 1950s. Elegant dress was still “in”, especially during the years of 1950 to 1957. After 1957 informal dress was more encouraged and fashion “rules” were more relaxed.
When you read about the difference between Christian Dior and Yves Saint Laurent, you will understand the difference between traditional “haut couture” dress and casual dress of the times. You also can read more about these two designers when you read about 1960s fashion as well.
Christian Dior
Christian Dior was one of the most influential designers of the post-war decade, and on into the late 1950s. He introduced to the fashion world numerous feminine items, such as two-pieced outfits comprised of an A-line or pencil skirt (tight straight skirt) and a fitted suit jacket.
Underclothes items such as corsets or bodices were also very popular during this time. These were worn under skirts or dresses in order to help a woman retain her natural curves, and to help keep her bust in place. Hip pads were also worn with some of the dresses that Dior had designed.
Some of the styles of dresses that Christian Dior created took up to several yards of fabric. This brought about great opposition in the United States because the world was still very much in poverty. However, as a whole America took to the new frivolous designs being created.
Another one of Dior’s well-known creations is a black coat made of fine wool and is fitted in the waist area. In one photo of Dior’s creations this coat is shown to have one single button in the front abdomen area, and two ends of a ribbon attached to the collar of the coat.
Christian Dior had established quite a few fashion boutiques. By the middle 1950s his shops displayed not only clothing items but perfumes, stockings, lingerie, and accessories.
Christian Dior continued to have quite a bit of an affect on the attitudes towards high fashion (haut couture) during this decade. He trained Yves Saint Laurent who took his place in the year 1957.
Yves Saint Laurent
In the first part of Yves St. Laurent’s career he worked under Dior and created unwaisted clothing. He was mostly known for his work in creating clothes for the Spindle line of clothing he created while working under Dior.
Then, Dior passed away in 1957, and St. Laurent became his successor. During Saint Laurent’s first year as Dior’s successors he created a line of clothing under Dior called “Trapeze.” One of the signature pieces of this line of clothing created is a grey wool bouclé coat dress.
Although the marketing of the Trapeze line of clothing was successful, Yves Saint Laurent was going through quite a bit of changes. It is more than likely that Dior’s death could be what has affected St. Laurent’s attitudes toward fashion in the late 1950s to early 1960s.
By 1960, St. Laurent had created a whole new line of biker and beatnick clothing (the “Left Bank Beat” collection), created from “glove leather” as well as high-quality wools, minks, crocodile skins, and other materials.
Unfortunately, Saint Laurent’s newly-created designs did not impress those he now worked with at the business he ran. Likewise, his new fashions were not received well by the public at this time.
A year later (being drafted to the army) Saint Laurent started a business of his own with another man named Pierre Bergé. By this time radical looks were becoming more acceptable, and they together created a whole new look, especially styles that were made for the younger generation.
The Rise of the Youth Clothes and Fashion Culture
Elegant and mainstream fashion was still very popular throughout the 1950s. However, by the late 1950s, a new market was being targeted-teenagers.Teenagers everywhere were starting to purchase their own clothing because they could afford to do so. Since more and more teens were purchasing clothing, manufacturers of clothes began to cater to their desires more.
By the late 1950s new fashions were being introduced. They may not have been yet widely accepted by society as a whole, but subgroups of teenagers were wearing what was considered to be “radical” at this time.
For instance, both teen girls and boy would wear jeans, boots, and a leather jacket. Some teen girls during this time would attend dances dressed in all black.
Girls also may wear a cardigan with a simple skirt and a beaded necklace. Either that or they may wear a pinafore dress or tight pants with ballet shoes.
Some teens also wore preppie clothes, such as a pair of jeans with a baggy sweater and sandals. They may have also wore other clothing items such as “wicker picker” shoes, Italian jackets (usually short ones), or fluorescent socks.
One of the more cumbersome of outfits for teen girls during this time would most likely be the bulky cotton skirt that was worn with layers of petticoats underneath. These were often not allowed in schools.
These are some of the things you may have seen advertised Below and how much fashion clothes were in the 50's
Polo Shirts 99 cents New Hampshire 1950
Chino Pants $2.98 New Hampshire 1950
Boys Shoes $4.95 New Hampshire 1950
Nylon Stockings 2 pairs for a dollar New Hampshire 1950
Mens Suits $45.00 Wisconsin 1954
Ladies Full Length Cashmere Coat $59.00 California 1959
Mens All Wool Suits $28.90 Ohio 1957
Square dance Cotton Check Dress $3.29 California 1959
Ladies Sandals $2.95 New Hampshire 1950
Mens Dress Shoes $13.98 Wisconsin 1954
Childrens Shoes From $2.95 Wisconsin 1954
Short Spring Coats $9.88 California 1959
Girls Dresses $2.98 Texas 1956
Denim jeans 13 1/2 ounzes $2.49 Michigan 1957
Boys shirt $1.10 New Jersey 1956
Boys Denim Jeans $2.49 Michigan 1958
Boys winter jacket $7.80 New Jersey 1956
Leather Jacket $4.88 New Jersey 1956
Mens shirt $3.99 New Jersey 1956
Womens handbag $1.32 New Jersey 1956
Womens skirt $4.95 New Jersey 1956
