After war-time austerity, women in the 1950s longed to be feminine again. The war was over, and in a booming economy, people were optimistic about the future and enjoyed small luxuries - and fashion was one of them.
No more material shortages - fashion designers such as Givenchy, Balenciaga and Christian Dior could now use lavish amounts of fabric and put elegance first. Dior's "New Look" focused on tight-fitting tops and calf-length full skirts, emphasizing the hourglass figure and a tiny waist. Gloves and hats were essential, and colour-coordinated outfits were all the rage. The sexy pinup look, immortalized by Hollywood bombshells such as Marilyn Monroe, also required a perfect fit: Tight pencil skirts, skin-tight sweaters and wiggle dresses were essential. A cocktail dress was essential for sophisticated entertaining, often with a dramatic neckline or bare shoulders. In this era of opulence, only Coco Chanel remained true to her principle of simplicity, presenting the new classic Chanel suit - her "Little Black Dress" is still a fashion statement today.
Teenagers finally had money, and their own fashion, which inspired today's Rockabilly looks. Full circle skirts with bouncy petticoats, elastic belts, capri pants and ballerina flats - still a fun and flirty style today. Blue jeans became everyday wear for young people in the Fifties, but were still considered a bit risqué by their parents.
Stockings were finally widely available again in the 1950s, and started to come in different colours and patterns. Scarves were the perfect headgear for ladies riding in a convertible or on a scooter. Holidays required summer outfits such as swimwear, shorts and playsuits, and foreign travel inspired popular styles like the Mexican patio skirt or the gypsy blouse.
The optimism of the decade can be seen its characteristic colours and patterns. Everything was bright and colourful, a look that still makes us smile today. Lively novelty prints, polka dots, fruits or the Mid-Century boomerang motif ... almost everything ended up on fabric, just think of Poodle skirts! Modern-day rockabilly fashion incorporates elements from the wilder side of life, such as old school tattoo motifs, animal print and nautical elements.
Vintage reproduction fashion from the era of Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren and Elizabeth Taylor is available at Peggy Sue Vintage - hand-picked and with personal styling advice from our experts, if you wish.
