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Today we start a new series all about 1950s fashion. I have written a number of articles on 1950s women's fashion already, but now it's time to pull them all together, add the missing elements, and explore menswear, too. Let us begin with an overview about 1950s women's fashion:

1950s Fashion History for Women

In many ways, the 1950s took a big step back, especially for women. During World War II, while the men were away, women began to gain an independence that was rare before the war. They left their homes to work in offices and factories, earning and managing their own money. Clothing was heavily restricted throughout and just after the war - everything from the length of skirts to the size of collars was regulated. This resulted in a slim, straight silhouette. Women wore comfortable clothing like suits and shirtdresses, and even began to regularly wear pants, especially to work. They had to 'make do and mend,' buying or sewing well-made clothing that had to last and fixing garments that were past their prime. Learn more about 1940s women's fashions here.

In 1947, Christian Dior permanently changed the fashion industry, creating the look that would dominate the next decade. Dubbed the 'New Look' by Harper's Bazaar editor Carmel Snow, Dior's first fashion collection, shown in Paris, was the exact opposite of the '40s look. The fabric was luxurious and voluminous. Shoulders were soft instead of squared, the figure was hourglass instead of boxy, and the short, straight skirt of the ration-happy '40s was replaced by a huge, billowing one that hit at mid-calf. There were also skirts that were so slim and fitted that women found it hard to walk. Bodices were extremely tight, accentuating a tiny waist.

The whole look was reminiscent of the mid-nineteenth century. To achieve the look, women had to once again squeeze into some serious undergarments. A boned corset achieved the 'wasp waist,' and bust and hip pads completed the hourglass figure.

Many women were outraged, especially in the United States. Protests were held targeting Dior and his new clothing. Women had just gained a large amount of equality and weren't ready to give it up - both in work and in fashion. The new clothes used excessive amounts of fabric, needed constant maintenance, and required a complete coordinated accessory collection to be "perfect." However, after the hardships of the war, everybody was ready for a change, and by the start of the '50s, everybody was wearing the New Look.

As men returned home from the war, women also returned to the home as wives, mothers, and homemakers. There was a migration to newly-built suburbs where life was supposed to be picture-perfect and traditional. Society became very conservative, and there was a rise in affluence. Racism and anti-communism were rampant, and there was an air of enforced conformity - everyone wanted to act and look 'normal.' Even teenagers adopted formality during the school day, but turned to new casual clothes on the weekend.

The man was the breadwinner and the woman was the feminine 'happy housewife.' Instead of scrimping and saving, women began to spend a lot of money on getting dressed. Their appearance was linked to their husband's success. Even if she was not wealthy, looking the part became an obsessive occupation. Radio, TV, and magazines reminded women daily of their need to be beautiful for their husbands.

The New Look

The full look of the 1950s was mature, glamorous, and very put-together. Dresses, skirts, and undergarments were constricting, but a wide range of new 'leisure clothes' allowed people to dress casually at home. Women were expected to be impeccably dressed and groomed in public or when their spouse was home, always with coordinating hats, shoes, bags, belts, gloves, and jewelry. In privacy, women dressed much more simply and comfortably. Eventually, these casual fashions became public clothing as well.

Men wore serious, somber business suits at their newly created office jobs, and leisure suits or slacks on weekends. Shoulders were broad and jackets were boxy. They were also expected to be well-groomed and put together, with suits and pants perfectly pressed. Read more about 1950s men's fashion.

Paris, cut off from the world during the war, once again became the center of fashion. Designers held fashion shows twice a year, and the U.S. and Britain often bought the rights to copy the garments (or simply stole the designs) and churned out cheaper versions to be sold in department stores.

Fashion magazines like Vogue, Women's Wear Daily, and mail order catalogs had a sharp increase in product advertising that brought designer fashions into every home. Thanks to the war efforts, the U.S. had made huge advancements in mass production techniques and used them to create new 'ready to wear' clothing. Everyone was able to wear the latest fashions.

Led by Dior, many designers started contracting out the manufacture of some clothing and a wide range of accessories that were stamped with their labels. Everything from perfume to gloves, hats, bags, and ties were 'branded' by the designers. This practice is widespread today, as you can see by visiting any department store, but was a new idea in the '50s. Dior also set up boutiques all over the world - another novel idea that is the norm in fashion today.

Fabrics were often luxurious, especially for evening wear. Velvet, tulle, silk, and satin were popular. Cotton and wool were often used for daywear, along with new synthetic fabrics. Polyester and rayon were used to make all kinds of clothing, from blouses and men's shirts to dresses and suits.

Nylon and elastic, conserved for the war effort, began to be used for a wide variety of clothing, especially undergarments. These fabrics were made into delicate underwear, nightgowns, and stockings. Nylon did such a good job of replacing silk stockings that they've been known ever since as simply 'nylons.'

These new synthetic fabrics were seen as 'miracle fabrics.' They could be washed and dried easily, didn't need to be ironed, and didn't shrink.

Few designers chose to break from the New Look model, but a couple paved the way. Coco Chanel hated the New Look so much that she reopened her business after closing it at the start of the war. In 1954, she came back with slim suits - the brand's signature look - in wools and tweeds. Jackets were boxy with no collar, and skirts were straight and comfortable. She topped the look off with costume jewelry and the famous quilted bag.

Hubert de Givenchy unveiled his 'sack dress' in 1957. It was completely loose, taking the emphasis away from the waist entirely. It was to be the inspiration for the iconic tunic dresses of the 1960s.

The conformity of the '50s eventually backfired. Young people everywhere grew cynical, and the happy housewives started to feel trapped (there was a dramatic rise in the use of sedatives and anti-depressants during the '50s).

The New Look lasted throughout the 1950s, but the high-maintenance lifestyle eventually gave way to the rebellious culture in the '60s. Teenagers wanted to be individuals who didn't look like their parents, and their mothers were ready to break free again. Fads were short-lived and garments were cheaply made. Clothing wasn't constrictive anymore, and was looser and much shorter. The flowing hippie look and the graphic mini-skirt gave women choices and in the way they expressed themselves.

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Today we start a new series all about 1950s fashion. I have written a number of articles on 1950s women's fashion already, but now it's time to pull them all together, add the missing elements, and explore menswear, too.

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This article talks about how women's fashion changed in the 50s and how it was different from the 40s fashion for women.

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This article talks about how women's fashion changed in the 50s and how it was different from the 40s fashion for women.

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- Christian Dior created the new look and the fabric for the clothing was elegant and full

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- Christian Dior created the new look and the fabric for the clothing was elegant and full

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- the fashion became an hour glass figure, unlike in the 40s, where it was a "boxy" look

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What did women wear in the 1950s? Attending Hot August Nights, the largest classic car show in the west, has inspired me to take a look at 1950s fashion for women. My husband and I usually dress up in vintage or repro '50s clothes before going out to see all the cars. Sadly, not very many people dress up, or if they do it's just in '50s costumes.

The 1950s were a time when fashion exploded into new directions, new colors, and new silhouettes. It is an iconic decade that has spurned a vintage retro fashion revival including Pin Up and Rockabilly clothing. I wrote a detailed 1950s fashion history below to help you not only understand some fashion history, but to also figure out how to put together your own 1950s fashion look that goes beyond saddle shoes and poodle skirts.

Skip the history and SHOP NOW for 1950s style clothing.
1950s Fashion Trends

Tea length swing dresses with petticoats for fullness

Slim sheath dresses and tailored suits

Pencil or circle skirts, poodle skirts for teens

Capri pants, high waisted jeans

Peter pan collar blouses

Twin set cardigan sweaters

Swing coats in winter

Kitten heels, saddle shoes, stiletto heels

Small hats, headscarves, hair flowers

Jewelry: pearls, animal brooches, sweater clips

Matching Accessories: Gloves, hat, belt, handbag

Lingerie: Bullet bra, girdle, backseam stockings

1950s Fashion Dresses

In 1947, Christian Dior turned 1940s fashion upside down with his "New Look." (Watch The Collection, a fictional story based on some truths about this collection.) The New Look was big and bold and utterly feminine. Dress skirts were full and busts were padded to accentuate a small waist. The look was inspired by the Victorian era, but made shorter and sexier while still being modest.

Most women were encouraged to fulfill their role as wife, mother, and homemaker, and to be beautiful doing so. Her appearance was linked to her husband's success, causing a big boom in the clothing industry as women spent more time shopping for the latest fashions. Read more about 1950s women's fashion history.

There are two classic dress shapes of the 1950s. The most popular style today is the full skirted, tea length dress, often called a ' 50s swing dress. The other very classy look was the form-fitting sheath dress often called a pencil or wiggle dress today. Both styles had modest, snug fitting tops with narrow high waistlines and shin-length or tea-length skirts. Both styles were worn by women equally, although the sheath dress was too impractical to wear as a house dress.

1950s Day Dresses

At home, women set about the day cooking, cleaning, and tending to children. Her housewife dress was a full-skirted swing dress in simple cotton solids, small prints, checks, plaid, and thin stripes. The shirtwaist dress was the most popular design that buttoned up the full length of the front or just the bodice. They usually had short to 3/4 length sleeves, large pockets, a collar, and thin matching fabric belt.

Shop 1950s daytime/ house dresses.

A light petticoat was worn underneath to provide fullness, and an apron sat on top to keep her dress clean. Her shoes were usually flats, but on TV a housewife wore heels. More about 1950s house dresses and aprons.

Leaving the house, a woman could continue to wear her housedress with the addition of fancier accessories, such as a pearl necklace, earrings, gloves, a hat, heels, and a purse. This was acceptable for visiting friends or running light errands. For shopping in the city, meeting up with her husband, going to appointments, or any other public outing, her dress had to be nicer with coordinated accessories.

" Going out dresses " or women's professional clothes could either be swing dresses or pencil dresses. Fabrics were heavier cotton, wool, tweed, rayon, suiting, corduroy, knits, and synthetics that mimicked natural materials.

They were more trimmed than house dresses with contrasting collars, buttons and belts, smaller pockets, dramatic collars, large bows, full pleats, and small pintucks on a bed of solid, texture, florals, dot or novelty print fabrics. This was the dress that made women feel their best.

For my grandmother, it was a simple red, 3/4 sleeve wool swing dress. She wasn't much of a fashionista but she looked good in it, and the red was a bold color choice.

In summer, both house dresses and going out dresses became a bit more "fun." Polka dots, border prints, sailor themes, gingham, pastels, and sleeveless dresses brought women back to the joys of their childhood. Women looked like little girls in big dresses. Most repro and inspired 50s dresses today embrace these more youthful, colorful designs. Shop polka dot dresses.

There were many variations of swing and sheath dresses such as the coatdress, jumper dress, bell, and tulip dress. Learn more about all styles of 1950s dress here.

For mature women and plus sizes there were ample choices in all the latest styles. Learn about the history of the 1950s plus size fashions and fashion for the mature women.

Find the perfect 1950s dress for you:

50s Cocktail Dresses

Hosting a dinner or leaving for a night out on the town, a woman changed dresses again into a swing or sheath dress made of richer materials such as silk, taffeta, lace, damask, and velvet. Black was the safest choice. Nine out of ten women at a party were wearing a black dress. It was so chic and sophisticated and easy to accessorize with pretty jewelry and the latest bouffant haircut.

Party dresses were minimally trimmed. They usually had no collars, buttons, or belts. Necklines were high and round or V for some va va voom. Some had beads or sequins around the neckline or embroidery on the bodice, but otherwise the richness of the fabric and clean simple lines made a cocktail dress classy enough for most parties. Accessories included plain high heels, long or short gloves, a matching envelope purse, pearls or sparkling jewelry, and sometimes a small coordinated hat or hair whimsy.
Learn more about and shop 1950s cocktail dresses.
For hosting a semi-formal party at her own house, there was one unusual style of dress called a hostess gown. Lucile Ball wore a black lace hostess gown in I Love Lucy and every woman wanted one after that. The hostess gown was a cross between a dress, skirt, and capri pants. Capri pants were worn with a split skirt dress over it, exposing the pants below. Overskirts could be long or short, fancy or simple. Men didn't like them ("where are her legs?") but women enjoyed the casualness for a brief time. They also wore jumpsuits without any skirt!
See more examples and a history of the hostess dress here.
1950s Evening Dresses

For very special occasions such as attending a ball or theatrical performance, a short cocktail dress wasn't enough. Long, floor-length ballgowns or long, sexy tube gowns were worn to these fancy events. Rich fabrics of silk, satin, taffeta, lace, organdy, net, velvet, chiffon, and net could either be gathered to create dramatic volume or draped for sleek Hollywood star luxuriousness.

The mermaid gown took roots in the 1950s, as did the Grecian gown with an empire waistband. Some evening gowns could be shorter tea lengths, but they were less common.

For full ballgowns, multiple floor length petticoats or a hoop skirt was worn underneath to create a wide A-line or round teacup shape. Some hybrid gowns featured a smooth draped front and large gathered rear skirt or giant bow. Again, these were styles borrowed from the Victorian era, where bigger was better, although newer fabrics made them lighter to wear.

Most ballgowns were sleeveless or may have had tiny spaghetti sleeves. For modesty, a matching shawl or bolero jacket could be worn over the gown. Over-the-elbow length gloves were a required accessory, as was a statement necklace and earrings.

Prom dresses for teens were the one formal style that was usually a tea-length. They had layers of net, tulle, organdy and other very light fabrics that made them bounce, swish and sway to the dance beat. Strapless, sleeveless and oh-so-fun to wear, they have made fashion comebacks in modern prom circles many times since the '50s. Shop 1950s style prom, party (short) and formal evening gowns (long).

Read more about 1950s formal, party and prom dress history. Also, look here for the history of 1950s wedding dresses.

1950s Skirts and Suits

Chop off the top half of a dress and you are left with a classic 1950s skirt. Full skirts that were made of one large round piece of fabric were called circle skirts. They were worn over several layers of fluffy petticoats to add to the volume. Some were gathered or pleated at the waist to add fullness while others were large A-lines.

Some full skirts had tiers of gathers, called peasant skirts. Some had border prints on the lower 1/3 edge of the skirt, too.

Plaid was a popular print in fall and winter, with pastel shades for spring. Many skirts had hidden pockets on the side while some had large pockets on the outside, trimmed in contrast piping.

A blouse was worn tucked into the skirt band. A wide cinch belt offered a contrast between the blouse and skirt and also helped keep the blouse tucked in neatly. Shop belts.

Poodle skirts were circle skirts, too. They came in more fabric than just felt, although thick felt hid hoop skirts nicely underneath. Poodle skirts were embellished with other cute motifs like mice, dogs, cars, telephones, and even martini glasses. They were mostly worn by children and young teens, although they were not nearly as common we think they were. Shop poodle skirts.

The iconic teenager sock hop outfit with a poodle skirt consists of a white blouse or twin set sweater, neck scarf, cinch belt, and black and white saddle shoes. See more history and ideas for attending a sock hop here.

Pencil skirts were popular with women of all ages. They hung straight from the high waist to the mid-calf with a split or kick pleat at the back to make walking easier. Fabrics had no stretch so skirts were stiff and required women to walk with a wiggle, hence the modern name: wiggle skirt. Most pencil skirts were solid colors or plaid prints. They usually came with a matching short suit jacket, but could also be worn with a long sleeve blouse or cardigan sweater.

Learn more about the variety of 1950s skirts here.

Women's 1950s suits with either the swing or pencil skirt are popular clothes for professional women who want to wear vintage everyday. Read this article about 1950s women's suit history.

1950s Petticoats

The 1950s full skirt required at least one but more likely several layers of petticoats or a hoop skirt to be worn underneath. These underskirts were made of layers of ruffled netting that added volume under swing skirts. They were starched, dried upside down, and worn in multiple layers to achieve maximum fullness.

Many women today skip the petticoat when wearing '50s style dresses because they itch like crazy and don't fit well in modern small cars with bucket seats. However, to get an authentic look, you will need a nice full but soft petticoat worn over a slip to protect your legs. The pencil dress is enhanced with shapewear to smooth or a boned corset to make hourglass curves.

Learn more about and shop crinoline petticoats.

1950s Blouses, Tops and Shirts

Skirts and pants were paired with button-down blouses. They fit snug and were always worn tucked in. Bunching at the waist was a constant battle (tucking them into pantyhose will help hold them down).

Blouses usually had collars in classic point, boat neck, and round Peter Pan shapes. Popular colors were pink, teal, red, baby blue, black, and white in solid or gingham checks, small prints, and polka dots. Patterns were very popular, especially in the summer.

Some blouses had vertical pintucks, small ruffles, big bows, small embroidery and white, pearl or contrasting color buttons. Sleeve length ranged from sleeveless in summer to short puff sleeve, 3/4 sleeves, and long sleeves with a wide cuff wrist. There were so many varieties to choose from!

Knit tops were an alternative to tailored blouses. They look like short-sleeve sweaters with a pullover or partial button-up front. Some had classic point, crew or roll collars. They were usually worn over a skirt or pant but were short, just topping the hips.

The dolman sleeve knit top was very popular in the middle years. Striped T-shirts were usually worn with jeans in the summer. Turtleneck shirts became fall fashion essentials in the later years.

Wearing a neck scarf with a knit top or sweater was very chic! The twin set, matching cardigan sweater worn over a knit top, was and still is a 50s classic. Read more about 1950s blouse history.
Shop 1950s style tops and blouses.
1950s Sweaters

Ladies' sweaters (jumpers) in the 1950s became thinner and shrink proof thanks to new synthetic materials. The fit also tightened up to emphasize a wasp waist, and bullet bras enhanced the bustline. The term "sweater girl" applied to young women whose sweaters were modest yet sexy.

There were chunky knit sweaters and button-up cardigans, too. Wearing textured material was a big trend in the 1950s, so thick woven knits, handmade at home, were welcome in women's fashion.

Short sleeve knits and snug blouses were worn under sweaters, yet they never appeared bulky. Showing off the figure was more important than keeping cozy. Read more about 1950s sweaters and cardigans (jumpers) here.

1950s Coats and Jackets

While most sweaters were light and thin, coats were big and bulky. Long winter coats needed to fit over big skirts yet still maintain the clean line of 50s fashion. Winter overcoats were made of wool, camel hair, fleece, tweed, fur and cashmere.

The swing coat or princess coat was a general name for a winter coat that flared over the dress in a tent-like shape, buttoning up the front with big oversize buttons, and topping with a wide collar.

The swagger coat was fitted at the waist and flared out over the skirt echoing the swing dress underneath. The trench coat continued to be worn in the 50s with a wrap-around belt and very wide lapels. Raincoats were often made in the trench cut.

Coats worn over sheath dresses fit long and tubular with a slight tapering at the shins.

Short coats called box coats were half the length of long coats. Most were quite wide and looked very dramatic when worn with a pencil skirt.

Short jackets were a newer style in the 1950s. There were tailored jackets worn as a suit set or casual jackets such as the parka, leather bomber, or rain jacket that were a stylish, warm and less bulky option to the overcoat. Many jackets came down to mid-hip level, had fur collars, big pockets, and a tie or buckle belt.

The shortest jacket, the bomber or motorcycle jacket, was adapted from menswear but updated for women with pastel colors and plaid prints. Some were made of leather, others of satin such as the famous Pink Ladies jackets from Grease.

Learn about 1950s coats and jackets and shop for 1950s coats and jackets like these:

Ladies' Pants and Shorts

Ladies' 1950s fashion wasn't only dresses and skirts. Wearing pants and jeans, not just at home, was a growing trend, although not without some rules. At first, wide-leg and high waisted trousers were trendy, just as in the 40s. But the style was narrowing down in the hip and legs so that it showed off a woman's figure.

Long pants were called cigarette pants. They had a high waist, rounded hip and a slim leg that ended above the ankle. They came in solid neutral colors but also fun prints such as plaid, polka dots, leopard, and vertical stripes.

The capri pant was the same shape but came up to mid-calf and often had a thin belt at the waistband. Capri jeans were cuffed, sometimes in a contrasting fabric that matched the shirt.

What about denim jeans? Yes, they were worn too, but mostly by teens, while gardening, or on ranches. They were made of dark blue denim, had rolled cuffs, were lined in a contrasting fabric, and had contrast stitching giving them a western look. Read more about the history of western jeans.

Read more about women's pants, jeans and capri history. And shop 1950s pants, capris, jumpsuits and jeans.

There were other bottoms in between pants and shorts. Clam diggers or pedal pushers were wide leg, knee length pant/shorts. Bermuda shorts were just above the knee and short shorts were a little higher than that.

Shorts usually had a 2-inch cuff and side slash pockets. Shorts and pants also zipped up the side, not the front, which was less "like men's trousers." Short shorts became very short and tight right at the end of the '50s but only for models, movie stars, athletes, and pin-ups.

Read more about the history of 1950s shorts and shop 1950s style shorts.

Playsuits and Swimsuits

In summer, there were many options to dress casually at the beach, on vacation, or in the backyard. The playsuit, called a romper now, was a one-piece top and shorts item that usually came with a matching button-down dress or skirt to wear over it. The dress or skirt provided modesty when not actively playing on the beach or by the pool.

Jumpsuits were short sleeve or sleeveless rompers with long pants or more often, pedal pusher length pants. They could be worn alone or with a skirt over them.

Short beach robes, vests, and smocks were other coverups for the pool or beach. Playsuits came in fun summer prints like red and white picnic gingham, blue and white "sailor" themes, and tropical flora and fauna prints. These same prints were designed into cigarette or capri pant jumpsuits, short overalls, jumper pants/shorts and swimwear. Read a history of the vintage playsuit here.

1950s swimsuits were the last decade to fully embrace modesty yet remain sexy and flattering. Swimsuit tops had full coverage with built-in cups to lift and enhance. Ruching across the body maximized the hourglass shape while a skirt across the hips covered up body parts in the front and sometimes the rear too. The bubble-skirted swimsuit or the swim dress enhanced the lower half while strapless swimsuits called attention to the upper half. Learn more about 1950s swimwear history.

Two-piece bikini bathing suits grew in popularity during the '50s. They were very modest by today's standard, with only a few inches exposed between the bikini top and skirted bottom. The rise of the bottom always covered the navel. Currently, high waisted vintage swimsuits are back in mainstream fashion! Shop 50s swimsuits.

1950s Shoes

Black and white saddle shoes were all the rage for teens in the 1950s, but women wore them too. They looked best with felt or cotton circle skirts and denim pants. Other casual shoes included white flat lace up sneakers like Keds classic shoes, slip on penny loafers, moccasins, low heel Mary Janes, lace up Oxfords, and black ballet flats with a small bow on the toe.

In summer, espadrilles and sandals were on every woman's feet. Espadrilles had a canvas body and long laces that crisscrossed up above the ankle. Sandals could be combined with heels or flats. They featured many narrow straps or cutouts for ventilation.

The wedge heel shoe could be casual or fancy, as was the platform heel shoe. Wedge and platform soles were seen on Oxfords, loafers, sandals, ankle strap pumps, and peep-toe heels.

Semi-formal "outing shoes" would have been pumps or heels. Heel height was usually 1.5 to 3 inches with small, narrow "kitten" heels. Many shoes had decorative elements on the toe such as bows, crystal clips, ties, or at least an interesting painted design. For evenings, pumps were much taller with thin "stiletto" heels. Strappy sandals were also stylish evening shoes, especially in black but teens favored clear pumps for a Cinderella look.

Learn about 1950s shoe styles here and shop for shoes here.

Socks & Stockings

Colored or white fold down bobby socks were worn with casual shoes but otherwise, most skirts and dresses needed a nice pair of stockings. Stockings came to thigh height and were held up with garters. Stockings had seams, notably black seams. Nude would be fine too, but '50s women loved their stockings to stand out and attract attention. Many stockings had heel designs such as Cuban heels, pointed heels, bows, arrows and other cute designs on the back leg or ankle. Learn more about 1950s stockings here and socks here.

Shop 1950s style seamed stockings and socks.

1950s Lingerie

The 1950s silhouette wasn't a natural shape. It needed some help in the form of foundation underwear, bras, slips, and petticoats. The bra, especially the cone-shaped bullet bra, gave women the protruding bust that balanced out the wide hips. They could be strapless to wear with evening gowns and sheer tops, or with straps for daywear.

There were also falsies, bust pads, to give women what they naturally lacked. And if what they lacked was a flat tummy, well, then a boned corset or elasticized girdle would help with that. These body shapers flattened, smoothed, and held up stockings all in one. Some had built-in bras for the ultimate one-piece foundation support. Read about 1950s lingerie.

Over these support garments came a high waisted cotton or silky soft panties. A slip, either full or half size and trimmed in lace, wasn't just pretty - it helped clothing hang smoothly on the body.

Nightwear such as long nightgowns, short babydoll nighties, pajamas, robes and peignoir sets brought glamour into the bedroom. Silky gowns trimmed in lace and marabou feathers with a matching pair of mule slippers were what all the Hollywood ladies were wearing. More about 1950s sleepwear and loungewear styles.

1950s Fashion Accessories

No 1950s woman could leave the house without the perfect combination of accessories. Matching accessories were a big deal, although there were a few years where choosing a complementary color accessory was preferred over matching. Black, brown, or white accessories were the most versatile for any outfit.

1950s Hats

Most mature women still wore hats in the 1950s. They were small flat straw or felt hats with adornments of flowers, feathers, or bows. Decorations were simple. Hats were designed with light materials so that they perched on top of the latest bouffant hairstyles. Some were crescent shapes that saddled the head. Others were plate-shaped or round bowl-shaped. Lace, velvet, felt, fine straw, brushed fur, and mesh provided the foundation for most small hats.

Small hats with veils are often called fascinator hats today, a term that was not used in the 1950s. There were also whimsies (I love that word), which were headbands or clips of hat-like materials that gave the suggestion of a hat but it did not compress the hair like most hats did.

Other '50s hat styles included the pillbox hat with tall, rounded edges. The beret made of knit or fuzzy wool circled the head on teens and young women. Plate or saucer hats were the flattest hat and created a halo effect, framing a woman's face and showing off her dramatic makeup. But it was the bucket hat, called a cloche hat, that was made famous by Audrey Hepburn. It sat on top of the head and added height, yet allowed hair to peek out and around the neck.

In summer, the cartwheel hat or garden hat covered in flowers mimicked the Edwardian era picture hats (think Kentucky Derby style). They were big, with low crowns and wide brims perfect for sunshade.

It is still very easy and affordable to find a vintage hat on Etsy or eBay.com as well as new vintage inspired pillbox, fascinators, and sun hats. Read more about the history of 1950s women's hats.

An alternative to a hat would be a flower to one side or on the center of the crown. This is especially popular with the pin-up look. A hair bandana or silk scarf tied up around the entire head or like a headband was another casual hair accessory. 1950s teenagers also wore wide headbands to hold back long hair and emphasize the flip hairstyle. Shop 1950s hair flowers and accessories.

Gloves & Handbags

The other item a woman never left home without was a pair of gloves. Again, white was the best choice for spring and black for winter, but matching gloves to hats and purses was also popular.

Gloves were a cotton material that was thick enough to maintain shape. They were wrist length with straight, scalloped, or ruffled edges.

I love vintage gloves, but beware of buying any without trying them on. Women's hands were smaller/thinner back then, so most gloves don't fit modern hands well. A local thrift store or vintage clothing shop will give you the best selection you can try on.

Shop new vintage style gloves for a better fit. Learn more about the history of gloves, too.

A matching hobo handbag/purse was the iconic style of the 1950s, but it was the novelty bag made of unusual materials (plastic, straw, fabric, or mesh) and in unique shapes (boxes, baskets, or satchels) that have made a lasting impression.

1950s purses are usually small enough to hold just a few key items, although many reproduction bags are bigger for all the stuff we carry today.

In the evenings, small wrist strap or clutch bags with sparkling clasps were elegantly paired with black party dresses. Day or night purses matched other accessories such as shoes, belts, gloves, or hats.

Learn about 1950s purses here.

1950s Jewelry

Pearls, pearls, pearls. A small chain of pearls and matching pearl stud earrings were all a woman needed for jewelry. There were plenty of other styles to wear such as beads and stones in mid-century turquoise and coral colors.

Clear or colored plastics, animal shapes, fruit, and flowers were shaped into brooches pinned to dresses or hats. Flowers were also the main theme with matching necklace and earring sets. Bakelite bracelets were cheap and colorful arm decorations.

Most women did not pierce their ears, so wearing clip-on earrings was a must. Large cocktail rings dominated ladies' fingers, except for wedding rings.

In the evening, rhinestones sparkled against black dresses. Textured gold pieces were also trendy for day and evening looks. Learn about more 1950s jewelry styles. Shop 1950s style jewelry.

Read more articles on 1950s fashion here.

1950s Makeup and Hairstyles
50s Makeup
The 1950s makeup look is a fun one to recreate. While it's mostly based on a woman's natural beauty, the eyebrows are shaped into a nice arch, the eyes exaggerated with the iconic wingtip, and lips are soft and full. Learn how to recreate a natural 1950s makeup look here.

Hairstyles were inspired by the Italian cut, a short fluffy curl set. There were also style for long hair, shoulder length hair and very short pixie cuts. Learn more about 1950s hairstyles.

Shop 1950s Style Clothing

Need some 1950s outfit ideas? Try one of these combinations or read this article with even more 50s outfits and this one too.

1. Day dress (polka dots?), cardigan sweater, saddle shoes, white socks.

2. Outing dress, matching belt, hat, gloves, kitten heel shoes.

3. Skirt, blouse, cinch belt, Mary Jane shoes, small hat.

4. Cocktail dress, pearls, high heel pumps, long gloves.

5. Cigarette or capri pants, knit top, ballet flats.

6. High waist shorts, halter top, wedge sandals, hair accessory.

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What Did Women Wear in the 1950s? 1950s Fashion Guide

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A detailed guide to women's 1950s fashion. How to get an authentic 1950s inspired look and where to shop online. 1950s outfit and costume ideas.

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This article gives examples on what women wore in the 1950s. 

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This article gives examples on what women wore in the 1950s. 

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- dresses were full, and had a padded bust to make it seem like the waist was small

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- dresses were full, and had a padded bust to make it seem like the waist was small

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- The most popular dresses were the tea length dresses and the form fitting sheath dresses.

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1950s Hairstyles - 50s Hairstyles from Short to Long

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1950s hairstyles history. Women’s 50s hairstyles for short hair, medium hair, long hair, black hair, updos, pinup hair, ponytail, headbands, french twist, chignons, and hair jewelry.

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This article talks about the most popular hairstyles in the 1950s for women

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This article talks about the most popular hairstyles in the 1950s for women

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- short hair was typical for a housewife, medium length was for the young, and long hair was for the women in Hollywood

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- short hair was typical for a housewife, medium length was for the young, and long hair was for the women in Hollywood

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- short hair: poodle clip, curly bob, the Italian haircut, soft bob, short bangs, and the pixie cut. medium length: side part and pageboy. long hair: horse tail and pony tail.

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The 1950s teenage girl. Ask any teen who lived their 13-18 years during the '50s what they thought of the decade and you will almost always hear "it was the best." Ask them about 1950s fashions and you will get mostly positive reviews too. I know because I asked a number of folks in online communities who were open to sharing memories of growing up in the 1950s. I also read books such as What We Wore that is a compilation of fashion memories from the 1950s to 1980s.

Of my surveys, these were the most common items teens remembered wearing in the 1950s:

1. Crinolines

2. White bobby socks

3. Plaid pleated skirts

4. Shirtwaist dresses

5. Peter Pan collar tops

6. Shoes: Saddle Shoes, Penny Loafers, Ballerina Flats

7. Twin Sweaters

8. Pop-its Bead Necklaces

Let us explore each of these, plus a few others that's didn't make the list but were certainly a part of the typical 1950s teenager's wardrobe:

1950s School Clothes

Life as a '50s teenager was divided between school and weekends. The clothing worn to each was very different. Schools had rules, a lot of rules, that governed the type of clothing students could wear such as hem length, shoes, and even hairstyles. Breaking one of these rules meant punishment or public ridicule or worse... calling the parents.

Most high schools did not allow girls to wear pants until the late 1960s. Skirts and dresses had to be well below the knee, tops were very modest, and jewelry was minimal if allowed at all. Saddle shoes and loafers were required shoes, even at uniformed Catholic schools, several of whom still require them to be worn today. Each school had a dress code that had girls looking like young professional women, not the rock n' roll loving teenagers they turned into on the weekends.

1950s Skirts

Long skirts and blouses made up the bulk of '50s teen school clothes. The skirt had to be long, mid-calf in the early years rising higher and higher but never showing the knee by the end of the decade. Skirts could either be full swing skirts worn over layers of fluffy crinolines or straight long pencil skirts. The two styles were worn equally, alternating every few days. 1950s skirts came in an array of solid colors and patterns and materials for spring and winter.

Plaid pleated skirts were especially popular in the early years and again going into the '60s. Plaid was a common pattern for all of the decades in rich tones for winter and pastels for spring.

The poodle skirt is the most famous 1950s teenager skirt but it wasn't a big phenomenon in the '50s. The fad never made it to most schools except in bigger cities and even then the cute applique poodles, animals, insects, flowers, and slogans were a bit too youthful for sophisticated teens. You were far more likely to see poodle skirts worn by girls and pre-teens than at a High School. Read more about the history of the poodle skirt here and shop for 1950s poodle skirt too.

Instead, skirts were made of felt, wool, quilted cotton or a heavier cotton blend that didn't wrinkle. Each girl could choose how full she wanted her skirt by wearing one or more petticoats or hoop skirts. Most girls opted for a single petticoat for school and multiple petticoats for dances and special occasions. Some teen girls also starched, wax ironed or painted shellac on the thin netting to increase the fullness. It was a big ordeal to maintain crinolines and keep them fluffy. It was also an embarrassing situation when a skirt flew up in the wind or popped up if a girl did not sit down correcting while wearing a hoop skirt. These were frequent events in the life of a fashionable 1950s teenager! Learn more about petticoats and crinolines.

While most skirts could be worn alone it was also popular to add a wide belt, such as an elastic cinch belt, to both give definition to a small waist and to help keep those pesky blouses from riding up. Black and white belts matched everything but colored cinch belts could be worn too. Many girls also wore cinch belts over dresses to again define the desired hourglass shape.

Blouses, Sweaters

With skirts, teens wore button-down blouses that had to be perfectly pressed every night. During the day blouses had to be kept tucked in neatly into the skirt band which was a constant battle. White blouses were the best to wear because they matched everything. Brand names like Ship 'N Shore were the most coveted although pricey.

Blouses had a variety of collar types but the most popular was the rounded Peter Pan collar. It could be plain or trimmed in lace as well as the sleeves. Some had contrasting decorative stitching while others were embellished with small ruffles, pintucks, contrasting buttons, and bows.

Long sleeves blouses were usually not white but small prints of flowers, dots, or repetitive geometric designs. The plaid long sleeve blouse looked like one of dad's casual shirts although these were usually reserved for the weekends. All blouses buttoned up to the top of the neck- no room for immodesty in the '50s! Learn more about 1950s blouses and shop for them here.

Besides blouses, knit short sleeve sweater tops were equally popular alternatives to light blouses. They came in pretty pastel colors in spring, decorated with beading or embroidery around the high round necks. The length was very short, just enough to tuck into a skirt or layered over the skirt band for a slightly more casual look.

In winter, long sleeve sweaters were worn over blouses or by themselves. There were also false blouses that were only the collar part. "We called the white collars worn with sweaters 'dickies'. I had one that had both a round and a pointed collar to choose from."- The Way We Were.

The sweater could be a pullover or button-down cardigan style. Many cardigan sweaters were sold with matching short sleeve sweaters making a "twin set." The cardigan was often decorated with beading along the edges, neckline or shoulders.

Another popular cardigan sweater was a varsity sweater. It came in solid school colors with a white letter to iron on or sew on. Letters usually represented the school name or sports team. A girl who wore her boyfriend's letter sweater was in a serious relationship! Cheerleaders often wore a pullover sweater with a large school letter placed front and center. Shop sweaters and cardigans.

The most prized sweater was the fuzzy Angora rabbit hair sweater. A cheaper option was to buy a sweater with an angora collar or add a detachable angora collar to an existing sweater. They itched but they were worn and very chic!

Wearing a neck scarf tied to one side of the neck with a sweater or cardigan was also very trendy. White, pink or yellow scarves were the most common colors- just enough to add a splash of color.

Teenage Dresses

Besides skirt and top separates, wearing a dress to school was another option. The jumper or pinafore dress worn over a blouse was especially youthful for girls and teens. They came in bright red, yellow, blue or green wool, knit or corduroy colors for the fall season and printed cotton for spring. Jumpers could either be swing or pencil shaped styles.

Another basic dress was a shirtwaist dress. It buttoned down the front, with short to long sleeves and came in everything from solid colors to checks, plaid, polka dots and stripes. Many school dresses featured a bow or necktie hanging from under a white collar.

Dresses were usually only worn by teens for dress up events like Sunday church or a fancy school dance. These dresses were usually made of satin or taffeta in bright jewel tones. The tulle net dress was also very popular as a prom dress. Learn more about 1950s prom and party dresses here.

Coats & Jackets

As for outerwear, teens wore coats and jackets just like their mother's. Wool, tweed, and fleece made the best winter coats. It wasn't uncommon for mothers and daughters to buy matching overcoats although teens probably felt this was too childish. Belted trench coats were great for rain. Swing back car coats fit over full skirts and dresses. The princess coat with a nipped waist and full skirt had girls feeling like Cinderella. Adding a fur collar was very posh.

When the weather wasn't too extreme teens wore shorter jackets trimmed in contrasting cuffs and collars. They were more casual and trendy, especially on the weekends. Shops coats and jackets.

Lingerie, socks and stockings

"Yep, that was us. And we froze walking to school. Numb and shivering for an hour afterward." - Roberta W. The Way We Were.

Keeping legs warm in winter was no easy task. Girls could wear thick cotton stockings or tall wool socks as well as extra petticoats that were quite warm. With fancy dresses, back seam stockings were attached to garters or girdles. Getting to wear stockings was a sign of reaching womanhood! Learn more about 1950s lingerie.

White wool or cotton socks folded or rolled down three times, called bobby socks, were worn with saddle shoes and loafers. It was imperative that they were perfectly white and neatly folded or rolled very thin. Socks in the later years were also quite thick and full compared to today's thin socks.

"At Christmas, all teenage girls would put little bells on ribbon and tie them around the top of our Bobbie socks. It sounded like Christmas when we changed classes."

Angora socks were a brief fad. Naturally, they had to match angora sweaters perfectly.

Shop bobby socks, stockings and lingerie.

Shoes: Saddle Shoes, Penny Loafers, Moccasins

"We wore dresses or skirts with socks & saddle shoes or penny loafers! I hated dirty saddles. My penny loafers shined..but saddles were really popular..the white bucks too. At our school saddles were part of our uniform..if you didn't keep them polished you were in detention! We all had a bottle of white shoe polish in our lockers. While it sounds petty, it made us take pride in our appearance for sure."

Saddle shoes, loafers, bucks and ballet flats were the 4 most common teenager shoes. Saddle shoes named after the black saddle across the center of a white oxford shoe was the most iconic of the decade. They came in other colors too but black with a white sole was the best. Care had to be taken to keep them perfectly clean and shiny. Learn more about the history of saddle shoes.

"Loafers were called penny loafers but you always put a dime in them so you could call home. Dimes for the black loafers, pennies (shined up) for the brown. These are what I wore instead of saddle shoes. My mom worked so hard to pay for my Bass Weejuns."

Penny loafers were the next most popular teenage shoe. They easily slipped on and were very comfortable. They were dressy enough for school yet could also be casual with jeans on the weekends. They were neutral in color (black, white, brown) until the late 50s when bold colors like red, teal, pink and tan added options to match outfits.

The moccasin was another type of casual loafer with a round toe box and fringe tongue with a bow. They were usually worn without socks which was not allowed at school and could get a girl sent home.

Rain boots, rubber rain boots or shoe covered kept some feet dry in winter. Some not-so-lucky girls walked with a bread bag over their shoes to keep them dry. Learn more here.

Shop all 1950s shoes here.

1950s Teens Jewelry
Pop-its Bead Necklaces
At some point in the 1950s, most teens owned Pop-Its / Pop Its / Popits. Also called Snap beads or Snap-it beads, they were colorful hollow plastic beads that popped into each other making the combination of colors endless. Primary colors such as bubble gum pink or sunshine yellow were sold as well as mixed bags. Altogether they formed a 60 inch necklace which was long enough to wrap around several times for a layered look or taken down to a short 10-inch choker necklace. Smaller sets for choker length necklaces also came with matching earrings.

"Pop-it beads were my favorite costume jewelry... I would fool around with them all day, mixing the colors to match my summer shorts and tops." Marilyn, O. via What We Wore

Pearl necklaces and mustard seen necklaces were two other popular jewelry options for teens. Pearl necklaces were very grown up and sophisticated. Teens usually wore a single strand of small pearls with sweaters or for prom and parties. Mustard seed necklaces were round glass pendants with mustard seeds in the center.
Boyfriend Rings
As a sign of courtship girls would wear thier boyfriend's rings. Since the rings were usually too big girls would wrap angora yarn around it. Naturally, the yarn had to match angora sweaters and socks. Another option was to line the inside with candle wax or wear it on a long chair as a necklace.

Other signs of courtship were wearing a boy's ID bracelet. Girl's could have their ID own bracelets as well as charm bracelets.

Circle pins were another sign of courtship or friendship. They carried different meanings depending on what side of the sweater a girl wore it on (virgin or not), how it was decorated (one pearl was true love, a bow was "tying the knot") or if it was designed to be a sorority club pin. Learn more.
Sweater Clips
Another decorative jewelry piece was the sweater clip. A clip with a metal chain extended to each side of a cardigan sweater. The sweater could be worn on the arms or hung over the arms held in place by the sweater clips.

Learn more about 1950s jewelry.

Pants, Shorts and Playsuits

Finally, school was out and weekend casual was in. Teens looked forward to the weekend when they could slip on a comfortable pair of capri pants or jeans and a sleeveless blouse for care-free days in the summer. Pants ranged from high waisted, ankle length, tapered trousers to just below the knee pedal pushers. Many pants had folded cuffs lined in a printed fabric that matched the blouse.

Blue jeans were the thing for teens to wear that adults were starting to copy. They were dark denim blue with full, wide legs and contrast stitching around big pockets. The tighter, slimmer fitting jean was also coming into style at the end of the decade. Blue jeans were paired with long sleeve or sleeveless blouses, turtle neck shirts, pullover knit shirts, and sweatshirts. Shop 50s style pants and jeans.

Pairing jeans with socks and saddle shoes wasn't hip enough for most teens. Instead, girls wore loafers and flats, like ballet flats, or sneakers like Keds without socks. They also wore strappy sandals and early versions of flip flops.

Short, shorts were an option for girls and young teens but as a girl aged shorts became too immodest for young women. "I was coming downstairs in a pair of short shorts and my Daddy said you go right back up those stairs and change into something that covers your knees."

Acceptable teenager shorts were the just-below-the-knee pedal pusher pants or the slightly above the knee Bermuda shorts. Wearing shorter shorts was acceptable at the beach or on vacation but never in town or at school. "Once a month, we could pay a quarter and wear Bermuda shorts to school."- Jan

Learn more about 1950s shorts and swimsuits.

Teen Hairstyles

Teens followed the same hairstyle trends as women but usually kept hair longer and simpler than their mothers who needed to go to the hairdresser weekly. Shoulder length hair with short bangs with the ends curled in is the most iconic. It looked great with headbands, hair scarves or a flower pinned to one side. Medium length hair could be pulled back into a centered ponytail as well. Learn more about 1950s hairstyles.

What about makeup? Makeup for teens was highly discouraged but they wore it anyways. Sneaky girls kept makeup at school and applied it early in the morning and took it off before returning home. A little face powder and light pink-ish lipstick was all that teens needed to look young and fresh.

1950s Teenager Outfits

Here are some ideas on how to create a 1950s teenage girl outfit for yourself.

To shop for all your 1950s outfit pieces, start here.

What did YOU wear in the 1950s?

Now that I shared with you what some teens remember wearing in the 1950s now it is your turn. If you were age 13-18 sometime in the 1950s please tell us what you remember wearing in the comments below.

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1950s Teenager Fashions - Girls Fashion Trends and Clothing Styles

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The 1950s teenage girl. Ask any teen who lived their 13-18 years during the '50s what they thought of the decade and you will almost always hear "it was the best." Ask them about 1950s fashions and you will get mostly positive reviews too.

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This article talks about girls teenage fashion and school clothes girls wore in the 1950s

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This article talks about girls teenage fashion and school clothes girls wore in the 1950s

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- girls had to wear skirts and dresses that went way below the knee, minimal jewelry, tops had to cover everything and had to be very modest, and saddle shoes and loafers were the required shoes

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- girls had to wear skirts and dresses that went way below the knee, minimal jewelry, tops had to cover everything and had to be very modest, and saddle shoes and loafers were the required shoes

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- the most popular fashion was crinolines, white bobby socks, plaid pleated skirts, shirtwaist dresses, Peter Pan collar tops, saddle shoes, penny loafers, ballerina flats, twin sweaters, and Pop-its bead necklaces