https://padlet.com/browns65_3/34iqdtjxrg9o en-us 2018-12-11 22:32:33 UTC 2018-12-19 05:36:59 UTC hello@padlet.com browns65_3 https://padlet.com/browns65_3/34iqdtjxrg9o/wish/313666850 The British dominated Australian society with over one million migrants settling in Australia between 1945 and 1972. However, 1945 marked a turning point in Australian history due to a change in focus on American society due to their presence during WW2. As a result, the 1950s saw a shift from conservatism and formality of the 1940s, instead fashion became freer, looser and more informal. Dressing 'for show' also became more widely accepted between both sexes as well as being more fashion conscious. 

One of the main accessories of the 1950s were womens' hats, adding a touch of glamour and sense of completion to an outfit. In particular, the pillbox hat (a small hat with a flat crown, no brim and straight upright sides), initially popularised by Balenciaga  and hats with floral patterns. 

Gloves remained an essential part of a women's outfit- seen as making her properly and completely accessorised. White or cream coloured gloves were most popular although they were worn in a variety of colours. Gloves were primarily made of cotton, a cheaper material although almost every woman owned a pair of 'special' leather gloves. Additionally, fur was added to all cuffs and collars to add a touch of class to outfits.

Stiletto shoes are seen as a trademark of 1950s fashion. It made its debut at a Dior fashion show in 1952, complete with a pointed toe and metal-tipped heel. By the mid- 1950s, Winkle pickers (pointed toe shoes with up to 5 inch heels) became quite common.

]]> 2018-12-11 23:55:04 UTC https://padlet.com/browns65_3/34iqdtjxrg9o/wish/313666850 browns65_3 https://padlet.com/browns65_3/34iqdtjxrg9o/wish/313677041 The 'Fit and Flare' dress:
The 1950s style focused on accentuating the hips and small waists. Like many dresses of the the time, dresses were printed, knee-length and had either halter neck, shirt-button or square necklines intended to show the collarbone. 

Poodle Skirt:
Full swinging skirts often decorated with appliqués and made to flare out at the knee. The poodle skirt became the defining image of 'the 1950s gal' as it demonstrated the ideal silhouette of the era, cinching in the waist and came in all sorts of vibrant styles and patterns. They were quite popular as they required no seams and no hemming making them quick and simple to make. 

Cardigans:
Cardigans of the 1950s were cropped to compliment small waists and were bright with pretty beaded or embroidered embellishments. 

Polka Dots/Gingham:
The 1950s saw the introduction of bright, vibrant colours and printed patterns. Polka dots and gingham (checked white and a bold colour) were defining patterns of the time.

Halter-necks:
Halter-neck dresses were designed to showcase the '50s' silhouette, small waist and accentuated collarbones and shoulders. Silk scarves were often also worn to achieve the same effect. ]]> 2018-12-12 01:09:30 UTC https://padlet.com/browns65_3/34iqdtjxrg9o/wish/313677041 browns65_3 https://padlet.com/browns65_3/34iqdtjxrg9o/wish/313685614 American influenced men's fashion was short lived yet lasted throughout the decade. Teenagers were inspired by actors like Marlon Brando and James Dean from films such as "Rebel without a Cause" and "The Wild One". To achieve the 'rebel, cool guy' look, they wore blue denim jeans, leather jacket and boots, a white shirt and sunglasses. Towards the end of the decade, the classic teenage look was inspired by Elvis Presley, where they would grow their hair out to a 'duck tail' with long side burns. They would wear bright colours and flashy suits and unbuttoned and up turned collars became common (reflecting the shift to informality) and considered fashionable.
Adult fashion was quite simple, setting them apart from the immature teenagers. It consisted of dark/dull shades of blue, brown and grey and may be considered to be 'business-like'. It was also common for them to have little facial hair and clean-cut hair. However, towards the end of the era, British influence caused teenagers to adopt a suit and tie look with high-waisted, narrow trousers, long jackets, slim ties and shiny pointed shoes- this closed the gap between mens fashion of the age groups. ]]> 2018-12-12 02:04:24 UTC https://padlet.com/browns65_3/34iqdtjxrg9o/wish/313685614 browns65_3 https://padlet.com/browns65_3/34iqdtjxrg9o/wish/314138787 2018-12-13 06:52:00 UTC https://padlet.com/browns65_3/34iqdtjxrg9o/wish/314138787 browns65_3 https://padlet.com/browns65_3/34iqdtjxrg9o/wish/314142678 The 1950s was a turning point in Ladies' fashion, a time for all of the 'pent-up' ideas to reveal themselves after the restraints of WW2. Finally, Australian fashion moved away from America's classic/outdated styles like padded shoulders in favour of the softness and easy-to-care-for nature of new textiles.
This 'new age' started with Christian Dior's 'New Look' which enhanced a pointed bust, small waist, below-mid-calf length full skirt and a more feminine rounded shoulder line. Dior's line was soon replaced by Coco's 'Chanel Suit' , typically an A-line skirt and braid-trimmed cardigan-style jacket. By 1957 most suits featured lightly fitted jackets that were just below the waist and shorter, narrower skirts.

The style of dresses changed significantly at the start of the 1950s. Day dresses consisted of a fitted bodice, full skirt and low-cut neckline. Two popular styles were the shirt dress which had a skirt-like bodice and the halter-neck dress. In general, most dresses were quite full, held out by petticoats and often decorated with appliqué designs, other dresses adopted a more modern style, the pencil skirt which were narrow, hip-hugging and showed off a woman's curves. 

Shoes changed over the decade too, from high-heels with rounded/peep toes or strapped sandals with thin heels to kitten heels and metal tipped stilettos with heels reaching over 5 inches. Flat white shoes also became popular, known as saddle shoes (having patches of coloured leather sewn across the instep) commonly considered as a 'sporty shoe'. 

The 1950s were a time where women began to spend more time on their appearance, wearing hats less in favour of hairstyles like bouffants, french rolls and the beehive. 'Sophisticated' women wore permanent waves- more commonly known as perms which gained popularity during the mid-50s. Women also used makeup to achieve a pale, unblemished look. Thicker eyebrows were highlighted and winged eyeliner was seen as highly important to any look. Glasses also enhanced the cat-eye shape and finished with diamanté's/ glitter in the upper corners.

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