Though I am madly in love with the 1920s and 1930s, style-wise, I tend to gravitate to the 1950s. One of my favorite seasons for 1950s-inspired outfits is summer. From bare shoulder blouses, to cute shorts, to capris, to big, flowy, gathered skirts, the 1950s is my dream era. In this video, I’m going to talk about the summer fashion through the years of the 1950s. If you want to see the styles and the changes that happened throughout the decade, watch this video.
As I mentioned in the intro, I tend to gravitate towards the style of the 1950s when it comes to Summer fashion. Knitwear, I tend to knit patterns from the 1930s and usually the 1940s more than I do the 1950s. But when it comes to sewing, because of my silhouette, the 1950s tends to suit me better.
If you recently watched my 1930s summer fashion video, you would have heard me talk about how fashion style changes from the beginning to the end of the decade. The 1950s are no exception to this rule. At the beginning of the decade, you’re going to see some of the latter Fashions from the 1940s still hanging on, and by the end of the decade, you will start to see some changes that will then melt into the 1960s.
At the end of the 1940s, Christian Dior created the New Look. Garments had cinched-in waists and full skirts. At this point, the Great Depression and the war are over, and the economy is starting to have an upswing. Many talk about how the 1950s had very large skirts, showing off how well the economy was doing. A good economy means better jobs, which means more money to spend on things like fabric. In the last two decades, women had to be very careful with how they used the fabric in their garments, and now, in the 1950s, being a time of abundance, they could go nuts with huge gathered or very flowy circle skirts.
One look, which stayed pretty consistent through the 1950s, was the fit and flare dress. I feel that this style of dress is flattering on absolutely everyone. However, to achieve this look, we then start returning to more structured and sometimes restrictive undergarments. Though not as restrictive as corsets, you will start to see waist-shaping and belly flattening girdles. The new trend for underground is also seeing a different structure for brassieres. You’re now seeing more padding, as well as a more defined, pointed shape in the structure.
Now that I’ve covered those, let’s talk a little bit more about what changes from the beginning of the decade to the end.
At the beginning of the 1950s, something you are going to start seeing a little less of are those squared-off off masculine shoulders. You might have some drastic changes in waistlines and bust areas, you are starting to see things soften a little bit. softer shoulders, as well as the color of the fabric. Summertime in the addresses is a beautiful example of this. You would often see pretty pastels in both solids and prints, especially a lot of dotted, checked, and plaid style fabrics.
Throughout the 1950s, even though the length of shorts might change, trending towards shorter, one thing that was pretty consistent was that they were still pretty high-waisted. This was a holdover from the 30s and 40s.
Along with shorts, you’re going to start seeing different lengths and trouser styles of garments. Something very popular with women was Bermuda shorts and pedal pushers or capris.
To go with those capris or shorts, footwear tended to continue with some of the looks from the 1930 years and 40s and in the espadrille was still quite popular, in addition to the Capri you were starting to see sneakers as well as a boat shoe style. as well, you would see ballerina style flats. You would also see open-toe sandals coming in a variety of different heel heights.
The 1950s starts to see even more innovation in bathing suits, including more structured and figure-flattering. You would also see the bikini becoming incredibly popular. With the bikini, you’re seeing a lot more skin.
As with the 1930s and 40s, Lastex was being added to a greater variety of fabrics, including cotton and taffeta. As well as in 1956, Speedo introduced nylon in swimwear. The benefits of nylon were that it stretched more easily over your body, it dried faster, and it retained its shape. Also, with the 1950s bathing suit innovation came ultra-light fabrics, which made wearing a bathing suit even more of a joy.
Of course, we can’t forget sundresses and big flowy skirts. Cotton was all the rage in the 1950s! Due to wartime rationing of the fabric, it wasn’t showing up in many garments in the 1940s. Rationing gone, it became a summer staple again. Many gorgeous sundresses, shorts, blouses, and skirts were fully embracing this!
Full gathered skirts and circle skirts with fun summery prints were seen everywhere. Including fun border prints! These would often be worn with bare arm blouses, halter tops, blouses that tied at the top, and many more summer-style tops.
Sundresses were made, often taking advantage of the abundance of cotton, also using fun prints and patterns. One of my favourite styles of sundress is the one that ties at the shoulders. You would also see a variety of dress styles, including shirt-waist, halter, and bare arms.
In menswear, you’re still going to see trousers and short-sleeved shirts, as well as that nautical style, that both men and women are wearing in the 1950s, as they did in the 1930s. One thing that you will see quite a bit more starting in the late 1940s is the Hawaiian shirts. That would become a summer staple for many men.
Short-sleeved knit-style fabric was also very popular in menswear in the summers of the 1950s.
Another trend that was happening in men’s wear was that the nylon jacket was replacing the casual sports jacket. Though you’re still going to see sports jackets in the nautical style summerwear.
Along with women, men are also wearing shorts in the summer. Cabana sets, become very popular, especially for lounging around the pool.
In the summer of the 1950s and you will start to see more denim on men and women. Honestly, there is nothing cuter than some rolled-up and denim pants, with a pair of espadrilles and a cute halter top or a short-sleeved blouse.
Whether you are lounging by the pool, the beach, sitting on a dock at the cottage, or hanging out around a campfire, summer styles of the 1950s were much more comfortable due to the use of cotton! I also feel that fun has returned to people’s wardrobes!
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