Fabulous Fifties
Post-war prosperity led to
increasing demand for couture designers like Givenchy, Balenciaga,
Balmain, and Charles James. Straight slim suits with mid-calf hemlines
dominated for day. Evening dresses featured full circle skirts with
layers of tulle called crinolines, tight, often strapless bodices,
and waistline or breast emphasis. Noted designers included Anne
Fogarty, Bonnie Cashin, and Claire McCardell.
Web Sites | Books
| Videos
Web Sites about 1950s Fashions and Culture
Books About 1950s Fashions and Culture
The 1950'S (Fashion Sourcebooks)
50s Popular Fashions for Men, Women, Boys and Girls
by Roseann Ettinger
A quick reference book that shows what everyday folks wore
during the 1950s. In a decade best known for high fashion, it's
nice to see that Ettinger has compiled a resource focusing on
everything else.
Fun Fabrics of the 50s
by Joy Shih
There's not much text in the book, just page after page
of full color textile designs illustrating the molecular inspired
prints and other whimsical patterns and colors most likely to
appear in clothing and home furnishings. A good quick reference
guide.
Vintage Fashions for Women with Values: The 1950s and 60s
by Kristina Harris
While you should always take the "values" part with a grain
of salt, the vintage fashion portion ofthis book is heavy on
the fifties with some rare sixties paper dresses and lots of
text. There's close-up of manufacturer labels, many wonderful
hats, and not enough vintage ads and photos. The other photos
show great clothes but are modern, use amateur models, and apparently
lack the services of a stylist.
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Videos About 1950s Fashion and Culture
Grease
This fun musical starring Olivia Newton John and John Travolta
captures the essence of the fifties with every style of youth
influenced fashions, including pegged pants, poodle skirts,
leather jackets, and letter sweaters. Here you¼ll find examples
of what both men and women wore in the 1950s across generations.
This movie started a trend for fifties vintage wear during the
late seventies when it was released.
Funny Face
For a more sophisticated look at the fifties, this movie
starring Audrey Hepburn had a great influence with clean lines
and carefully matched accessories. Featuring the designs of
Givenchey, it started a long, mutually supportive relationship
between the actress and designer.
Rebel Without A Cause
This fifties movie starring icon James Dean embodies the
style of motorcycle rising teenage rebels dressed in t-shirts,
denim jeans, and leather jackets and boots.
The
Wild One
In one of his most famous roles, Brando stars as the head
of a savage motorcycle gang which terrorizes a small town. He
gets his first real chance at a normal and productive life when
he falls in love with a young woman who lives there, but a psychotic
rival to his position as leader threatens everything.
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