1950s Dress: Fashion trends, taking inspiration from the 1950s are a part of the retro glam trend. the 1950s was an era where women’s dresses focused on being feminine. Initially, it began with an emphasis on the hourglass shape of silhouette. At the start of the 1950s, designers drew inspiration from Victorian-era dresses, emphasizing the hips and narrowing the waist as much as possible. This was a decade full of experimentation and changes with silhouettes. This moved onto straight fit to gradually rising hemlines of dresses.
The easing up on the Victorian style and other feminine silhouettes was led by Chanel. According to Vogue, “Chanel championed this easing up… She made her grand return on February 5, 1954 (her lucky number and preferred show date) She showed suits in springy jerseys cut in straight, unfussy lines.’
Towards the second half of this decade came actresses like Marylyn, Grace, and Dorthy who inspired their fashion trends. The movies in which these actresses wore their iconic dresses are, Gentlemen Prefer Blonds, To Catch A Thief, and Carmen Jones.
If one could time travel, one would mostly see women in Christian Dior in inspired silhouettes. These dresses featured fluffy skirts with nipped waists. Men’s fashion of the era showcased conservatively colored baggy suits.
Key Elements Of 1950s Dresses
Retro-style outfits that take inspiration from the 1950s have certain key characteristics. These are shoes that are slim and have huge heels. A-line dresses, full skirts that created voluminous and flowy looks, and dresses that highlighted the waist were the styles in terms of silhouettes that were popular.
Another key element was the fabric choice. The most impressive 1950s dresses featured satin or velvet with a touch of lacework. In terms of prints, the most memorable prints from the 1950s era are polka dots, bold florals, and stripes.
How To Style A Retro Outfit
A retro outfit exudes confidence and makes the wearer look polished and sophisticated. Further, a retro look is suitable for all occasions from formal to semi-formal to casual to daily wear as well. A few accessories and dressing elements were Berets, fur gloves, handbags, and flat shoes. A beret is a soft, flat-crowned round hat worn by both men and women. These caps were traditionally made from wool, crocheted cotton (ideal for summer), and synthetic fibers like nylon.
An interesting point about 1950s handbags is that they often featured a special compartment for gloves or a hook to attach them.
When it comes to retro styling, it is not necessary to incorporate every single retro element. There can be a blend of retro elements with modern elements. Second-hand shopping is on the rise. If it’s not second-hand shopping, it is about picking out and styling dresses from mothers’ or if possible, from grandmothers’ as well.
One of the ways in which one can mix the old with the new is by pairing a beret and a stylish pair of slim flat shoes with simple pants and a top. In terms of makeup, a bold red lip can be done to add to the retro vibe.
You can pair 1950s-inspired hairstyles with modern dresses from your wardrobe. Retro styles include the fringed pixie cut, side-fringed high ponytail, loose waves for long hair, short hair with a quiff, high ponytail, and side-pinned curls.
A quiff with short hair was a part of men’s fashion. A quiff is a hairstyle where hair is brushed upward and backward. It has become a unisex trend, with famous actresses like Emma Thompson embracing it.
The 1950s Dress To Impress Style
If you want to embrace the 1950s dress-to-impress retro style without overdoing it, look to Jessica Kellgren-Fozard for inspiration. With over 435k Instagram followers (@jessicaoutofthecloset), she effortlessly incorporates every aspect of retro dressing. In most of her videos, reels, and photos, she wears a fit-and-flare dress, often paired with unique hats and jewelry. She usually opts for flat, strappy footwear and a bold red lip. Her hairstyle features a simple side part with loose curls.
Besides her, there is another influencer who regularly posts content about retro looks. Her Instagram handle is @mossonyi with around 182k followers. While her outfit does not incorporate every single element of a retro look, she does wear a lot of fit and flare silhouettes, and pair them with contemporary hairstyles and makeup.
Wrapping it retro style fashion and retro style look is all about wearing timeless pieces that exude confidence and add a sophisticated and elegant look that makes a person appear confident. Further, retro silhouettes are there for all body types and shapes. It also allows exploring second-hand clothing stores and has a more sustainable lifestyle. Retro fashion started in response to fast fashion as well as nostalgia. People born between 1950s and 1970s would be anywhere between late 30s and 50s and through retro outfits they would get a chance to relive their childhood memories and experiment with their mothers clothing.
