Fashions of the Fab 50s

During the 1950s, ladies’ fashions were all curve. Thanks to designers such as French couturier Christian Dior. Many of the clothing designs had a sort of flower-like look to them. Large bust lines, slim waists. The hourglass figure, as it were. Incidentally, many women who longed to have the perfect shape, would buy padded bras to enhance their shape and often wore the bodices of their dresses snug and buoyed up their full, below the calf skirts with flouncy petticoats. Poodle motifs were also the rage, as were strapless dresses and swimsuits. Adding to the poodle skirt rage, many teen girls wore crinolines under their skirts for maximum effect. Many would starch their petticoats so heavily; they would stand up on their own.

Shoes for teen girls were usually saddle oxfords, or penny loafers. The “Pink Ladies” look popularized by the musical Grease, emulated the white shirts, and peddle-pushers popular during the late 1950s.

Naturally, a girl’s wardrobe was complimented by her hairdo. Whether it be a ponytail, a Toni, a poodle, or a bun, a girl’s hairstyle was the perfect addition to whatever she was wearing.

As for the guys, crew cuts, pompadours, and ducktails were the rage for the hair. The ducktails and pompadours being the way the ‘rebels’ wore their hair. The crew cuts resembled the way guys in the Army wore their hair, the 50s being the decade right after World War II, it’s no wonder young guys wanted to emulate war heroes’ hairstyles.

Fashions for the young man of the 1950s often consisted of preppy sweaters, white t-shirts, jeans, and leather jackets. The denim and leather were most often associated with the James Dean type rebel. Of course, after 1956, many teen boys took to wearing their hair and dressing like a certain Elvis Presley.