The 1950s "A New Hope"

         In 1947 "New Look" had symbolized a new hope and by the 1950s both the hope and the style were fully embraced. The emphasis on silhouette and form created a dependency on foundation garments – bullet bras, corselettets, waist-cinchers and girdles.

       The 1950s saw the birth of pret-a-porter (ready-to-wear), at first seen as a necessary evil but eventually gaining respect. The US War Production Board sponsored a measurements survey of 100,000 women, using the data to standardize sizing for the garment industry.
       1950s fashion was regulated by three C’s – code, conformity and consumerism. Women’s focus was on rearing children and keeping house as they had largely left the war years’ workplace. Both men’s and women’s activities centered around family and home and clothing changed as a result. Emphasis was on practical but attractive housedresses. A woman was expected to wear a hat outside of the house (except for the most formal evening occasions) and gloves at all times – short for day, long for evening.

       The second half of the 1950s still emphasized women dressing for ‘their man.’ Structural garments (such as stiletto heels, girdles and bullet bras) were designed to highlight the natural appeal of a woman’s figure, instead it virtually characterized it.

It's War Time! (clothing during World War II)

Women's clothes of the 1940s were typically modeled after the utility clothes produced during war rationing. Squared shoulders, narrow hips, and skirts that ended just below the knee were the height of fashion. Tailored suits were also quite popular.

 By 1947, after WWII was over, the "New Look" began to replace the wartime utility fashions. This new style embraced femininity, with rounded shoulders, shapely bust lines, closely-defined waistlines, slightly padded skirts, and full, billowing skirts that hung just below the calves.

The Imfamous 1930's

          The changes in fashion that occurred in the 1930s are essential to vintage inspired clothing today. We love feminine butterfly sleeves and sophisticated elegance, both gifts to women’s clothing from this decade. With the onset of the Great Depression, many people were forced to give up a lavish lifestyle, but an era of big bands and nightlife remained. Women’s fashion shifted to a wardrobe of femininity, and at the start of the 1930s, trends emphasized the natural waistline as way to close out the boyish look of 1920s fashion. Hollywood movie stars played an influential role in 1930s style as well, and what was worn on the screen became acceptable on the streets.
         1930s skirts sometimes had a subtle high-low hemline to add motion and volume and were finished with pleats for similar reasons. Also, women often wore ensembles, or sets of matching tops and bottoms, during this decade for sophisticated clothing and a polished daytime look.
         Unlike the boyish 1920s dresses that concealed curves, the 1930s dresses had shapely lines and aimed to celebrate the female figure. Dresses returned to define the waistline, and at the start of the decade, women wore dresses that emphasized the shoulders. This included butterfly sleeves, puffed sleeves, and angular shoulders which, in turn, would give the illusion of a smaller waist.

1920s flapper

In the 1920s a new woman was born. She was known as a flapper. She smoked, drank, danced, and voted. She cut her hair, wore make-up, and went to petting parties. She was giddy and took risks.

 The hair cut was short known as a bob. In previous years women would never think of cutting their hair. The bob was a daring risk, but these ladies out did themselves. Flappers would wear heavy makeup. The dresses were a big part of the flapper culture. They were heavily beaded, short, and had drop waists. http://172.27.72.27/web/login?_bcsp=1&_bceq=U2FsdGVkX19YZwo8-G7UOsAckKHO5jbEhcdwLXtoqODmpRpBjsxFRSJ_EU-Ewi2s_IfwMOuf3b_e9RvJhzgae80nJPlOQ-aNf2cPoqTGAJ6JctVlaM6aGKEjQEvCJebbirF6BMShnMKs7dj6UGuZVCVo-L_p-jPhtBtVQkEzRHR2nrN50GE-t3uKX2K0bQYFVICrhVxqrwd6fXJmRTkMuxos-CRsVcm_6nLESLNB3OlbWxDU-i-yGTRCZmuCjs8Fk496QoqYfI_CQInKinwFmyXod1o9Mm6ZhPhWy-VFxYbUapkdsQ7t53ZGsHvrGZGVp0ME-VlFBSoBGyeYM8iRMikXY-7iRoZUs2yDjmxaPO_sjH4XRvYq8-Mu3bcQSIjXXRlzilgu0Y90nCjuXPgqa4imcieIEfyBZ7e1MAOXNBMlR8pstlWsIXxrKrLGEEIQT-g_DfgmKx4Y1fOJjiZreopUEarILvqRiqbXWw48laNyN9kroAQVScggebA12QfYokGXFxJP8dMYQm5nnMsidyheaes3z26UQJSCnXgI4u2J-K531ZDUS4Bah_OmjcIbhl7kapb1HV_DZOaeiL-SwHNkMdkMJUjAgwPKa9ayXBfHWkfbnVF6j6i4mHUQTSAoMn-hdEeQ6C99oCCWJPQABCn4CASicr7erASDvRbfV6MGPMZgsEQKSmJQzfIN2oOgzsvErcJX2Vamn0KCC0SOMkbTyTvSAmrXTDMOTcoDb-vEYZSuME4ckPhOmaiqI-ksHjvfLDJJsNzHNL6RmRny4AOXuMNnfxyLYsqEFQj5JbwCUX_jCzqufy6ky1x1nwkyTaBkGjae8xiTrk3YFBBL41--dNaTTqwvyMFZZyHDXrY.