Known as the “Golden Age” the 1950s was a momentous decade in fashion. This decade encompassed elegancy and wealth is woman’s fashion and upheld prestige based on personal style. Every silhouette was created to keep a woman’s figure while also preserving femininity and modesty. Whilst channeling the straight silhouette, sleek, simple, kitten heels were paired with these pieces. This allowed the ultimate image of femininity to come into play. Moreover, this standard of wear was influenced by unequal gender roles. Woman were not viewed as equals among societal roles, therefore affecting their fashion choices to be suitable and accepted by their spouses, the men.
“Celebrating the end of World War II meant celebrating women as women, capital W—with nipped waists, voluminous skirts, impeccably made-up hair, and accessories for every possible occasion. For better or worse, the coordination of hats, gloves, and handbags—the not-a-hair-out-of-place standard of the era—gave women innumerable fashionable and cosmetic diversions. The decade might be remembered as a step back for women, who chased heavenly ether-levels of beauty, but boy, did it deliver some fabulous looks”
Photographed by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, September 1953
As fashion was starting to reach new heights, items like the cocktail dress and elegant evening wear embodied all the excitement among woman in the United States. The previous years encompassed a small silhouette, with more masculine features such as broad and straight shoulders. The 1950s evolved from that, slimming the waistline even more with corsets, and softening the shoulder lines to con temporize the feminine look.
Photographed by Roger Prigent, Vogue, March 15, 1956
After World War 2, men’s fashion cultivated into a similar theme as the women. Most men wore slim fitting and elegant suit with a velvet collar. The had some accessories; such as a roller hat and silver-capped canes. In addition, if jackets were worn, they would most likely be single breasted and again, wealthy-looking.
“In addition to the youthful, wrong side-of-the-tracks looks delivered by Marlon Brandon and James Dean on screen—think denim, tee, and sneakers—a whole new archetype emerged in the 1950s. The “Teddy Boys” or “Teds”-look dominated in youth subculture—especially in Great Britain. These Teddy Boys wore narrow suits and trousers and greased their hair back into quiffs. It was an aesthetic that resonated with musicians in the UK before Elvis took the look and blew it up stateside.”
Because the men were not really subjected to a woman’s opinion of what they should wear, they were able to personalize and individualize what they wore. In the 1950s specifically, the birth of modern casual wear was born. Sweaters, turtlenecks, knitted polos, denim jackets, and the elevation of a humble T-shirt. These various pieces specifically, immensely influenced the casual wear of the modern world. Furthermore, most men’s fashion during this decade remain as staples in people’s closets today.
Photographed by Roger Prigent, Vogue, March 15, 1956
James Dean, Arthur Miller, and Elvis Presley was this decades’ fashion icons for men. They set high standards and embraced a new sense of identidy through their fashion choices. For instance, Elvis Presley set a new standard and look during this time. Due to his heavy success being a musician, fans admired his style and wanted to replicate it. An article by FashionBeans says, “rockers like Elvis Presley left more formal dress codes, well, all shook up, replacing trilbies with slick quiffs, ties with button-down shirts, and fusty flannels with featherweight fleck-linen jackets.”
“End section of pipeline construction, circa 1950s” by Seattle Municipal Archives is licensed under CC BY 2.0
“Cardigans, leisure jackets, and sport coats became symbols of the relaxed movement to men’s style. The teenage rebellion of the decade, thanks in part to Hollywood’s influence, saw the rise of leather motorcycle jackets and new emerging subcultures. The trench coat maintained its popularity from previous decades, serving as a stylish option for rainy weather, while the pea coat offered warmth and durability for colder months.”
