The 1950s were prosperous, vibrant years for Australians. These years marked a transition from the conservatism, restraint and formality of the 1940s, to a freer, looser, more informal style. Throughout the decade it became much more acceptable for males to dress ‘for show’ and both sexes became much more fashion conscious. Teenagers driven to mimic the style of celebrities largely influenced 50s fashion, as did cinema, television and 'rock 'n' roll. The increased buying power of adolescents, and parents generosity with allowances, sparked a huge segment of industry, dedicated to teenage fashion.
Womenswear
Clothing
1950s clothing was largely influenced by the rock 'n' roll craze sweeping through the country. Brightly coloured full length skirts were commonly worn for dance while skirts and pants pinched in at the waist worn to emphasise the waist and bust also became popular.Tight-fitting blouses tucked into slim-line calf-length trousers, called 'capri' pants or 'pedal pushers', were largely adopted by young women. Short ankle socks, scarves tied around the neck and cropped cardigans trended throughout the decade. Movie star icons such as Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly, pushed for tiny waistlines, full skirts and busts to be popularized just as slim pencil- line skirts. Fur was added to every collar and cuff in the fifties, and sometimes even to brooches. It added a touch of class to any outfit.
Hats
Hats for women in the 1950′s were a major fashion accessory, the pillbox hat and hats with floral patterns were particularly popular. Hats added the final touch of 1950s glamour to a woman or girl’s outfit, particularly in the early fifties. Last year’s dress or suit could be updated easily with a new hat or a fresh ornament such as flowers, an autumnal bunch of acorns and leaves, or a bunch of cherries.
Gloves
Gloves were an essential part of a woman’s outfit and were worn everywhere, with every outfit in the 1950s and completed a woman’s appearance. Without gloves she was not properly accessorized. Clean gloves were the hallmark of a lady and white or cream were the most favoured colours for gloves. They were worn in a variety of colours were primarily made of cotton as this was more affordable than leather or the newer nylon gloves. Even so many women owned a special pair of leather gloves. Dents and Pittards were popular glove brands, but women could also make their own gloves using a pattern.
Shoes Shoes morphed into more fashionable styles in the 50s. The stiletto heel made its first appearance in the 1950′s. By the mid 1950s pointed toe shoes called Winkle pickers with stiletto heels up to 5 inches were a common sight. There is no doubt that the trademark of the fifties was the stiletto heeled shoe, first seen in 1952 at a Dior fashion show. Complete with pointed toe and metal tipped heel, it was sometimes banned from certain places because of the damage it did to the floors. To deal with this many women carried around a pair of flat heels in their handbags just in case.
Menswear
Adult men's fashion in the 1950s was largely quiet and conservative, which somewhat widened the generation gap between older men and the daringly dressed younger generation. Mature menswear in the 1950s mostly featured plain fabrics in dark, muted shades like blue, brown and grey.
The influx of American cinema and television brought many new fashion ideas to the masses and prompted many young people to copy the fashion of their favourite movie stars.
Misunderstood motorbike punk star, Marlon Brando, dressed in blue jeans and a leather jacket in The Wild one (1953); while James Dean dressed similarly in his role in Rebel Without a Cause(1955). Together the two inspired a generation of young men, to copy their attitude and style of dress. Apparel combinations such as jeans, leather boots or sneakers and white t- shits, quickly became a symbol of teenage rebellion for boys everywhere.
However, not all teenage boys adopted such styles. The late 50s saw many young men adopt the more tailored, British-influenced Teddy Boy style of dress - high-waisted, narrow 'drain pipe' trousers, long jackets, slim ties and large, shiny pointed shoes called 'winklepickers'.
Elvis Presley's look also became a popular choice with the teen market. Youth everywhere began sporting his slicked back 'duck tail' hair style and long sideburns. Adolescent males began to wear brighter colours and sharp, flashy suits became trendy in the 1950s. Loose, unbuttoned shirts with upturned collars also prevailed.
A stark difference in fashion , when compared to older men's fashion of the 50s (upper right)
James Dean (left) a prominent fashion trend-setter of the 50s
Balenciaga was the designer that first showed and popularised the pillbox hat ; it became ‘the hat’ of the fifties and later the hat of the sixties when it was greatly favoured by Jackie Kennedy. The pillbox often had veiling attached to the front. Other simple hats included neat beret varieties and also knitted beret hats with tassels or pom-pom.
1955 Old Dolcis Advert for stiletto heeled shoes
Marlon Brando, was a major influence on young men's fashion during the 50s. The picture to the left demonstrates his trend setting look