1950-1960

Dior’s 1947 New Look had been embraced by public this brought a new positive light after the depression and the war, it brought new hope and style for women. After the war, men adopted an Edwardian Style of dress.

This was a very feminine era contrasting from the last decade from which women had to dress rather masculine to fit with the work in factories, therefore women tried to emphasis feminism; they wore makeup for everyday outings, gloves became popular, most women wore earrings. This was all inspired by the new style of ‘the perfectly groomed women’.

 

Following with the feminist craze women looked up to people like Audrey Hepburn as idols, as she became the best known and most copied of all famous faces. The hourglass figure was still continued as women’s idols like Audrey Hepburn’s clothing highlighted an hourglass figure which women aspired to style like. Women would also wear heels on a very regular occasion; ‘the stiletto’ shoe became the biggest craze since Dior’s “New Look” it introduced heels into womens fashion as still to present day heels are a very popular choice for work wear or evening wear.

 

Although in this era women dressed very feminine, there was a change in this decade for clothing as a result of people becoming more family orientated as men and women spent more time at home with their families and doing household chores around the house so women dressed in a more practical way for ‘wifely’ roles. They would wear more house dresses for practically even when taking outings for errands. As the country got out of depression people had more disposable income so families would take annual holidays therefore beachwear became very popular. In 1947 the first bikini was unveiled.

 

As designers began experimenting with silhouettes the sack dress was introduced by Balenciaga (Spanish designer) changed the restricted waistline. Then Dior created the tunic dress, very off the body draping no figure hugging or hourglass shaped garments, changing silhouettes dramatically.

 

 

Blue jeans were another huge craze in this era and became popular for lots of different people and functions. They were very popular with teenagers in this decade and also worn as work wear and practicality. “I wish I had invented blue jeans. They have expression, modesty, sex appeal, simplicity – all I hope for in my clothes” Yves Saint Laurent. Levi strauss introduced the blue jean in 1873 which became one of the biggest fashion innovations ever. The classic levi 501 jeans founded a fashion phenomenon which from then on all designers and companies have adapted and used this design and it’s such an innovative and successful design.