My first encounter with 1950’s fashion was my 2nd grade sock-hop. My mom made me a magenta hoop skirt out of felt like material and I wore a scarf around my neck with fake glasses. I totally dressed the part. The 1950’s, post WWII was a time when women were expected to do traditional homely duties, thus fashion mirrored the notion of feminity with soft shoulders, full skirts and gloves. Perhaps the most famous item from the fifties was the bikini, but bright colors for clothes and accessories were all the rage. Givenchy was a key designer of the time as well as Cardin, YSL also began running Dior in 1958. There were some major fashion moments such as the creation of Chanel’s tweed suit and the notion of the “teenager” in the U.S. with the rock and roll influence. Another breakthrough was the ready-to-wear lines for women’s clothing.
THEN
Cardin 1957 (photograph by Avedon)
Audrey Hepburn in Givenchy 1958
Women in the Chanel Suit
NOW
Chanel Tweed Suit Fall 2012
Lanvin Fall 2012 Ready to Wear
Calvin Klein Fall 2012 Ready to Wear
Article by: Hadley Green
