The 1950s are often remembered for the iconic “New Look” with its cinched waists and full skirts. However, 50’s fashion trends offered a surprising array of styles. Fashion curator Daniel Milford-Cottam highlights this diversity in Fashion in the 1950s, noting that women could express their individuality through various silhouettes, from full and narrow skirts to form-fitting sheaths and loose sack dresses. This emphasis on choice marked a significant shift in the fashion landscape.
As the decade progressed, renowned designers like Cristobal Balenciaga, Charles James, and Hubert de Givenchy further expanded the range of 50’s fashion trends. James Laver, in Costume and Fashion: A Concise History, observes a move towards less structured and straighter cuts in clothing. Chanel, Dior, and Balenciaga introduced the straight-cut suit, which, unlike the New Look, accentuated the natural female form with a jacket falling at the hips’ widest point.
Later in the 50s, sheath dresses and high-waisted chemise dresses, pioneered by Balenciaga in 1957, gained popularity. These styles offered a streamlined alternative to the fullness of the earlier years.
Alongside haute couture, sportswear continued to thrive as a major force in 50’s fashion trends. American designer Claire McCardell, known for her practical and comfortable designs, maintained the popularity of her wrap-over dresses and introduced pedal-pushers with matching tops. While elegance defined much of the decade’s fashion, young women embraced McCardell’s sportswear and less formal attire like sundresses and swimsuits.
The “poodle skirt” remains an enduring symbol of casual 50’s fashion trends. Created by Juli Lynne Charlot, these felt skirts, often adorned with various embellishments, were typically paired with tight-knitted twinsets. While less formal than Parisian haute couture, poodle skirts still echoed the New Look’s silhouette with a defined waist and full skirt.
