Fashion of the Fifties
The decade of the 1950's proved to be a decade of change for the images of fashion and design. Women's clothing focused on shape: while the 1940's silhouette had wide shoulders and a short skirt, the styles for a woman were created to compliment the natural hourglass figure. Dresses fitted the body with a small shoulder and tinier waistline, but skirts became fuller and wider and the heels much higher. Outfits became more color-coordinated and accessories were all the rave. Purses, bracelets, and necklaces became more affordable and much, much more popular. For men, suits were now as narrow as could be, with slim "cigarette leg" pants and a sack coat shape. Charcoal grey was a popular color for men's suits, usually worn with a white shirt and narrow tie. Before World War II, all men wore hats. However, moving into the 50's, many men noticed that wearing hats while driving was bothersome. Therefore they ditched the hat and slicked back their hair with gel into neat, sculpted do's that were precisely groomed to stay off the ears.
Dances and Doo-bops
The typical high school dance in the 1950s was an informal event that everyone attended. Known as sock-hops, these dances were among the most hip attractions to which teenagers would go. At these dances, compliant teens would remove their hard-soled shoes in order to prevent damage to the school's gymnasium or cafeteria floor. The teens would dance in their socks or bare-feet, earning the nickname "sock-hop." The music played was typically the trendiest rock n' roll songs, inspiring dance moves like the jitterbug, shake, rattle, and roll that went far beyond the dance moves of their parents' generations.
Author: Becca K.
Author: Becca K.