50's Fashion | Research

After the World War II ended, fashion bloomed due to different fabrics and materials in larger quantities avalible on the market. Clothing became an important part of the every day life and people started expressing themselves through clothes and form their individual style. 

To have a thin waist and a defined bust and hips was the body shape women were sold on ahd  all  clothes were designed to accentuate that shape. Corsets and bustiere tops were very popular as well as slimmers made out of latex or nylon. Bras, also known as 'bullet bras' were designed in a cone shape and padding was used to get a larger bust.

1950's Underwear

(source: http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/50sclothes.html)

Image found on: Nov 5 2015

Women dressed to impress and clothes were designed to fit the purpose, expecially for wifes. There were five different categories; housework or lounging, going out to run errands, maternity clothing, work uniforms and evening attire. 

Dresses and skirts were made out of a lot of fabric and pleats and were very colourful, mostly pastels. Polka dots, stipes and floral patterns were most common. Most dresses had high necklines. The skirts were often matched with short sleeve cropped sweaters. Post popular skirts had a poodle coiffed on them - poodle skirts. 
Mothers and daughters or sisters would often wear matching outfits to go out in. However, teenagers dressed more casual than their parents. At the begining of the decade skirts were quite long, always below the knees but towards the end they became shorter, tighter and less conservative. Also, there were more options in terms of trousers and shorts for women.
The most popular accessory were the cat-eye sunglasses.

Lana Lobell Catalog showing trends for summer 1955

1950's dresses

page 5

(source: http://www.reminisce.com/1950s/lana-lobell-catalog-featured-1950s-fashion/)

Image found on: Nov 5 2015

Poodle skirt
1950's
(source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Childrens_Museum_of_Indianapolis_-_Poodle_skirt.jpg)
Image found on: Nov 5 2015

1950's sunglasses
Rita Hayworth
(source: http://www.beautybombshells.com/2012/06/29/sunglasses-chic/)
Image found on: Nov 5 2015

Reference (Found on: Nov 4/5 2015)

http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/50sclothes.html
http://www.retrowaste.com/1950s/fashion-in-the-1950s/
http://www.refinery29.com/50s-trends#slide-9