The 1950s was a time of incredible fashion, and it's still admired to this day. From the classic poodle skirt and saddle shoes to the perfectly coiffed hair, the 1950s look was timeless and alluring. But how do you recreate the vintage 50s look in modern times? In this blog post, we'll explore the signature elements of 1950s fashion and provide some tips on how to achieve the perfect vintage 50s style today.
The 1950s was one of the more diverse and exciting vintage periods in fashion. While there were some people who erred on the side of caution and wore what fit best with the status quo, others opted to wear a more risque fashion statement.
As a whole, in the 1950s, you could find fresh new colors, varied silhouettes, and style options that fit an array of different personalities.
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Some of the more popular 1950s staples were dresses with cinched waists, poodle skirts, pencil skirts, cardigans, cropped sweaters, and polka dots. For women, it was all about exaggerating the hour-glass silhouette, while men often wore clean lines and were drawn toward shedding stuffy business clothes for something more casual.
Popular Trends of the 50s
Just like today, there were different genres of clothing in the 1950s that allowed people to express who they were. You can easily recreate some of these iconic looks today with minimal effort.
Rockabilly
If you love alternative fashion, chances are, you’ve heard of rockabilly. This subculture in the 1950s was largely based around rockabilly music. This style usually included elements of rock and roll and country music. This style was more popular with teenagers than older generations.
You can emulate this vintage edgy style by wearing a fitted swing dress, a cardigan or leather jacket, and bold accessories such as a headscarf with a pompadour.
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Pin-Up Fashion
Largely inspired by the seductive poster girls of the 1950s, pin-up style is all about turning sex-appeal up to the max. Most of these clothes tended to be fairly revealing, for the time, this was a little shocking.
You can create your own pin-up inspired look by wearing a sleek pencil skirt or hot pants and a well-fitted bustier top. Other key pieces of pin-up fashion include halter-neck dresses and bikinis.
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Greaser Fashion
While you might think about leather and motorcycles when Greaser is mentioned, this look originated in the United States in the 1950s among teens and working-class men. This fashion style was often worn by men to compliment the women’s rockabilly style.
To get the perfect greaser look pair a heavy leather jacket, plain white Tshirt, and a pair of black or deep blue slacks with heavy-duty boots.
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Casual Fashion
The 1950s were largely about comfort and expression. At the end of the war, many people wanted to shed the dull clothes of the past and embraced pieces like cardigans, fitted slacks, or comfortable sweaters and skirts.
You can create a great casual comfort look inspired by the 1950s by ankle pants and a patterned top for a little extra flare.
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1950s Women's Fashion
Fashion for women in the 1950s was extremely diverse and was largely inspired by unique silhouettes shown in Hollywood films and stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, and Elizabeth Taylor. Whether you’re looking to recreate a stunning head-turning night look or a casual day-look, 1950s fashion has you covered.
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Casual Look
Recreating a casual 1950s look couldn’t be easier. Whether you prefer pants, shorts separates or a dress, this vintage era has you covered.
Dresses
Casual Day dresses were a staple in the 1950s. They came in many different colors, prints, and styles. You can achieve this look by getting a 50s inspired dress that cinches at the waist. Pair it with a simple necklace and pumps and you’re ready to go.
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Shorts
Shorts paired with a casual top were a great way to enjoy a day at the beach or out on the town.
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With the higher hem-lines and waists, shorts in the 1950s were extremely comfortable and versatile. You can pair some high-waisted jeans with a plain crop top or collared shirt and flats for a look that is perfect for every-day activities.
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Blouses
1950s blouses, like other pieces of 50s clothing, came in different shapes, sizes, colors, and styles. The tops, however, still favored the beloved hour-glass figure that women were striving for.
You can easily pair a cute patterned 50s inspired top with plain trousers, a thin belt, and saddle-back shoes for a flirty look or a plain collared shirt with patterned trousers for the inverse look.
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Swimwear
Swimwear in the 1950s ranged from one-pieces to two pieces, they came in many different styles, shapes, and colors, giving women in the 1950s plenty of options to choose from.
Whether you prefer a nice halter top bikini or a strapless one-piece, you’ll be beach-ready with your 1950s inspired swimwear.
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Dressed it Up
If you need something a little more than the standard every-day casual look of the 1950s, the 50s were extremely elegant and offered plenty of high-class options to choose from. Whether you’re looking to dress up for a night out on the town or to embody the 1950s at work, there are plenty of looks for you to choose.
Dresses
The different styles of dresses in the 1950s transitioned well between a casual and formal event with little to no effort.
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Whether you’d like to wear a vibrant pattern on a cute sundress or a dress with ornate necklines that emulate the 1950s vogue aesthetic, there is a vintage dress that is perfect for any occasion.
For the perfect look, pair your dress with some pumps, curled hair, and winged liner.
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Separates
Typically for formal events, women of the 1950s would be drawn toward dresses, but, skirts were also a great choice which allowed women to mix-and-match their own outfits to suit their own taste.
To create a fresh 1950s separates look you can pair a summery halter top with a floral print with a flowing ankle-length skirt and low heels.
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Pull It All Together
Much like any other vintage-inspired fashion statement, makeup and hair can make or break the look.
Winged liner, understated eyeshadow, rounded lips, and light blush were all staples of the 1950s makeup look that are still easily achieved today.
For a young, flirty look, style your hair in loose curls or victory rolls to emulate a strong rockabilly vibe.
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1950s Men’s Fashion
Much like women’s fashion in the 1950s, men’s fashion began to slowly expand after the war. While men traditionally had been wearing mostly business-attire, they started to adopt more casual looks into their wardrobes when outside of the office.
Men’s Casualwear
Creating a casual look for men is fairly simple. Whether you want to recreate a slick rockabilly or greaser look or a casual preppy look, you can find almost all of the staples today.
For an edgy rockabilly look, you can pair a plain white t-shirt, jeans, and a bomber jacket. Accessorize your look with a thin belt and comfortable shoes.
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Every-day outfits can be styled with a straight-legged trouser paired with a button-up shirt and a cardigan or sports jacket. This popular look is perfect for every-day wear.
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Men’s Business and Formalwear
While most men traded in their tuxedos and dinner jackets for something more casual for day to day life, daytime suits and formal suits remained pretty much the same as decades past.
Most men’s suits were available in charcoals, tans, and greys that suited most men well. However, men started to play a little bit more with contrasting vests and shirts that paired nicely with their suits.
The 1950s business look is fairly simple to recreate, all you’ll need is a traditional suit with a pair of nice oxfords and a vest or tie that add a little more embellishment. This look is perfect for special occasions or when you want to feel a little extra dapper.
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Of course, there are many different ways to style your perfect 1950s look that suits your own personality. The sky is truly the limit when the 1950s fashion spirit was all about expressing yourself and embracing change. Mix and match until your heart is content with your new 1950s inspired look!
What 1950s subculture of fashion is your favorite? Comment below and share!
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