The 50s': “Good fashion is evolution, not revolution,” Balmain



Fashion in the 1950s' was centered around individualism and catering to the body types of clients. The creation of a dress was focused on hugging the curves of a woman's body rather than hiding them. Fashion before 1950 was created for utility to facilitate the work that women had to do during WWII. Post-WWII Society allowed Americans to indulge in consumerism.  Fashion in the 50s is a result of the rejection of the masculine and rigid clothes of WWII.  Designers like Christian Dior, Givenchy, and Chanel introduced new designs that would set the precedent for this decade.

Women ditched their jumpsuits for the “New Look”. Christian Dior introduced his collection called the “New Look” in 1947. Fashion in the 50s' was a rebellion against the over masculine fashion of the 40s. This collection featured cinched-waists, exposed shoulders, mid-length skirts, prints, and the hourglass silhouette. Squared shoulders of coats were smoothed out for a more feminine look. Full circle skirts and mid-length dresses added femininity and elegance to the women's wear in the 50's.


This resurgence of feminity allowed other designers like Balenciaga to evolve their designs with new shapes and volumes. In the 50s Balenciaga put a new avant-garde spin on the cinched waist and full skirts. Experimentation with fashion is a major key for Balenciaga. Originality and innovation of shape and in construction was essential to Balenciaga. Other brands like Givenchy had a different interpretation of the full skirt. Givenchy commonly places pleats (indentations in a garment ) to flow with the curves of a woman's body. 

I took the top off

Givenchy collaborated with famous actors of the day like Audrey Hepburn to spread the importance of topping off your look with accessories to match. In Figure 1, the hat that resembles a flying saucer :)  is paired with black earrings and a black dress to match. Matching accessories was a luxury in comparison to the 1940s', fashion took a back seat in order to aid in the war effort. Today, accessorizing is essential in topping off an outfit.
Figure 1
Image result for givenchy 1950sImage result for audrey hepburn 1950s


The fifties created the beginning of personal style, no longer did women walk down the street in shapeless and dull dresses. Individualism in fashion developed. Chanel in the 1950s' made garments that accentuated the curves of a woman's body.  The "Chanel Suit" broke from the tradition of the cinched-waists of the "New Look" collection.

  
Image result for clueless






If you wanted to stand out in the 1950s you would wear a print. Wearing prints is a bold and playful way to express yourself.  The matching of an outfit and accessories in this image allows this look to be complete. This emphasis on prints comes back in the 1990s with the movie Clueless. 


Marylin Monroe was a fashion icon of the 1950s. Monroe wore bodycon dresses to highlight the curves of her body. Living to up to the song: "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend"  Monroe adorned herself in all things that sparkled. This has parallels to the rapper of today that are "iced out" (wearing diamonds). The fashion provocateur was not afraid to wear lingerie in her movies. 

In the 1950's we see the development of personal style through experimentation with volume, shape, and length clothing. This embodies the everchanging point of view of fashion.



Wear what makes you smile :)
-Alexa




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2010s The Decade Embracing Personal Style

Image
The fashion of the 2010s was heavily influenced by the creation of social media and the increasing popularity of social media influencers. The 2010s was the decade known for logos, athleisure, fashion that transcends gender and size and comebacks. Comfortable style, this is not an oxymoron Athleisure effortlessly combined style and comfort. Athletic wear became a look that was not limited to the gym but has become an essential part of everyday wear. Companies like Lululemon and Fabletics have capitalized on this trend.  Athleisure has become the go-to look for students attending this irrationally early 8:00 am class. A chunky sneaker with leggings, an oversized sweater, and a baseball cap is the standard. Comfort and style are not sacrificed in athleisure. It displays comfortability and perceived athleticism. This signature look for the "healthy girl". In 2016, the Adidas tracksuit made a comeback. Avoid fashion faux pas by matching your Adidas Tracksuits with  Adid...
Read more

"Smells like Teenage Spirit": A look in to fashion of the 90s

The embrace of bold and bright colors was a trend that carried over into the 90s. People still wore their neon windbreakers and their baby doll dresses to complete their outfits  In the early 90’s, people could not resist dawning on all the colors of the rainbow. Their outfits were as florescent as their personalities. Women in the 90s were known for wearing bright colors on sweatshirts, crop tops, and leather jackets with shoulder pads, and denim jackets.   Crop Tops were a go-to for a 90’s summer look. Exposing your belly- button was a trend that I personally I’m no fan of but hey it was the ‘90s. Whether crop tops were worn by Britney Spears, Halle Berry, or TLC  crop tops were a go-to.  Sweatshirts with athletic bottoms were also a trend for athletic wear of the period that was even followed by royalty. Even Princess Diana wore her favorite sweatshirt with her running shorts for the morning grind. Outfits like this are even repeated today by people ...
Read more