1950s Fashion History and 1950s Costume Guides

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1950s Fashion History

Learn all about 1950s fashion history and how to dress in 1950s style clothing and costumes. Our articles are here to help you create an authentic or vintage inspired 1950s costume for both women and men. The 1950s was a decade where perfect housewives wore full skirt dresses, husbands donned suits and fedora hats and the teenagers danced to Rock n Roll in poodle skirts at sock hops. The fifties style is popular again with vintage clothing collectors, pin ups and Rockabilly trend setters. Whether dressing up for a 1950s themed event, finding a costume for a play, or doing research for a book these articles should help you create the fifties fashion look.

Vintage Men’s Swimsuits – 1930s, 1940s, 1950s

Daniel asked: I was just wondering, I know what ladies used during the 30's-40's (swimming suits). But what did the men use? Let's take a brief look at vintage men's swimsuits by decade: 1920s Men's Suits- Read this article about men's swimwear in the 1920...

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May 1, 2015

Perfect 1950s Car Hop Waitress Costume Shirts / Bowling Shirts

Every year Reno, Nevada hosts Hot August Nights, the biggest antique car show on the West Coast. The week’s theme falls heavily on the 1950s complete with sock hop, prom, and rock n’ roll concerts. Many people get dressed in 1950s costumes. Usually women a...

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April 15, 2015

1950s Cocktail Dresses, Party Dresses

1950s cocktail dresses were women's special event dresses appropriate for dinners, parties, and romantic dates! Like most '50s dresses these came down to below the knee and were made of finer rayons, satins, silks, lace, damask and high end c...

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April 14, 2015

1950s Dress Styles: 8 Popular Vintage Looks

During the 1950s, women wore dresses like we wear t-shirts and jeans today. A 1950s dress was a closet staple and came in a wide variety of colors and two silhouettes. Shoulders were narrow and soft. The waist had to be tiny and pulled in -- a "wasp" wais...

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April 13, 2015

1950s Lingerie History – Bras, Girdles, Slips, Panties, Garters

The 1950s were all about glamour, and Hollywood’s Golden Age stars were setting trends that every woman in America was after. Think Jane Russell, Lana Turner, and Marilyn Monroe. Big breasts, big hips, and small waists were a must-- and if you didn't have ...

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February 23, 2015

1950s Stockings and Nylons History & Shopping Guide

A 1950s wardrobe would be incomplete without classic vintage seamed stockings, also simply known as nylons. Of all the mid-century decades, I love 1950s stockings the best. The adorable heel and ankle designs are so fun! Read on to learn more about 1950s nylon...

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January 28, 2015

1950s Coats and Jackets History

1950s coats were beautifully constructed and varied slightly in styles, fabrics and design. Most coats were long, some coming all the way to the ankle and others just below the knee and others sat right around the hip. Typical fabrics included camel hair, wool...

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August 14, 2014

1950s Plus Size Fashion & Clothing History

Vintage plus size fashions in the past have not always been gracious to the fuller figure, but the forties and the fifties brought on a silhouette that was both flattering and attractive for the wearer. From juniors to misses, women's and stout (as plus si...

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August 12, 2014

1950s Prom Dresses, Formal Dresses and Party Dresses

“Conformity, they name is teenager! The lesson here: bouffant hairdos, bouffant skirts, fussy, frilly, and oh-so-feminine,” reports the Dick Clark Company. The prom dress was the most important dress the 1950s high-school girl was going to wear. It ...

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August 5, 2014

What Did Women Wear in the 1950s?

With Hot August Nights, the largest classic car show in the west happening this week, it has inspired me to take a look at 1950s fashion for women again. My hubby and I usually dress up in vintage or repro '50s clothes before going out to see all the cars....

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July 31, 2014

1950s Men’s Shirt Styles

1950s men's fashion have returned to modern wardrobes this year. 1950s men's shirts in particular seem to always get the biggest revival. Dress shirts, button down casuals, polo shirts, even retro t shirts all have their place both in the vintage retro market ...

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June 10, 2014

1950s Swimsuits, Bathing Suits Pictures

As a follow up to the 1940s swimsuit history post I was going to write about 1950s swimsuits today, but I am feeling a bit under the weather this week so enjoy this photo roundup instead. All 1950's swimsuits and bathing suits from ads, catalogs, and vintage p...

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May 15, 2014

40 Men’s Vintage and Vintage Inspired Clothing Shops

While the choices of vintage and retro style clothing for women are many, for men there are fewer options. The market for affordable new men's vintage inspired clothing or vintage reproduction clothing just hasn't caught on yet. The best options for men are cu...

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April 29, 2014

Vintage Maternity Clothes History

Having children is wonderful. Being pregnant, not so wonderful. Trying to dress vintage while being pregnant or nursing... challenging. Vintage maternity clothes have a limited history. Being pregnant was a taboo subject, and nursing your own child was out...

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April 3, 2014

1950s Pants History for Women

Women in the 1950s were the first to really enjoy the freedom of wearing pants as acceptable women's clothing. While the women in the 1940s loved their men's inspired slacks, they were gradually losing favor in the 1950s for a more ladylike style. Wo...

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March 6, 2014

Vintage Lingerie Photos and Ads 1920-1950

Vintage lingerie. So elegant, so pretty, so silky, so sleek, so wish I could wear these everyday, don't you? They are almost too pretty to wear under clothes. This week's photo roundup is all about vintage lingerie as featured in ads, catalogs and photographs....

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February 17, 2014

The Vintage Dancer Dress -1950’s Swing Dress Review

Did you hear the great news? Modcloth.com, my favorite online retailer of vintage inspired clothing, named one of their dresses after me, Vintage Dancer dress! It was such an honor to be recognized as a valuable blogger and an even bigger honor to get such a f...

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February 12, 2014

Vintage Hats from the 1920s-1950s

This week's photo roundup theme is hats. Lots and lots of vintage hats spanning the 1920s to the 1950s! Enjoy. This week we are sharing ladies lingerie pictures and catalog pages. I may throw in some men's too. Catch them...

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February 10, 2014

1950s Tops and Blouse Styles

While the 1940s borrowed elements from men's military uniforms for women's suits and dresses, the 1950s borrowed men's dress shirts for their own tops. At first teens literally borrowed Dad's old shirts to wear as a cover up while washing the car or di...

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February 6, 2014

Where to Buy 1950s Dresses in Plus Sizes

I received a request recently for some recommendations on where to buy vintage inspired plus size 1950s dresses. Besides my own 1950s Plus Size Dresses shopping page I also know of these great web stores: Modcloth.com - Modcloth has recently expanded th...

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December 1, 2013

1950s Petticoat History

I just can't talk about the history of 1950s skirts without also discussing the petticoats and crinolines worn under them. The PaperDoll look of the fifties could not be achieved with simple cotton and lace slips. The five yard skirt needed five net petticoa...

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November 11, 2013

1950s Skirt Styles & History

The New Look shape of 1947 carried over into the skirts worn in the ‘50s. Skirts were tight at the natural waist and were either very full or very fitted. They are very figure flattering and really fun to wear, which is why 1950s skirts are must have items in ...

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November 6, 2013

Inspiration for 1950s Style Swimsuits

Summer time, summer fun. Almost every year I am on the hunt for a new swimsuit. Not that I just love wearing next to nothing at the pool or beach but since summers here get very HOT going for a dip in the pool, wading in Lake Tahoe, or spending a day at the wa...

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June 14, 2013

1950 Style Clothing- A Shopping Guide

1950 style clothing is back in fashion. Everywhere I look I see elements of 50's style dresses, shirts, and pants in new modern clothing as well vintage reproduction clothing. If you are new to 50's fashion you may not know what to look for when you shop. Here...

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May 25, 2013

1950s Fashion History

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