Fashion In The 50's

The 1950’s was a time of progression. From technology to population, everything was changing. The economy started booming due to the end of the war and consumerism was gradually increasing. A majority of families experienced a great deal of economic power and independence. It is also essential to note that despite the economic power given to many citizens, many families faced poverty during this time. Moving forward, teenagers were now, part of the picture because they had the money and power to buy leisure type of items. Many parents supported this new wave of consumerism that teenagers were apart of because most of those parents that were now raising teenagers grew up during the Great Depression and World War, which was a darker time that
Despite the vast changes in fashion during the 50’s, the general term to describe the style is “put together.” From poodle skirts to leather jackets, everyone was always dressed to the nines. The types of looks that were popular amongst teenage girls were the classic, rebellious, and sailor look. On the other hand, teenage girls would dress “all out” for special events, which was looked down upon if a special event was not going on. During the 50’s, teenage girls could be seen rocking a short-cut that was ridiculously curled or waved, or an updo with a scarf involved somehow. This classic look would usually be paired with a pastel, color-coordinated outfit consisting of a tight, peter-pan collared top and soft sweater, all tucked into a full skirt that had a tight petticoat. The shoes worn by teenage girls were normally black or white, patent leather Mary Janes with a strap in the middle. These Mary Janes were often worn with bobby socks, which were essentially ankle socks. Eventually, a plethora of teenagers, would start frequently wearing Converse sneakers and edgier clothing. The shift in clothing style is due to the movies, The Wild One and Rebel Without a Cause, which encouraged rebels and nonconformists to dress a certain