ReTRo HouSeWiFe

RETRO-SPECTIVE: HOUSEWIFE FASHION

1950s Fashion

We know what Lucy wore, and there are plenty of pictures of Grace Kelly, but what did the average American housewife wear in the 1950s? Was it all gloves, skirts and sweaters? Find out here as we research the fab 50s fashion.

This is a pattern for a dress that Lucy might have worn, and other middle class ladies too! It was straight from Paris to you! (Assuming you were alive in the '50s.) Yup! That's the story of this stunning two-piece fashion - the prettiest flattery your figure ever had! See those lovely long lines that curve from bodice to hips, the gentle flare of the skirt. Wonderful! Now see how simple it is to sew. (Assuming you were not the type to sew your fingers together...)

Underneath it all:

The Bra: Large, lifted, pointy breasts were all the rage. Exercises to increase bust size were popular in teen magazines. "We must, we must, we must increase our bust" was the mantra for a generation of girls. Gals didn't have to be pencil thin in the 50's, which helped in the bust size department.

Marilyn Monroe circa 1957 and 1955

Rumor has it Marilyn Monroe slept in her bra to keep her breasts from sagging.

British Vogue, May, 1950 by Norman Parkinson

OK, so none of these dresses are what the typical 50s housewife would wear...I'll get to that! I just got stuck in the glamour girl department for a bit....can you blame me? Sheesh!

50's inspired retro flat in Green Leather - Sensible Girls wore these... ==>>

Plaid Accessories were a noted must-have for the well accessorized gal in the Fall Fashion Season of 1954.

1951 Tiered Evening Dress - A woman would describe this dress as "dreamy" in 1951. It is dreamy, don't you think?

50's Fashion Sense

• Full Skirts that accented the slim waistline.

• Pencil Silhouette that accented the slim waistline.

• Slim Waistlines

• Aprons

• Pierre Cardin hits the fashion scene in France.

• Dior Abolishes Bosom.

• 1954 Spring Shoe Fashions

• Women Change Shape in '55

• Sew It Yourself Fashion

• Blueprints of Fashion; Home Sewing Patterns of the 1950s

Maggie London Silk Halter Dress

This Maggie London dress (Nordstrom) is similar in style to the dress Miss Monroe wore in her famous "Oops my dress" picture from the Seven Year Itch; Feminine full skirt, fitted waist line that accentuates the bosom. (Model needs to add a few pounds to pull that off).

Add some strappy sandals:
 

 
and you too can get your heel stuck in a ventilator grate! (The shoe shown is an Anne Klein New York 'Francoise' Sandal, also at Nordie's! )

Black and White Polka Dot 1950s Style Dress  - By XOXO, 2006. Poor scrawny little thing is a bit lost in the dress though...compare to a real 1950s woman who could fill out a dress...

Headless Fashion

Michael Kors 1950s Style Skirt
(At Yoox => www.yoox.com)

Hmmm....now I need something here, don't I! Let's try a modern 1950s style pencil skirt. Pencil skirts look fantastic on the svelte. In the '50s, skirts were worn longer and reached at least 2 inches below the knee to your shins.

I found this particular skirt at QVC. It wasn't easy, either!

Balenciaga Dress, Regine, Vogue 1950 by Norman Parkinson

What a Drama Queen!

Fashions of a Decade: The 1950s