Not to split hairs, but the look of the 1950s wasreallyborn a few years prior.
The world was in dire need of beauty and the fashion industry deliveredand then some.
A supremely feminine silhouette.
The waist is what catches the eye right away.
Of course, this does not apply to shops and makers who have bought the original models.
This PSA was printed inVogues September 15, 1951 issue in Paris Collections Note.
Photographed by John Rawlings,Vogue, September 1957
It was extravagant clothing at extravagant prices for extravagant living and couturiers were fashioning the moment.
A Straighter Silhouette Emerges
Half a decade into the New Look, a new silhouette was brewing.
Fashion can only remain in fashion for so long.
Photographed by Horst P. Horst,Vogue, September 1953
The rigid hourglass began to soften and become less insistent.
Dior introduced H-lines and Y-lines.
She showed suits in springy jerseys cut in straight, unfussy lines.
Photographed by Horst P. Horst,Vogue, September 1954
The men got their icons, too.
As womens fashion matured and required much maintenance, fashion prized a boyish ease for men.
Its also certain that the heels rise in popularity started in the early 1950s.
Photographed by Karen Radkai,Vogue, September 1956
The slender, un-clunky shoe was the perfect punctuation for the decades graceful fashions.
At the time,Roger Vivierwas designing footwear for Christian Dior.
The November 15, 1951 issue ofVoguecelebrated the novel rhinestone-encrusted, whisper-thin steel heel from Perugia.
Photographed by Henry Clarke,Vogue, September 1955
The new suspension sandal, above.
Standing on a thin-strip of metal, the most spectacular shoe idea yet devised for evening.
(Sideways, there looks like it’s no heel at allonly a thin strip of rhinestones.)
Photographed by Erwin Blumenfeld,Vogue,April 1, 1954
Ferragamos relationship with Hollywood starlets like Marilyn Monroe helped propel his designs to prominence.
Jackets were single-breasted and accessories came by way of bowler hats and silver-capped canes.
The Teddy Boys or Teds-look dominated in youth subcultureespecially in Great Britain.
A full-length evening two-piece with mink cuffs by Dior, September 1954
These Teddy Boys wore narrow suits and trousers and greased their hair back into quiffs.
In the Culture
Where to begin!
In 1959, the world got its very first Barbie doll.
Photographed by Roger Prigent,Vogue,March 15, 1956
For front row tickets, emailparis@vogueworld.com
Photographed by Irving Penn,Vogue, September 1950
A cocktail dress designed by Fath with a collar-cape frill, 1956
Photographed by Frances McLaughlin-Gill,Vogue,November 1, 1952
Photographed by Henry Clarke,Vogue,September 1, 1955
A model poses for the presentation of the first Yves Saint-Laurent’s Dior collection, February 4, 1958, Paris
Audrey Hepburn, ca. 1955
Dorothy Dandridge, ca. 1955
Roger Vivier shoes, January 19, 1958
Ferragamo stilettos placed on a staircase, ca. 1953
Christian Dior arranging one of his evening dresses
Elvis Presley, Tennessee, Memphis, ca. 1956
James Dean ca. 1955
Grace Kelly on her wedding day, April 18th, 1956
