1950s Style Dresses

1950s style dresses brought about a return to glamour, a sense of whimsical behavior and role-playing, and a dedication to femininity that still goes unparalleled. From the circle skirts to the satin strapless bodice dresses, dresses flattered the body while still retaining some exciting design details.

1950s women's fashion was characterized by wide shoulders that still remained soft, balanced by equally wide hips. Women could mix up looks with various dress silhouettes and separates that combined several aspects of the New Look style, from slimmer bodices to larger skirts, and even cocoon dresses that enveloped the body in soft folds of expertly folded fabric.

Neutral colors were popular in the 1950s, but many of the styles were hand-painted or finished with whimsical designs in the form of flowers, animals, and unusual hunting scenes. In the same vein, rick rack, ribbons, sequins, and beading were used to decorate 1950s dresses and add interest. As the decade marched on, designs became more geometric and futuristic in a nod to more modern tastes.

Wondering what some of the most popular 1950s style dresses were? Here's a taste of what was most popular during the decade.

• Dresses with fitted blouses and small collars, with a crinoline or stiff petticoat to add fullness and volume
• Dresses with a sundress appearance and tied shoulder straps
• Prom-style evening gowns with tiers and tight bodices
• Long-sleeved dresses with button detailing
• Traditional circle skirts with slimmer bodices, also often belted or buttoned
• Tulle-bedecked fancy dresses complete with sequins and beads
• Strapless bodices for evening and in-the-sun casual wear
• Shirtwaist dresses, which have a classic hourglass shape, but are more affordable
• Halter-neck dresses with wider straps and structured bodices
• Dresses with full necklines with a v-shape and a tight waistline
• Hidden or patch-pocketed dresses with full skirts, in seersucker, plaid, or calico
• Satin dresses with a wrapped front bodice, usually boned or highly structured
• Ribbon-tied waistlines or sashed items
• Straight across necklines with apron details and buttoned-on straps
• Sailor-inspired dresses with white trim, buttons, or piping
• "Marilyn Monroe" dresses with defined waists and pleated skirts
• Tiered or asymmetrically-detailed hemlines or accents

In the late 1940s, Dior introduced a special dress style featuring a high-fashion, highly feminine look with exaggerated hips, nipped-in stomachs, and high, pointed bustlines. The New Look was a dominant style on the fashion scene for ten years, but it was accompanied by evolving fashions of the 1950s that eventually gave way to some of the most exciting and liberated look of the 1960s.

While the New Look may have been introduced in 1947, it took some time for the style to trickle down to average American women, particularly as they slowly built up their wardrobes post-war. With less exaggeration on the female form than Dior may have intended, the New Look quickly became a staple for most women of the '50s.

The New Look was characterized by:

• Calf-length skirt hems and plenty of volume below
• Crinoline and petticoats worn underneath skirts and dresses for volume
• Wide belts that flattered a feminine shape
• Similar silhouettes for both separates and dresses
• Accessories and jewelry were worn to match the dress choice, flattering the wearer and complementing the dress print and style

• Cat's eye glasses—the perfect complement to collared dresses with button-down shaping.
• "Americana" prints like red, white, and blue or other patriotic themes for summer sundresses and shifts.
• Cashmere or lightweight sweaters tossed around the shoulders or tied around the neck.
• White, folded-down bobby socks as an accessory to both dresses and skirts of casual and semi-formal persuasions.
• Hawaiian references and details in casual clothing, which was also used for men's fashion.
• Saddle or oxford shoes completed the look for a younger generation.

• Armani Black Dresses
• Long Sleeved Special Occasion Dresses for Women
• Holiday Cocktail Dresses
• Body Shape Fashion Quiz
• Bad Womens Fashion Quiz

• Eighties Fashion for Women
• Slideshow:80s Fashion Pictures
• Women's Fashion 1940's
• How to Tie Scarves
• Clothing for Different Body Shapes

• Garden Party Dresses
• 80s Fancy Dresses
• 1940s Women's Suits
• Rockabilly Dresses
• 1920's Fashion