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What Were the Popular Fashion Trends of the 1950s?

The 1950s were a decade of such iconic fashion trends that we often see 50s-inspired Halloween costumes, photoshoots, and retro-themed fashion accounts that pay homage to these styles.

A huge proponent of fashion is and was Christian Dior. Dior made a famous fashion statement in the 1940s and 1950s that was called The New Look. The New Look revolutionized women’s fashion.

The New Look was famous for it’s hourglass shape. Structure was built into the garments themselves to give the padded shoulder, slim waist, and wide skirt look.

Men’s styles included tweed coats, sweater vests, trench coats, patterned button-ups, hats, and pressed trousers. Men also took a lot of fashion inspiration from the Teddy Boy style. This style embodied the alternative and punk styles of the era.

Poodle skirts, capri trousers, sling-back heels, pencil skirts, and hats were also commonly seen and worn on the youth and for more casual outfits. Let’s take a look at some pictures of these popular looks.

A group of friends pose in their nice dinner outfits and trenchcoats.
The iconic poodle skirt
Matching hat, scarf, and hand-warmer set
A professional skirt-suit
Teens react to a concert wearing poodle skirts and other popular skirt styles
One piece bathing suits were all the rage
Young boys posing on the street with the Teddy Boy/greaser style
Jayne Mansfield in a skirt-fuit
A group of friends posing in casual and trendy outfits for a night out
A magazine article selling swimsuits
Capris, pleated skirts and trousers, and cardigans, all in one photo
A group of men and the 1950s trench coat
A 1950s alternative style
Boys line up to buy movie tickets, all wearing the popular jeans style
A young boy showing off his school sweater
Friends all matching in similar style trends of cuffed jeans and black and white brogues
Sears catalog selling dresses that embody the New Look
A boy wearing retro sports wear
Children’s fashion in a Sears catalog
Vintage dresses
A retro button up and pleated jeans for a casual night at the bowling alley
Capri pants were a very common and fashionable trend
Blue jeans for the entire family!
Elvis with his signature popped collar and pompadour
The New Look silhouette
A young man with his casual and trendy outfit posing for a picture
Statement patterns
Two girls in capris and the long, patterned skirt
Tropical shirts were also a common fashion trend
A stylish woman roller-blading
A group of friends in their different styles of trench coats
A model wearing a fashionable bathing suit
A catalog page selling young women’s clothing styles
A fashionable 1950s couple
Tweed jackets and matching creased pants
Hats that match the dresses
The iconic sweater vest
5 women wearing the fashionable skirt suit
Another New Look silhouette
A trench coat with a large popped collar
The New Look in a fashion magazine
A tweed jacket can be dressed up or be casual
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