Fashion of the 50s and 60s (Part 1)

Spread the love

 I’ll try and not get too serious, but fashion of the Mid Century is a fascinating subject. We have to go back to the 20s and 30s to see the shift in fashion that leads to the Mid Century and continues today.

Fashion was divided between the classes before World War II. The fashion worn by high society was distinctly different from the emerging middle class. The 20th century saw a gradual production of a middle class, consumer society that exploded after mass production and modern markets moved incredible number of goods from one part of the world to the other. Clothes became more casual and the distinction between everyday wear and more formal attire became less and less significant. People began to wear T Shirts and blue jeans in the 50’s and 60’s, for instance. In the 30s and 40s both men and women wore hats. Men wore suits and women wore dresses. This did not decrease the need for designers, though, when tastes shifted to a consumer society. We shall examine–mostly a visual examination– some of the designers and their work. However, we will stick to the 50s and 60s or at least fashion after World War II, which is plenty for us right now. If you would like further reading on the designers, follow the links.

 

Claire McCardell

 

[1]

 

McCardell was one of those women designers who pushed the idea that ready to wear could be stylish and high-end. She received many awards for her work and even appeared on the front cover of Time magazine. She introduced unexpected fabrics and designs into formal wear, put pants pockets into skirts and introduced loose-fitting designs to accentuate the form. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has a nice collection of her garments that you can see here.

 

Mid Century article.jpg[2] [3][4][5]

[6]mccardell56.jpgwhatshalliwear.jpgpopoverdress.jpg

 

 

Coco Chanel

 

Coco Chanel
Coco Chanel

[7]The French designer Coco Chanel is a giant among the fashion makers of the Mid Century. She started out in crushing poverty in the Loire Valley in France and worked her way up from a stage actress, where she assumed the name “Coco”, to milliner to opening a shop in Paris in 1913 selling a few garments and hats. She was known for her use of jersey, which at the time was mainly used for men’s undergarments. She is particularly known for her signature product, Chanel No. 5 and her “Little Black Dress”, a simple, comfortable, yet stylish dress that can be worn on many occasions. The Little Black Dress was made famous by Audrey Hepburn in the film, Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

 

 

chanel-blouses.jpg1dce48cffc573364450953006491f110.jpg4eb56604543b6bb31ce04ffeac58c482.jpg5f10b21f91d63c8121b3b60c4ef2f6a6.jpg7dd6d6d84c7565b6297164a7cfafafc6.jpg67ff2905459868e71c9629d1e6c3dfd0.jpg9e4c2eac1ca9a5c1a7b944fa8c434933.jpg9ed835eec6da1726454deefe99f6210c.jpg90f03df830a34d82b7bfa538c5ef9f99.jpg206b70048a66eef6e0af1f96882c940d.jpga8b35ec04b8e2b48aff3f3563ca4a4f1.jpgb5bdec0003635624f451a6fd03bedac1.jpgb9b72a6c7652dcbf06c330c89e15cbee.jpgb17b9abd1ed2b3d573dc3024f9f661ef.jpgbb349e34cff68b85d46dbe320bf6a245.jpgchanel-frocks-1920s.jpgcoco-chanel-paris-1950.jpgda2dbfe8d552ad4ac35f286862165d68.jpge44f6cb57ef6421eb16cdc61edb86eb8.jpgf6c42b3cbf45bf3e52af942ab2a436a5.jpgromy-schneider-wearing-chanel-1960.jpg

 

Christian Dior

 

Christian Dior
Christian Dior

Dior had much less of a deprived upbringing in Normandy than Coco Chanel. He was the son of a wealthy manufacturer who hoped he would become a diplomat. Instead, his interests took him to art and fashion. Financed by his father, he opened an art gallery that specialized in Modern Art, such as the works of Picasso. Unfortunately, the financial problems of his father’s business, due to the Great Depression, lead to the closure of the art gallery. He went on to work for a famous fashion designer,  Robert Piguet. World War II intruded and caused him to leave for military service.

 

Right after the War in 1946, Dior opened his own fashion house.  He became known for designs that provided a curvaceous aspect, that used considerable amount of material. This response to the limitations brought on by World War II was soon quite welcome in the fashion world and revolutionized the styles of the time.

 

 

 

 

END OF PART 1

self-roma.jpg

 

By Howard Bosler

midcenturymoderngroovy.com