The 1950s witnessed the introduction of plastic, the Poodle and ducktail haircuts for men. Women's fashion was totally reinvented, smoking became fashionable and so did the+ floral print swimming caps! As industries increased so did salaries and people started spending. The fifties sought to make a strong move away from the conformity of the war years to a happier time where leisure activities were on the increase. People followed the glamour of Hollywood films and women's fashion took over. Stars like Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield led the way in terms of helping women loose the confines they had previously been confined to.

Times were changing and so were clothes. For the first time they became easily accessible to the public. World War II brought mass production of clothing as part of the war effort and as this expanded into the Fifties, ordinary women had a chance to buy more. Fabrics such as Banlon, Orlon and Terylene, all man-made and crease resistant were introduced.

WOMEN'S FASHION

Women wore very conservative clothing in the 50s with a strong emphasis on femininity even though they were almost always dressed smartly.

Good grooming and a tailored look were essential. The look was completed with heels and gloves. The soft feminine look of the puff sleeve blouses and the 3/4 length sleeve was popular too. Women wore pencil style skirts, pleated skirts and afternoon tea dresses for special occasions. The poodle skirt - wide swing skirt with a poodle sewn on were popular as were short cropped jackets that accentuated the hourglass shape.

Dresses were worn everyday and hemlines finished at the knee or just below it. Neither pants or shorts were permitted. This most casual look was only acceptable in limited circumstances and at no time were belly buttons visible - swimwear was very tame. The sailor look was also big as was the stiletto. Unlike today, women found suits practical and a coat completed the look and was normally big and loose.

ACCESSORIES

A lady always wore gloves in the Fifties. She was not seen as properly dressed without them and the shawl was a common addition in the evening. Perhaps the most famous accessory of the 50s had to be the swimming cap. Its loud colours and big floral prints certainly stood out.

Women and teens also wore girdles (originally made from whale bones and later replaced later with plastic) and petticoats which were very uncomfortable. And don't forget stockings and suspender belts.

HAIRSTYLES

Fifties hairstyles were soft and curly and often short. Straight hair was out, ponytails were in. A lot of effort went into hair styles - almost every women was an expert at pinning, rolling and curling and perms were also very popular.

MAKE-UP

The soft feminine look was also reflected in the style of make-up. Foundation needed to reflect the soft femininity of the day and eyebrows were usually narrowed. Blush and eye shadow were minimal and thus, natural looking.