Living In Fifties Fashion: 1950s Fashions

Showing posts with label 1950s Fashions. Show all posts

Hattie Carnegie's Philosophy

Taste is so much more important than fashion - Hattie Carnegie

Hattie Carnegie

Hattie Carnegie February Vogue 1950

Hattie Carnegie 1950s

Hattie Carnegie Suit Model Sunny Harnett

Hattie Carnegie

Cherry Nelms in Hattie Carnegie Gown
Harper's Bazaar March 1954

Read more about Hattie Carnegie on our Hattie Carnegie Page

1950's American Fashion Designers

Hattie Carnegie Pinboard

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How can there be so little background information on the lovely fashion model Marie-Thérèse. She had a prolific photo portfolio.

Is she the same Marie-Thérèse who was Pablo Picasso's muse and model?

Is she the same as Marie-Thérèse Walter?

It seems, the more we search, the less we know.

However, we do have a few exquisite photographs to show you.

Marie-Thérèse in Lanvin-Castillo Evening Gown and Shawl
Philippe Pottier Photo 1953

Marie-Thérèse in 1953 Christian Dior Cocktail Dress

Marie-Thérèse in 1954 Pale Pink Ensemble by Pierre Balmain

Marie-Thérèse in White Lace Gown by Givenchy
Photo by Philippe Pottier 1954 in L'Officiel

Marie-Thérèse in Pale Pink Shantung Dress by Nina Ricci
Straw Hat by Claude St. Cyr
Philippe Pottier 1952

Marie-Thérèse in Pierre Balmain 1954

Marie-Thérèse in Green Prince of Wales Check Suit and Jacket
Pierre Balmain Design
Georges Saad Photo 1956

Marie-Thérèse in "Clorinde" Evening Dress

Pierre Balmain Autumn/Winter 1954-1955

Marie-Thérèse in 1950's Pierre Balmain

Marie-Thérèse in Madame Grès 1953

Vintage Couture

Fifties Supermodel Pinboard

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Eileen Ford - Fifties Supermodel Pioneer

Salute to Eileen Ford, founder of one of the world's most prestigious modelling agencies, born on this date in 1922.

Ford created the career and represented most of the top fifties models. Included among these supermodels were Jean Patchett, Dorian Leigh, Suzy Parker, Evelyn Tripp, Lisa Fonssagrives, Mary Jane Russell, Carmen Dell'Orefice, Dovima, Lillian Marcuson, Dolores Hawkins, Sunny Harnett, Nan Rees, and Georgia Hamilton. They would go on to work for many of the most influential fifties' fashion designers, magazines, and photographers.

Jean Patchett for Vogue May 15, 1951
Photographer Clifford Coffin

Dorian Leigh in Lilli Ann Ensemble
Harper's Bazaar 1957

Suzy Parker in Lilli Ann Dress 1956

Evelyn Tripp in Louise Dahl-Wolfe Photograph
Harper's Bazaar 1955

Lisa Fonssagrives in evening gown Amerique by Christian Dior
Irving Penn Photo for Vogue October 15, 1950

Mary Jane Russel in Clifford Coffin Photo
Vogue February 15, 1950

Carmen Dell'Orefice in Pauline Trigere Dinner Coat
Hat by Elizabeth Arden, Photo by Dan Wynn
Harper's Bazaar January 1959

Dovima in Madame Grès
Richard Avedon 1950

Lillian Marcuson 1951 in Milliken wool crepe dress
Janice Milan Designer

Dolores Hawkins in Jonathan Logan Gown 1954

Sunny Harnett in Claire McCardell Dress
Richard Rutledge Photo for 1951 Vogue

Nan Rees in John Weitz Housecoat
Milton Greene 1951 Photo

Georgia Hamilton in Balenciaga

Eileen Ford and these world-class supermodels are responsible for today's fascination with fifties fashions.

1950s Fashions

Living In Fifties Fashion Pinboard

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Fifties Springtime Fashions

Isn't Spring wonderful? I remember how I looked forward to all the new summer frocks my grandmother would make for me and my little sister. Let's take a quick look at the most popular spring and summer fashions from the 1950's

Little girls in the fifties wore the sweetest little dresses and pinafores.

1950's Simplicity Girl's Summer Dress
MidvaleCottage Etsy Shop

Springtime attire for both of my grandmothers were cotton day dresses usually accompanied by bib aprons.

Lane Bryant Catalog 1955

This 1952 Jonathan Logan shirtwaist dress is what many women wore to the grocery store.

Jonathan Logan 1952

Wouldn't this sundress worn by actress Peggy Knudsen be perfect for Fifties Spring Break?

Peggy Knudsen "Never Say Goodbye"

Time to choose your new swimsuit.

Catalina Swimwear 1955
My Vintage Vogue

Capri pants were very popular in the 1950's. My mother called them pedal pushers.

Capri Pants 1950's

Fifties ladies often chose denim dungarees for gardening or yard work. They were rarely worn away from home.

Denim Dungarees 1952 Sears Catalog

And what is spring without a new prom or cotillion dress. Many ready to wear prom dresses were patterned after this Jean Dessés couture gown.

Jean Dessés Prom Dress 1956

The favored outfit for most fifties ladies was summer sportswear.

Paddle and Saddle Sportswear 1953

And we all wanted a pretty polka dot or gingham check dress.

1954 Simplicity Pattern
Vintage4Me2

Let us know what you think of these fifties fashions.

Fifties Fashions

Fifties Fashions Pinboard

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1950's Paris Designer Fashions

Enjoy 1950's latest trends and fashions offered by designer greats Christian Dior, Jacques Fath, Cristobal Balenciaga, Jacques Heim and more.

First Lady Mamie Eisenhower

As the hot topic today is former First Lady Michelle Obama's official portrait, we would like to present our favorite First Lady portrait. As you might guess, it is from the fifties.

First Lady Mamie Eisenhower Inaugural Gown Portrait
Painted in 1953 by Thomas Stevens
Gown Designed by Nettie Rosenstein

Mamie Eisenhower was the First Lady of the United States from 1953 to 1961. Known for her bangs and bob hairstyle, outgoing personality, and love for pretty dresses, Mrs. Eisenhower's pride and enjoyment in her role as First Lady endeared her to the public.

For the 34th Presidential Inaugural Ball, Mrs. Eisenhower wore a pink peau de soie gown embroidered with 2000 rhinestones. The gown was designed by the highly regarded, American designer, Nettie Rosenstein.

The Dior New Look Debut

Fashion history took place on this date, February 12, 1947, when 42 year old Christian Dior debuted his first haute couture collection at Paris' 30 rue Montaigne.

1950's Christian Dior 30 rue Montaigne

Mannequin Marie-Thèrése premiered the first of Dior's 90 dazzling creations from his En Huit and Corolle titled collections.

So enraptured with the uniquely shaped dresses with their sumptuous fabrics, voluminous skirts, nipped waistlines, and longer lengths, Harper's Bazaar Editor-in-Chief, Carmel Snow exclaimed, "It's quite a revolution, dear Christian! Your dresses have such a new look!"

Christian Dior Premiers His "New Look" Collection
February 12, 1947

Presented just two years after the Second World War, Dior's fresh new look turned women from austere wartime mode and reintroduced them to fashion's allure and sensuality.

Carmen Miranda and the Turban Connection

Is it only coincidence that the 1930's through mid 1950's prevalence of women's turban styled hats coincided with the popularity of the Brazilian performer Carmen Miranda?

Born Maria do Carmo Miranda da Cunha on February 9, 1909 in Marco de Canaveses, Portugal, Carmen Miranda was a Latin samba singer/dancer and Broadway, film, and television star of the 1930's through the 1950's.

Miranda's parents moved to Brazil when she was a baby. Nicknamed "The Brazilian Bombshell" Miranda was best known for her dazzling personality, signature fruit laden hats, and flamboyant musical comedy performances

Carmen Miranda posed in Travis Banton Latin Dance Costume for 1941 Film That Night in Rio

Carmen Miranda in Travis Banton Costume
"That Night in Rio" 1941

Before becoming the most successful Brazilian performer of the 1940's, Miranda owned a successful hat making boutique in Brazil.

8x10 signed photograph of Carmen Miranda in Turbin

A petite 5 feet tall, Miranda's Hollywood persona was accented with frilly blouses, oversized bangle and beaded jewelry, flamboyant headpieces, and tall platform shoes. Her costumes featured gold lamé, sequins, and imitation fruit baskets on her turbans.

Friday's Favorites

Check out these vintage fifties fashions that are available for sale now from a few of our favorite shops..

Vintage 50s Beaded Sweater
SusiesBoutiqueCloths

Punxsutawney Phil has predicted six more weeks of winter. This vintage wool swing coat available from Susie's Boutique Cloths is just the ticket for those cold winter days.

Vintage 50s Wool Swing Coat
SusiesBoutiqueCloths

50s Embroidery Wiggle Dress by Vicky Vaughn
SusiesBoutiqueCloths

Harzfeld's Department Store

Recognizing fashion conscious women's need to avoid lengthy dressmaker visits or long trips to fashion centers such as New York City, visionary retailers Siegmun Harzfeld and his business partner Ferdinand Siegel introduced high end ready to wear fashions to the women of the midwest city of Kansas City, Kansas.

Founded in 1891 as "Parisian Cloak Company" it became the largest department store of its kind West of New York. The name was changed to Harzfeld's in 1913.

1913 newspapar ad showing fashionably dressed women in front of the 13 floor Harzfeld's Department

Harzfeld's Parisian Inaugural Sale 1913

Mr. Harzfeld is quoted as saying, "My ambition has been to make Kansas City so much the best place to dress that it will no longer be necessary for the best dressed women in Kansas City to buy their clothing anywhere but in their own town." To provide this service to the women of Kansas City, he made biannual trips to New York for the latest Spring and Fall fashions.

At least six branch stores would open from 1929 and 1974. Before its closing in 1984, Harzfeld's would feature designs from fashion greats Christian Dior, Norman Norell, Adele Simpson, and Jean Louis.