As I wandered into The Golden Pearl Vintage shop in Minneapolis, Minnesota, I was taken back in time through decades of fashion. Poofy dresses, sharp men's suits and precious jewelry lay around the store just waiting to be held and purchased. It was strange to see such a wide range of fashion in one store -- each article of clothing from a different decade, a different year. While I was searching through the endless racks of vintage clothing, I came upon a blue dress from the 1950s. It's simple shape, pale blue color and unique pattern fit my style completely. I practically ran to the dressing room to try on this dress -- the dress. All of the clothes were one-size only (only one size to choose from), of course, so when the dress fit, I had to buy it. I didn't know where or when I was going to wear this dress, but I knew it deserved a spot in my closet. After this quick trip to a random vintage shop in a city I've never been to before, I became even more interested in the 50s, specifically the fashion and trends -- I binge-watched the Hulu television series, "11.22.63," found vintage-obsessed Youtubers to watch and occasionally wander into thrift stores looking for another perfect dress. The 50s brought forward a wave of fashion trends, some revamped in today's world and others lost in the past.
1. Dresses
Similar to the baby blue dress I purchased from The Golden Pearl Vintage, the dresses pictured in this advertisement were common parts of any women's closet in the 50s. The dresses are cinched at the waist and have a wide neckline to accentuate their shoulders and neck. Floral prints and basic shapes were common patterns for circle dresses. These pieces received their name because, when women sat down, the dress created a circle shape around them. A day-time dress stopped at the knee, and night-time dresses often flowed to the feet. These dresses are modernized today with looser sewing at the waist and less fabric around the shoulders.
2. Gloves
Another prominent piece of a women's outfit was a pair of gloves. The length of the gloves ranged from fairly short (as pictured in the advertisement) to very long (almost to the elbow) for fancier occasions. Women wore white gloves because of the glamorous, Audrey Hepburn-esque look it portrayed. The gloves were typically made of leather and were worn as a standard with all outfits. Some women even matched their gloves to their outfit! Gloves are not as common of pieces today, as most are short and in simple colors, but they sure made a statement in the past.
3. Shoes
Of all the 50s trends to resurface in modern times, the high heel tops all. In particular, stiletto heels became extremely popular and designers would compete to create the skinniest heels for women to wear. Besides heels, women wore shoes of different colors and styles -- from loafers to sandals. Overall, women were seen with dainty shoes that made their feet appear to be smaller. The more petite the shoes made their feet look, the better. High heels are still kickin' today, but a 50s women would never be caught with big shoes, like Hunters or Uggs, in their time.
Looking to purchase vintage-inspired clothing, like these? Check out ModCloth, your local thrift store, Etsy and UniqueVintage.com.
