04 July 2011

Très Chic (a guest post by Anna Gray)

  Let me start off by telling you all, I really am not an expert when it comes to fashion. Unlike our lovely Olivia, I can get pretty confused about the whole realm of prada (*cough*). However, I *do* know a bit about 50s fashion. The era of the 1950s intrigues me. I like it. A lot. The fashion, the cosmetology, the architecture, the snazzy little diners, the people, the film industry, the whole shebang. This time period was a very romantic, very feminine time for the ladies; and I would like to talk to you about some of their fashion.




To give you a taste of 1950s fashion, I am using photos of Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Judy Garland, and Grace Kelly (all ladies that I admire).


*none of these photos belong to me*






Normal outfits for the ladies were very high waisted, very short, very snug pants (I like to refer to them as "boodie shorts") with a nice, crisp shirt tucked in. Blouses were usually collared, turtle necked, or at least came right up to the collar bone. A common shirt would have buttons on it too. Modesty was much more admired back then than it is now, but sometimes there were exceptions.







Have you ever noticed how perfectly shaped their figures were? Whenever I glance at photos from that era, I immediately see a clean-cut, healthy structure. And this is why? It is because their dresses were a smidgen more fitted in the waist and they tightened belts to make their curves much more visible. If Madam had no curves in her body, her dress and belt sure would make some, let me tell ya. The shortest dresses and skirts were worn was just above if not just below the knee. Like I said before, modesty was very much respected during that time period.



To add a bit of extra flair to their outfits, the ladies would often wear button down jackets and a pair of black kitten heels.


The last thing that really interested me, was their swimwear. Both one pieces and bikinis were not at all like they are today. Little to no clevage showed, bums were covered, and bikini bottoms rested mid-torso. There were no gaudy belly button rings, tattoos on lower backs, and flesh was not begging to be seen.



Their vision of fashion was to be feminine and pretty. And it was. They were clean-cut, dressed to the nines, and of course, beautiful. I truly think highly of the women from the beautiful era of the 1950s.  




I would love for you to come visit me!
Why hello there! My name is Anna Gray Smith, but you can call me Anna, AG, or whatever you'd like. Actress, Christian, Loud, talkative, sarcastic - yep, that's me alright. "Lovely" is a regular part of my vocabulary and I italicize one too many words. "Big girls need big diamonds" is my favorite quote by Elizabeth Taylor and I have this fetish for celebrities from the 20th century. Dangly earrings = awesome and I would cease to exist without a little bit of bling. Other loves of mine include: iced coffee, acting, music, photography, laughing, sewing, and the lovely state of California. I am tickled pink to have you here. Welcome to my life!


26 comments:

  1. I just loved the '50's. And I say that like I was there :P GREAT photos! Elizabeth Taylor is my idol! I was making plans to meet her and everything, but then she died :( But still, her legacy lives on :))
    Loved this post!
    -Jocee <3

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  2. Lovely post, Anna! I agree about the modesty, and their clothes were so cute! I almost wish at times we dressed like that today. Wouldn't that be fun?

    Love,
    ~Bree

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  3. i LOVE the 50s, and the 40s!!! And I loved that modesty was such a big thing back then! That's awesome. So thanks for this awesome post. :)

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  4. Haha you mean "bootie shorts?"
    I love 50's fashion. The ladies of the 50's didn't, though (in general).

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  5. I love Audry Hepburn and Elizebeth Taylor; great post!

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  6. lovely post! i absolutely adore the fashion of the '50s! it's feminine, sweet, and oh-so-gorgeous. even though i love the bright colors of today's style, i would trade it in a minute for 50's-esque clothing.

    wow, i totally agree with you on the bathing suits! i think they were far cuter and way classier back then. i love the way you wrote, "There were no gaudy belly button rings, tattoos on lower backs, and flesh was not begging to be seen." i even more totally agree with you on that! ;-)

    love,
    guin

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  7. Fantastic post! I positively love it. And I agree, with you, too. To look beautiful wasn't to look awkward and uncomfortable {well, accept for the extremely tight belts and shirts!}.

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  8. I absolutely adore the 50s, and especially 50s fashion. Loved reading this! =)

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  9. I don`t know too much about fashion either but when I see something I like I pay attention to my taste and then to what the other say (:

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  10. Wonderful post! I just <3 that era!

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  13. ^Sorry, spelling error in previous comment!

    icefox: Oh I am in total agreement with you about the clothing! No worries, you are not being a put-down. I too am glad that we can have more freedom in our clothing. I was just simply addressing that they were much more concerned about modesty than most people nowaday and that they are wonderful examples of how you can be modest yet beautiful. ^_^

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  14. P.S. I think you may be thinking about an earlier era than the 1950s, now that I think about it. A LOT of their blouses were made of cotton material and a bit of a looser fit. Their night clothes were usually a night gown or regular pajamas made out of a satin type fabric or cotton. For the most part, they were a loose fit as well.

    Now in the 1800s/early 1900s they wore layers (and that type of uncomfortable clothing), but in the 1950s their clothing was comfortable and usually not stuffy layering. :)

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  15. I'm so sorry about that comment. I wish I never posted it. Please forget about it.

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  16. Whoa, whoa, no catfights. Icefox, I completely agree with what i presume you wrote — the 50s were cute, but culturally and wardrobe-wise they were quite constricting.

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  17. I adore Audrey Hepburn! I'm not much a fan of the 50's but I admire the era's respect for feminine modesty.

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  18. I think that the styles were lovely, and the photos you shared are gorgeous! I wouldn't call myself modest--you're only thirteen once and I like shorts!--but regardless the dresses are pretty. I'm glad of the cultural changes that we've made since then, and maybe the transition from a fashion designed for men to like to a style that was comfortable for women was a nessecary transition for feminism, but I would like to see a resurgance of these styles--especially the swimwear as I feel incredibly self-concious in a bikini.
    Although, perhaps this current style is not any better/worse than the fifties in terms of body image--after all, Audrey Hepburn was, I have heard, anorexic, Marilyn Monroe had drug issues, and in general, as I said earlier, it was fashion that men liked, or so it seems to me.
    Just my two cents.

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  19. This is a wonderful post! It was put together in such a lovely way -- and I really enjoyed reading it. I'm so glad Olivia choose you to post. ;)
    much love!

    --acacia

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  20. Yay for Marilyn Monroe! She is one of my idols. ;) Great post, very interesting!

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  21. I love the 50's! And most everything about them!

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  22. love how the women show us we can be beautiful and modest at the same time. fifties rock!

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  23. I adore this post! Marilyn Monroe is one of my hero's, definitely! Loved your post(:

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