Fifties Blog

Norman Norell, New York Fashion Designer

Tue, 9 Apr 2013 21:03:44 -0400

Receiving the Coty American Fashion Critics award in 1943, 1951, 1956, 1958, and 1966, Norman Norell made his mark on the American Fashion industry by designing well made and timeless fashions.

My Little Mama Was a Rita Hayworth Look-Alike

Sat, 9 Mar 2013 22:15:39 -0500

Raised in the city, my little Mama was a vivacious tomboy. She liked roller skating, dancing, and riding motorcycles. She was definitely a wild child.

Fifties Cowboys

Sat, 2 Mar 2013 12:21:51 -0500

Dale Robertson passed away February 26, 2013. He remains one of my earliest memories of fifties cowboys. Dale Robertson played in the TV Series Wells Fargo from 1957-1962. Daddy liked the show and watched it faithfully each week. His favorite TV series was Have Gun Will Travel but he liked all Westerns. We were living in a basement apartment on College Avenue when the time for Wells Fargo neared. As the opening credits rolled, the music played, and Dale Robertson's face appeared, Mama said, "Ah, there's my man." Daddy turned the TV off.

Edith Head and Her 1950s Fashion Academy Award Winners

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:55:59 -0500

As one of the most prolific American Fashion Designers of all time, Edith Head costumes were featured in over 150 films during the 1950s alone.

Fifties Fashion Salute to President's Day

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 15:00:57 -0500

Wishing you a Happy 1950's President's Day. Harry S. Truman President of the United States from 1945 to 1953. His only daughter, Margaret Truman married Clifton Daniel on April 21, 1956. Her ankle length and three quarter sleeved 17th century beige Venetian lace Micol Fontana gown featured 25 yards of matching pleated tulle.

Dwight D. Eisenhower President of the United States from 1953 to 1961. Mamie Eisenhower's 1953 inaugural ball gown was designed by Nettie Rosenstein and featured over 2,00 rhinestones. She was known to favor Scaasi designs yet clipped coupons for the White House staff. Her recipe for "Mamie's Million Dollar Fudge" was featured in my grade school PTA recipe book.

Vintage Beauty

Sun, 10 Feb 2013 21:57:52 -0500

My fifteen year old granddaughter asked me one night if I had any make up remover she could use. After telling her she could use the facial cleanser that was on my vanity, she brought it to me pointing out it was anti-aging cream. She said, "Nana, I don't want to look nine years old!" If it were only that easy to get that retro look.

Vintage Beauty Ads and Products

Sun, 10 Feb 2013 18:05:11 -0500

Vintage beauty standards were set when the Golden Age of Hollywood brought us classic beauty actresses and suave leading men.

1950s Wedding Dresses and Celebrity Weddings

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 16:55:52 -0500

Although not all 1950s wedding dresses were Hollywood glamour or celebrity wedding perfect, the fifties were the beginning of bridal fabulous.

My Oklahoma City Grandma Made Bound Buttonholes to Rival Norman Norell's

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 16:39:34 -0500

Not every girl is blessed with a Grandma who made 1950s dresses nice enough to be sold in fine department stores. My Oklahoma City Grandma could do just that. She was a seamstress supreme.

Costume Designer Great Gilbert Adrian

Sun, 6 Jan 2013 21:28:25 -0500

Costume designer icon Adrian not only created film magic with Dorothy's ruby slippers, his celebrity dresses were worn by many of The Golden Age of Hollywood's most glamorous actresses.

The Sheath Dress Was a 1950's Style Favorite

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 20:36:09 -0500

Continuing with the Dior New Look premise of celebrating and emphasizing the woman's natural curves, the simple, versatile, and oh so snug sheath dress fast became a 50s dress staple.

The Couturier Mainbocher

Sun, 28 Oct 2012 23:13:46 -0400

Naming it 'Wallis blue', the bridal wedding gown Mainbocher designed for Wallis Simpson became the most photographed and copied dress of the twentieth century.

American Fashion Designers From the Fifties

Sun, 28 Oct 2012 16:58:12 -0400

Despite criticism they were mere costumers, post WWII American fashion designers' ingenuity and creative genius led to some of the most visually appealing designer clothing in 1950s fashion history.

Polka Dot Dresses From The Fifties

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 01:04:30 -0400

Polka dot dresses were the one fashion staple chosen by vintage couture, Hollywood costume, and television wardrobe designers alike.

Famous Actresses From the Fifties

Mon, 8 Oct 2012 01:50:28 -0400

Famous actresses from the fifties were beautiful women who led glamorous Hollywood style lives and whose every move was caught on camera as latest celebrity gossip hinted of new scandals.

Famous Actors from 1950s Hollywood

Sun, 7 Oct 2012 23:20:36 -0400

A new breed of famous actors, called anti-heroes, were introduced to movie-goers in the fifties. They became as well known for their off-screen personalities as for their on-screen characters.

Coco Chanel and the Little Black Dress.

Sun, 7 Oct 2012 21:52:07 -0400

A classic Coco Chanel suit featuring a collarless jacket and well-fitted skirt was introduced in the 1920s along with the original little black dress. The usually associated with mourning color becam

American Fashion Icon Hattie Carnegie

Thu, 4 Oct 2012 18:51:32 -0400

Leaving a legacy of sophisticated style, Hattie Carnegie was a purveyor of American high fashion with a French flair. The "Carnegie Look" provided her exclusive clientele chic elegance..

Pierre Balmain's Elegant Creations

Wed, 3 Oct 2012 22:39:07 -0400

A Pierre Balmain haute couture featured elaborately embroidered and full skirted dresses that were sought after for runway events throughout Hollywood.

Pencil Dress and Fifties Fashion

Sat, 29 Sep 2012 15:01:07 -0400

After the decade long popularity of Dior's New Look, fifties fashion did an about face with variations of the pencil dress' sleeker silhouette.

Halter Dresses From the Fifties

Sun, 23 Sep 2012 17:56:03 -0400

Halter dresses will always be associated with Marilyn Monroe's notorious subway grate scene in Billy Wilder's 1955 film "The Seven Year Itch."

American Made Pauline Trigere

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 20:12:11 -0400

Paris born dressmaker Pauline Trigere melded French sophistication with American ingenuity to create an innovative fashion designer empire spanning six decades.

My Fifties Cowboy Grandpa

Sat, 1 Sep 2012 12:33:43 -0400

I called him my cowboy Grandpa. My Daddy's father a westerns loving, fifties cowboy who would have had no difficulty conversing with any of the famous film or tv cowboys from that era.

Fifties Celebrity Deaths

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 00:29:35 -0400

Our favorite fifties celebrity deaths seem even more tragic as a bond was formed with our idols during those hours spent at movie theaters and around the newly popular televisions.

About Me

Sun, 26 Aug 2012 22:40:21 -0400

I am going to tell you several little stories about a nostalgic for the fifties girl who was raised in a small town in the South.

Balenciaga Love

Tue, 7 Aug 2012 21:20:39 -0400

I will probably never own a couture gown but if I were to buy one it would be one of Balmain's lovely appliqued designs. Maybe in a pretty, cherry-printed fabric. But today I am longing for this gorgeous Balenciaga Brooch I found in the Cristobal Balenciaga Museoa.

Dresses For Special Occasions

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 10:21:09 -0400

Our memories of our favorite dresses for special occasions remain a lifetime. The majority of fifties brides never wore designer wedding dresses yet their bridal gowns were just as special.

Cotillion Dresses and Debutante Gowns From the Fifties

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 10:14:49 -0400

Fifties cotillion dresses were elaborately draped satin and chiffon garments with boned bodices of embroidered silk and beads worn with long gloves and sparkling jewelry.

Vintage Couture From the Fifties

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 07:56:33 -0400

Vintage couture designs remain just as popular for today's red carpet fashions as they were in the fifties. How many times have you heard "vintage Balenciaga" used to describe Academy Award winners?

"The Balenciaga Revolution"

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 01:26:35 -0400

Cristobal Balenciaga changed fifties fashion and women's silhouettes with his open neck, wide collar and shoulder tunic dress. This innovative "Revolution" made his vintage labels sought after today.

Dior New Look Made 1950s Fashion History

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 01:20:37 -0400

The Dior New Look accentuated the woman's form with his cinched waist and full skirt fashions. Women appreciated the return to style and feminity as he became responsible for making 1950s fashion

Red Carpet Events From the Fifties

Sat, 28 Jul 2012 11:01:45 -0400

Although the fifties entertainment news filmed red carpet events in black and white, they were just as glamorous as they are today. The Academy Awards were THE place to be and the stars did shine.

Ernest Borgnine as "Marty"

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 20:57:30 -0400

We better turn the channel to Turner Classic Movies for their showing of the 1955 Academy Award Winning film "Marty." Ernest Borgnine won Best Actor for his performance. I will need to add him to my Fifties Cowboys - if I can ever get back around to it.

Vintage Swimwear From the Fifties

Sun, 22 Jul 2012 00:37:21 -0400

The style and glamour found in vintage swimwear from the fifties has emerged as a hot commodity in today's retro-hungry climate.

John Wayne Movies

Sat, 23 Jun 2012 23:12:21 -0400

John Wayne's role as the Ringo Kid in the 1939 film, Stagecoach, also marked his branding as "The Duke" and the beginning of his iconic forty year career.

Favorite Fifties Cowboys and TV Westerns

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 20:01:14 -0400

A favorite then and now, the fifties cowboys taught us lessons in right and wrong and good and evil. Whether it was an old western movie or a classic TV series, the cowboy code was evident.

The King of the Cowboys - Roy Rogers

Sun, 17 Jun 2012 20:41:08 -0400

This fifties cowboy was a father figure and role model to 1950s children worldwide.

Fifties Pencil Dress

Sat, 16 Jun 2012 15:13:04 -0400

Rita Hayworth in the ultimate fifties pencil dress.

Fifties Pin-Curls

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 22:39:16 -0400

After showing my granddaughter a picture of Rita Hayworth and promising her hair would be just as lovely, she let me put it up in pin-curls. Instead of Rita Hayworth, we got Little Orphan Annie.

I think it turns out so much better when Nana does not fix it.

Retro Hairstyles From The Fifties

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 21:49:27 -0400

With their retro hairstyles and era-appropriate vintage couture gowns reminiscent of old Hollywood glam, today's stars pay homage to the screen sirens of yesteryear.

Retro Hairstyles From The Fifties

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 19:55:45 -0400

I ran across several pictures of Mama with her pin curled hair tied up in a scarf. One was really cute of her right after I was born but as she had yet to lose her baby fluff, I decided not to show it off. I must be four or five years old in this one and as my "dog ears" had a little curl to them, Mama had probably given me a Tonette home permanent.

Since we're all scantily dressed, this picture must have been taken in the summertime. It was hard to stay cool in those 1950's Arkansas summers. I remember Mama would try to cool the house down by spraying the front porch with water from a rubber hose. I loved the cold water running over my bare feet and the taste of the water when she let me drink from the hose. Seems like her hair was always in pin curls and the cuffs of her shorts rolled up into short shorts. Sometimes her shirt tails were tied in the front with her midriff exposed. The library used to be in the Court House downtown. Mama would let me and my brother walk to the library to get an armful of books to read during the summer. It was always shady and cool as we cut across Filmore Street. The library was cool too but I don't know if it was because it was air conditioned or just because it was in the basement. Mama would have us get her an Earle Stanley Gardner, Victoria Holt, or Phyllis Whitney book. If I brought one home that she had already read, she would say, "I'll just read it again." After Daddy got off work, he would take us for a ride in the country. Very few country roads were paved back then. We rolled all the windows down and were content sitting in the back with the wind, dust, and Mama's cigarette ashes blowing in our hair. Daddy always knew when a little dip in the road was coming up because he would speed up enough to make the car sail through the air. If we had money, Daddy would stop at a service station and let us pick out a cold soda. I was really partial to the 6 oz. Coca Cola's but got a Grapette just as often. Sometimes he would stop at the Frosty Mug for an icy cold root beer. We usually saved that for after a drive-in movie though. When we got back home, I would get my bath, put on my shorty pajamas, and read Nancy Drew late into the night.

Dressed Up For A Day Out In Sydney Australia

Mon, 4 Jun 2012 07:15:08 -0400

This photo is of the 1950's with my mother Emilee, Myself Crystal,on the right... Brother R left of Mum and Sisters from right back, J and B.

Special Occasion Dresses

Sun, 3 Jun 2012 15:59:02 -0400

Do you have stories or photos from the 1950s of you wearing a special dress or outfit? What about your mom's wedding dress pictures? Or your christening gown photos? I would love it if you would share your fifties stories with us. Just click on the Permalink below and fill out the form at the bottom of the "Special Occasion Dresses" page to become a part of Living Fifties Fashion.

Brigadier General Stewart AKA Fifties Cowboy Jimmy Stewart

Sun, 27 May 2012 20:43:02 -0400

By the year 1959, the actor James Stewart, became known as United States Air Force Reserve Brigadier General Stewart . This was not an honorary title as he received the Distinguished Flying Cross twic

Thank You General Stewart

Sun, 27 May 2012 17:30:41 -0400

Tomorrow is a day to remember the servicemen and servicewomen who have given so much to preserve the freedoms we enjoy today. After watching Memphis Belle last night and noticing that 200,000 airmen did not return from their bombing missions over Western Europe during WWII, I was reminded of James Stewart's military service as an airman during this time. Another reason Jimmy Stewart is one of my favorite fifties actors.

My First Brassiere

Sat, 26 May 2012 14:52:36 -0400

I grew up in a Bible belt town with grandparents who taught and practiced moderation in all things. When I was in the fourth grade, a bra was still called a brassiere and was not discussed in mixed company. If you don't know what mixed company is, it means we didn't mention "unmentionables" when the men were around. All of us children were shooed outside the day Grandpa dumped boxes full of soot soiled bras from our small southern town's burned out five and dime store. The womenfolk reminded me of little squawking hens as they sorted through the various Playtex and Maidenform necessities and debated which brassiere would fit whom as they placed them in an old Tide and Purex filled wringer washing machine. I wasn't sure why all the goings on embarrassed me. I remember standing near the back door of the steamy washroom, when my Daddy walked in, nodded his head toward me, and said, "Don't you think you need to find one for Anna?" I was mortified.
Image is from one of my blogging friend's post Read Far Side of Fifty's post here

Happy Birthday John Wayne

Sat, 26 May 2012 09:31:37 -0400

On May 26, 1907 Marion Mitchell Morrison was born and grew up to become "The Duke". Happy Birthday John Wayne.

A Bullet Bra and Other Vintage Bras From the Fifties

Sat, 26 May 2012 00:40:16 -0400

In what I would say was a fashion forward design, a fifties bullet bra lifted, separated, and projected the breasts forward in a bullet or torpedo fashion by use of circular or conical shaped stitchin

Fifties Cowboy Dale Robertson

Thu, 24 May 2012 21:52:11 -0400

You Bet We Watched Westerns

Thu, 24 May 2012 01:22:13 -0400

Television was big in the fifties as families began to be able to afford this new luxury. It was 1957 before we were able to get a television set of our own. It was a Christmas like event in the middle of the summer when Daddy climbed on the roof to adjust the antennae just right to bring in an almost clear picture of Silver rearing up as the Lone Ranger shouted, "Hi-Yo, Silver! Away!" I was hooked on television from the beginning and became the family's equivalent of the “TV Guide”. We only got two channels and had our favorites from each one. Daddy hurried home from work to catch the latest “Have Gun Will Travel” or “Rawhide” show. My brother liked "The Roy Rogers Show". I have actually thought about decorating a spare bedroom in a "Roy Rogers" theme. Mama liked Dale Robertson in "The Tales of Wells Fargo". Westerns were big in the fifties. Me? I liked them all and resented my brother getting to stay home to watch Captain Kangaroo when I had to go to school