By Pauline Weston Thomas for Fashion-Era.com

1950s Fashion History, Costume History & Social History differences from 1950 to 1960

1950s Glamour, Accessories, 1950s Dressmaking Sewing Patterns, Teenagers & Teddy Boys, 1950s Girdle Adverts, 1950s Petticoats & Stocking Adverts, 50's Swimsuits and Denim Jeans.

Fifties Glamour

The British fashion scene in the mid C20th.  Dior's New Look.  Norman Hartnell designer of the Queen's clothes.  New fabrics, new hairstyles, new shoes and accessories, new teenagers and new pop idols.  Typical 50's Whitsunday picture of child and teenager in Sunday best clothes.

1950s Accessories

The theme of glamour continued through a brief look at 1950's fashion accessories such as the importance of hats and berets, the brooch corsage, gloves and bags, flat and stiletto shoes, a spiked umbrella and make up.

Teenagers & Teddy Boys in the 1950s

Teenagers & Teddy Boys in the 1950s.  How teddy boys and teenagers originated in 1950's Britain.

1955 Coats & Costume Suits

20 Coloured high fashion plates of coats and costumes for women from 1955.

 1950s Fashion Patterns

A look at some typical 1950s dressmaking sewing pattern covers of old patterns for women and from the vintage seller oldpatterns.com at Patterns of the Past.

Denim Jeans

A look at the development and history of terms linked with jeans.  Serge de Nimes, Genoese, Levi Strauss, Denims to Levis.   Marlon Brando's influence on 1950's sales.  1970's flower power. Levi 501s. Lycra in jeans.

 Social History Changes Now and Then

You've never had it so good.  A look at the way we lived in UK in 1950s Britain.  Consumer changes that moved the nation forward, and comparisons today.

1950-1960 Timeline

1950-1960 A Timeline of events minor to major in the years 1950 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960.

1950s Girdle and Bra Adverts

Images of streamlined corselette adverts from 1953.  Other bra adverts with a suspender belt.

1950s Stockings and Petticoats Adverts

Explanatory informative adverts on nylon gauge and denier, seamed and seamless stockings. A look at some 1953 petticoat advertisements.

1950s Swimsuits and Bathing Caps

A brief look at one piece swimsuits and playsuits of the 1950s.  Bathing caps.

1950s Fashion Photos

Photographs of real people in ordinary clothes of the era.

1951 Festival of Britain Carnival and Street Party Pictures.

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Swimwear in the 20th Century 1920-2000

The development of swimming costumes from the 1920s, to the corset like bathing costumes of the 1940s and 50s. Bikinis and thongs of the C20th.

1923 - 1955 Photo Mix

A selection of mixed photographs showing the everyday fashions of ordinary adults and children.

Beach photos

Ordinary people in everyday dress at the beach from 1933 -1970.

Royal Clothes