The 1950s were an interesting decade, caught between another world war and a threatening new era of nuclear and atomic power. This period saw the roots put down for the carefree generation of the 1960s, as the ‘Beat generation’ saw no hope and therefore began to rebel against social conventions.
the classical musician fat it epitomizes many of the stereotypical fashions, lifestyles, and attitudes of the 1950s. Young men wore leather jackets, combed their hair back with a comb they kept in their top pocket, and called the girls “dolls” and “baby.” Rock ‘n’ roll was born, with Elvis Presley as one of the main protagonists. His signature dance is still parodied to this day.
Other big names in the rock ‘n’ roll music scene include Buddy Holly, famous for his thick-rimmed ‘nerd glasses’, Chuck Berry and Johnny Cash.
In cinema, European cinema enjoyed a renaissance as resources became available again. Due to the threat of television, the producers looked for new and innovative ways to bring audiences back to theaters. Large production and spectacle films gained popularity, with titles such as ‘The Story of Robin Hood and His Merry Men’, ‘The Ten Commandments’ and ‘Sinbad’s Seventh Voyage’. The 1950s were labeled as a golden age for 3D cinema. Will the latest current incarnation of this technology measure up?
Japanese cinema also reached its zenith during this period, with notable directors such as Akira Kurosawa, Yasujiro Ozu, and Kenji Mizoguchi.
Beatniks and polka dot skirts
The fifties also saw the ‘return of fashion’, after the lifting of the austere measures imposed during the Second World War. Many Paris fashion houses reopened and there was a rush of synthetic fabrics and easy-care processes; Drip-dry nylon, orlon, and dacron became immensely popular, while acrylic, polyester, and spandex were also introduced in the 1950s.
The ‘Teddy Boys’ wore an exaggerated version of Edwardian fashion, sporting skinny ties and skinny trousers that revealed garish socks. In the United States, the ‘Greasers’ were the closest equivalent, similarly rebelling against the styles of their parents.
In fact, as usual, the US was very influential in popular culture, with the idea of the ‘Beat Generation’ put forward by author Jack Kerouac. The ‘beatniks’ were a group of underground, nonconformist youth who emerged in New York. A typical look included a beret, a pair of sunglasses, and a black turtleneck sweater. Jeans and leather jackets were also popular.
Specifically for women, hair was often worn short and curly in a “New York style”. Hats were essential for all but the most casual occasions. Later in the decade the curly ‘poodle cut’, the ‘bouffant’ and the ‘beehive’, made famous today by Marge Simpson and Amy Winehouse, became fashionable. The beat girls obviously wore their hair long and straight; the direct opposite of these styles.
Increasing industrial production made the 1950s an era of mass-produced clothing and standardized sizes. The ‘prêt-à-porter’ industry was born. The ladies wore very feminine outfits, with bows, frills and ruffles. Halter neck and strapless dresses were a big trend, and the skirts were full, often accompanied by petticoats to give more body.
Still, nothing says 1950s more than a circle skirt. These were worn by the younger generation (as ‘teenagers’ now established themselves as something of a mainstream subculture), always on top of petticoats. They were often homemade and although they featured a variety of designs, poodle skirts and polka dot skirts are the most iconic.