Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Fashion Trends in the Fifties Essay -- Fashion Retail Merchandising Es
Fashion Trends in the Fifties ââ¬Å"It was different in the USA, where wartime restrictions had been quickly removed, and where the new ââ¬Ëconsumer societyââ¬â¢ was forging ahead ââ¬â helped by new developments such as the start of the credit card system in 1950. But these differing conditions produced a similar effect on fashion both in Europe and America ââ¬â a tendency to prefer the safe and normal, a veering away from the radical and extreme. ââ¬ËNormalââ¬â¢ felt good, especially with the memory of the war still so fresh in many peopleââ¬â¢s mindsâ⬠(Baker 6). Fashion is an important aspect to peopleââ¬â¢s lives, and is influenced by various parts of society. Sometimes there are practical reasons behind certain fashion trends, but there are some trends that have no apparent origin or purpose. Fashion can also influence other parts of popular or high culture, including music. ââ¬Å"Rock nââ¬â¢ roll,â⬠the music of the 1950ââ¬â¢s, displayed young peopleââ¬â¢ s (17-25 year-olds) interest in clothes, as heard in such pop tracks as ââ¬Å"White Sports Coatâ⬠and ââ¬Å"Blue Suede Shoesâ⬠(Baker 12). Regardless of purpose or origin, ââ¬Å"style [in the 1950ââ¬â¢s] often meant super luxury, whether it was the use of lots of shiny chrome or lace, shimmering with sequinsâ⬠(Baker 11). During the 1950ââ¬â¢s, style was not only a portrayal of oneââ¬â¢s sense of fashion ââ¬â it was a portrayal of who you were. In the 1950ââ¬â¢s, the role of a woman was to be in the home, and particularly in the kitchen. ââ¬Å"Yet the usual media image of a housewife showed her not as a mother in comfortable trousers and sweater, or loose dress, suitable for such work, but as a doll-like figure dressed in rustling, full skirts, nipped waist and narrow-fitting bodice. Even her apron had deep frills and a heart-shaped top and pocke... ...er vests and chinos as leisurewear, then people were that much closer to being ââ¬Å"normal.â⬠Works Cited - Baker, Patricia. Fashions of a Decade: the 1950s. New York: Facts on File, Inc., 1991. An edition of a series that illustrates the most influential trends in twentieth- century fashion. Focuses on fashion as an integral part in the arts, technology, politics, and society. - Stott, Jon C., Raymond E. Jones, and Rick Bowers, eds. The Harbrace Anthology of Literature 2nd ed. Toronto: Harcourt Canada Ltd., 1998. An anthology of various literature, ranging from poetry, to prose, to plays. - Unknown Author. ââ¬Å"Fashion 50s.â⬠Yesterdayland Web Site. 2000. http://www.yeaterdayland.com/popopedia/shows/fashion/ (17 Mar. 2002). A web-site showcasing fashion trends throughout the decades of the twentieth-century.
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