Dressing For Success

Posted on: 16 April 2019

If you're like many modern women, you love the look of some of the clothing from previous decades, especially the well-tailored, polished look of the 1950s. The 1950s were a time when the mass manufactured garment industry really came into its own, and the average consumer suddenly had access to relatively inexpensive clothing that was nonetheless stylish and well-made. The natural result is that the 1950s gave birth to a number of fashion trends that have since become classics that are associated with sophisticated dressing. 

Following are five vintage looks from the 1950s that will always be classy. 

Little Black Dresses

The quintessential little black dress first arrived on the mainstream American fashion scene in the early 1950s after it became a wardrobe staple of movie stars. Truly a classic, the little black dress has never gone out of style. The best thing about the little black dress is that it provides a look that every woman can customize instead of providing a cookie-cutter appearance. 

Single Strands of Pearls

Single strands of pearls became an accessory staple during the 1950s because of their simple elegance and versatility. They can be paired with a little black dress for an evening look that exudes climate sophistication, worn with a business suit when the occasion calls for an extra layer of professional polish, or worn with an everyday dress to give it a dressier look.

Button-down Floral Sundresses

Classic sundresses also made their appearance on the fashion scene in the 1950s. Showing a bit more skin during the daytime was becoming increasingly acceptable, and sundresses offered a great way to remain cool on warm summer days. Most of them featured floral fabrics and a button-down design. 

Sheath Dresses

Sheath dresses are the direct result of garment industry technology that allowed for machine implementation of tailoring such as darts and tucks, which previously had to be made using hand-stitching techniques. Darts and tucks are what gives the classic sheath dress it's fitted silhouette — without them, they'd basically look like a sack hanging from the shoulders. That design has remained constant since it first made an appearance. 

Heels With Backstraps

High heels with backstraps came along at about the same time that the little black dress started showing up in the closets of women all across the country. They're the result of an evolution in footwear designed to keep pace with the elegant evening looks of the day, and they've remained a classy classic ever since. 

For a truly classic look, search for these items at a vintage clothing store.