Fabulous Fifties
We stepped back in time to the 1950s for the second of our events by costume experts, History Wardrobe, on the 9th March. In a presentation featuring fascinating facts, fabulous frocks, frills and frivolity, Lucy Adlington and Gillian Stapleton revealed the secrets of this fairytale decade and demonstrated how fashion was literally shaped by economic factors.
Placing the decade in context, Lucy and Gillian explained how the aftermath of War saw a dramatic reversal of women’s role. As servicemen returned, women were thrown out of their jobs and urged back into the home, to produce a new generation and generate a consumer boom that would revitalise the ravaged economy by investment in British design and products. As the domestic goddess was encouraged to please her man by becoming a vision of loveliness, the clothes she aspired to were very different from wartime utility wear.
Despite Goebel’s intention of shutting down French couture, this massive industry survived the war, though not unscathed. Some designers fled the occupation and some French fashion houses were accused of collaboration for dressing the wives and mistresses of the Nazis, while the impact of anti-Semitism decimated the post war European textile industry. The situation was transformed in 1947, when designer Christian Dior unveiled his revolutionary New Look incorporating sensational full skirts which used massive amounts of fabric, regenerating the textile industry. 
After years of austerity and clothes tailored to shortages this return to glamour was thrilling. The look of Paris fashions was difficult to achieve in England where rationing was still in place until 1949 and heavy post war debt repayments restricted availability. Wartime principals of ‘make do and mend’ were needed to emulate the look on a budget. Petticoats were stiffened in sugar and although Fifties sophistication was a mature look, young women created the fashions that epitomised rock n’ roll, from bobbysox to ponytails, by improvising with what they had to hand.
These new designs required serious underpinning, with pointed bullet bras and heavily boned girdles. They reintroduced the stiff petticoats last seen a hundred years before and the more frills the better. New technology brought new artificial fabrics and the mass availability of nylons. A slim silhouette with elegant sheath dresses and the gamine style popularised by Audrey Hepburn was also influential. It was a decade of fun accessories, influenced by science fiction and B Movies, for instance flying saucer shaped hats.
Everyone laughed as they learnt about the influence of advertising, household manuals and events such as the Coronation and Festival of Britain; watching in wonder as our drab housewife was transformed into a bewitching beauty ready for a cocktail party, and our sensible austerity suited woman with wrinkly stockings became a sophisticated lady in a silk suit, witty flying saucer hat, nylons and stiletto heels. 
Gillian and Lucy were on sparkling form as they offered insights into this dazzling decade.