What were the fashions in 1951?

Answer 1

Women's fashions were still very traditional. Post war affluence meant that hemlines went down. The house dress was the style of choice for ladies, usually a shirt waist dress. This was a one piece dress designed to look like a blouse and skirt. It zipped up the side under the arm with the zipper concealed in the side seam. Costume jewelry was ordinary for daily wear. Ladies seldom pierced their ears in this time frame because of the advent of the screw back earring. This device clamped to the earlobe by means of a tiny screw post which adjusted when the earlobe swelled from the pressure. The "business suit" was the rage for daytime formal wear. It featured a light weight jacket that had a flaired hem sitting just above the hip bone. The waist was accentuated by piping and the jacket had decorative fasteners. The skirt was generally fitted (the pencil skirt) and there was a vent at the knee extending to the hemline. This feature allowed the free motion of walking. Stilleto pumps were fashionable, and stockings and a girdle were mandatory. A girdle is very heavy shapewear. This apparatus had "hooks" sewn inside to attach stockings to. The item pantyhose did not make its appearance until 1968. An alternative to the heavy, hot girdle was the garter belt. This appliance had the same "hooks" attached to adjustable lengths of elastic to hold the stockings up. The slip was a necessary undergarment because the outer garments would cling if not layered over the slip. Evening wear was very glamorous. The strapless gown was held up by stays(a plastic piece sewn into the seams of the garment) and zipped up the back. It featured a bouffant skirt. Tiny jackets known as boleros were a nice alternative to shawls or wraps. Hairstyles were usually flat to the head because large hair rollers had not been invented. The hairstyles were wavy, being done with clamps and bobby pins. Updos were held in place by many hair pins, many of them highly decorated. Examples of this era may be seen on "I Love Lucy", "The Donna Reed Show" and "Father knows Best".