1950's Fashion

Bags in the 1950s were literally handbags and usually held by the hand or over the arm in the fashion followed by Grace Kelly who used her Hermes bag to hide her pregnancy. Many handbags had side pockets, or even grip clasps or rings for a woman to keep track of her gloves. Right – 1955 Handbag and Flat shoes.

Larger bags to hold possessions were also popular when women travelled using public transport some distance into towns. They could keep all their essentials with them as very few women realistically had regular car access in those days in UK.

Bucket bags and raffia bags were also useful accessories as winkle picker stiletto shoes were not so comfortable. Often a pair of flat shoes lurked in the bags out of necessity just in case entrance was forbidden. Carpet was not universally used then in buildings and many floors of the period were linoleum or wood tiled and the stilettos indented the tiles easily.

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This gorgeous old wallet has intricate tooling on both sides. The reddish brown leather has a rich patina and seems to glow from being handled. Closed it measures 7” long by 3.5” wide. The snap closure and the zipper are brass. There is some green corrosion to the zipper but it still works fine. There is a silver metal snap on the interior change pouch that isn’t brass. The snap was painted brown at one time, but much of the brown paint has worn off. The mirror has a lot of corrosion and age to the backside so that it no longer works as a reflective surface, but it would be cool to slide a business card into that pocket instead. This item is in very good vintage condition. In fact, it is one of those items that becomes more beautiful with age.

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The interior is lined with soft, supple brown leather. There are two compartments on each side: one side is zippered while other side has a window for a picture. The center of the wallet has a double coin purse. The wallet closes with a snap.

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The 1950’s present a wide range of purse models, formal or casual, from black rayon faille with brass frame and findings, rayon satin lining to rayon corde handbag or purse with brasstone frame and clasp, flower and leaf front design, inside taffeta lining with open pocket and zippered pocket, one or two cords… They were usually made to match the shoes.

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50s -The Chimayo Purse- Womens New-Old red, rust brown, ivory, peacock blue, black, hand-woven wool Chimayo weaving, brown rayon taffeta lining, with silvertone metal stamped thunderbird clasp, envelope-style clutch purse with small back strap for hand.

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50s -Fine Bag Company- Womens soft black fabric purse having two carry handles, a gold tone frame, with a lift latch, having a textured circular underside. Inside is finished with a black satin fabric, has a zipper and slip in pocket and a divided compart…

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1950’s Jewelry collection includes timeless and classic 50’s Chokers, Vintage Style Brooches & Pins from the 50’s , 1950’s Charm Bracelets, 50’s Era Bangles, & Earrings.
The first part of the 1950’s jewelry styles are still reflective of the 1940’s retro jewelry including pieces with Victorian design elements such as bows. Soon the 1950’s developed it’s own definitive styles which include multi strand beaded necklaces with much larger beads than seen in the faux pearls in previous years. Lucite thermoset inserts of the ’40s became the rage along with Confetti Lucite and embedded Lucite jewelry. White jewelry was well-loved, especially for summer and this trend continued into the 1960s.. Diamante (clear or crystal) rhinestone jewels, including “prom queen” necklace and earrings sets were chosen for diamond-like sparkle without the price. Modernist jewelry was available and particularly loved by “beatniks.” A style similar to Art Deco but not quite modernist also became fashionable–some dealers call it Art Moderne. This style, like Art Deco of the 20s and 30s, also made it’s way into fine art and furnishings, such as the streamlined curved burl “waterfall” bed & dresser sets. And, last but not least, lets never forget multi-strand beaded necklaces and button earrings shipped from overseas after WWII! Almost everyone’s Mom or Grandma had at least one set–and now it can be yours!

Costume jewellery from the 50s is very collectable.

Names to look out for are Trifari, Dior, Schiaparelli, Chanel and Miriam Haskell. Costume jewellery is sold in abundance on the web and I suggest you key in keyword phrases such as vintage Trifari costume jewellery into Google and see what sites come up. You will have the chance to browse through some wonderful pictures of Parures, bracelets, novelty brooches, pins, earrings in designs that will stun you.

To develop an eye for vintage costume jewellery you will need to study typical pieces and read about it in the same way you need to read about costume to have an understanding of seeking out vintage fashion.

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Hats added the final touch of 1950s glamour to a woman or girl’s outfit, particularly in the early fifties. Last year’s dress or suit could be updated easily with a new hat or a fresh ornament such as flowers, an autumnal bunch of acorns and leaves, or a bunch of cherries.

Corsage made of fruits. Similar items were used to trim hats

Balenciaga had first shown the pillbox and it became the hat of the fifties and later the hat of the sixties when it was greatly favoured by Jackie Kennedy. The pillbox often had veiling attached as shown in the header.

Neat pillbox style hat image left is courtesy of anothertimevintageapparel

In the mid fifties glorious hat styles covered less in plumage and more in floral blooms appeared. Some designs consisted solely of bomb like shapes covered with flower petals, almost like a more full blown version of the swimming cap above. Later hats consisted of folds of tulle, organza, nets or swirls of georgette.

Other simple hats included neat beret varieties and also knitted beret hats with tassels or pom-pom.

The jester 4 cornered beret hat was made of felt and velvet and available in a riot of glorious colours and was priced at one guinea or 21 shillings.

The head hugging Baker Boy beret was in a fabric called suedeen and jersey for 22/-.

Generally hats began to lose favour in the fifties as they were unsuitable for the new hairstyles. Women spent more time at the hair salon and the last thing they wanted to do was spoil their latest hairdo with a hat. Fashionable hairstyles began with simple ponytails and ended the decade with complex beehive arrangements.

Milliners could have designed hats more suitable for the new fuller bouffant hairstyles, but they failed to see the possibilities and designs continued as before and they lost the market for hats eventually.

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