Grab Your Zoot Suit for This Quiz on 1950s Fashion

Claire McCardell was one of the most important designers in 1950s America, responsible for creating what became known as the “American look.” This style was founded on sportswear made in comfortable and easy-to-care-for synthetic fibers. In 1956, McCardell published the book “What Shall I Wear?” — which instantly became a fashion staple.

The term “Beat Generation” was coined in 1952 to describe the downbeat outlook of young people post-World War II. As what began as a small literary movement grew into a Bohemian subculture of writers and artists, they became known as “Beatniks.” The common Beatnik style included black turtlenecks, slim-fit trousers, and berets.

By the 1950s, technology had progressed enough for razor-thin high heels to be engineered. The design was named after an Italian knife with a very thin blade and a sharp tip, and owed its creation to the fusion of plastic and metal borrowed from engine carriers. Marilyn Monroe wore 4-inch stilettos in 1959’s “Some Like It Hot,” making them instantly covetable.

Audrey’s Hepburn’s short-cropped hairstyle became known as the “pixie cut” after the mischievous mythological characters. The bold look, debuted in the 1953 film “Roman Holiday,” complemented Hepburn’s gamine style and showed off her perfect bone structure.

In the 1950s, synthetic fabrics such as nylon, polyester, and spandex became popular as affordable materials. Nylon, the world’s first synthetic fiber, was marketed as an alternative to silk, and was used to make stockings, dresses, and shirts. Brightly colored synthetic fabrics that could be washed and worn became staples of the ’50s wardrobe.

In order to get the desired full skirt look, women would wear a net petticoat under the skirt, or sometimes layer up many petticoats. In the 1950s, most petticoats were made from nylon and often had a tiered look; they started small at the waist but got progressively bigger to push the overskirt out and create the desired swish.

Pompadours were the fancy quiff hairstyles sported by many stars in the 1950s. These long haircuts, styled up and off the face with grease, were not acceptable everyday wear for the office, so were more often seen on rebels, musicians, or movie stars. The hairstyle was named after French King Louis XV’s mistress Madame de Pompadour, who first popularized the look in the 18th century.

The “Ivy League look” was popular in the 1950s among young people trying to emulate the preppy, smart style of Ivy League college students. For boys, the look incorporated madras plaid shirts, v-neck sweaters, slim-legged chinos, and penny loafers. For girls, it included tight-knit sweaters, pleated skirts, and saddle shoes.

Bobby socks were short white socks that became part of a common teenage girl’s look in the 1950s. The socks were often worn with penny loafers or saddle shoes and made a feature of the ankle. Bobby socks were especially popular at “sock hops,” where teens gathered to dance, casting off their shoes to protect the gymnasium floor from damage.

Pedal pushers were a three-quarter-length trouser popular in the 1950s, so named because they were practical to wear while riding a bicycle. Stars such as Doris Day and Sophia Loren often sported pedal pushers with a loose shirt, tied at the waist. The fitted pants gave a neater silhouette than bulky jeans and had a playful image, making them popular with the youth.

Twin sets are matching knitted sweaters and cardigans that became a popular part of women’s wardrobes in the 1950s. Teens often matched twin sets with a full skirt and a ponytail for a preppy look, while working women wore them with a pencil skirt and a set of pearls.

The “New Look” was first introduced by French fashion designer Christian Dior in 1947. The new womenswear silhouette with rounded shoulders, cinched waist, and a full skirt caused a sensation. After the utilitarian styles of the 1940s, Dior’s “New Look” offered a more elegant and glamorous aesthetic which soon trickled down to mainstream fashion and became the staple silhouette of the 1950s.

Known as "the master" of haute couture, Spanish designer Cristóbal Balenciaga was known for his cutting-edge designs, and in 1957, introduced the straight up and down shift known as the “sack dress," which eliminated a waistline. At a time when cinched waists were en vogue, this look was initially controversial. But by the 1960s, sack dresses morphed into the celebrated mini-dress.

The “wiggle dress” was a popular style of dress in the 1950s. It got its name because the narrow hemline meant that when women walked in the dress they could only manage little steps which gave them a wiggle when they walked. The form-fitting dress was considered very sexy and was worn by Hollywood stars such as Marilyn Monroe, which added to its appeal.

Creepers became popular as streetwear after WWII. The rockabilly kids who wore these shoes tended to hang around sketchy neighborhoods, which is where they get the longer version of their name: brothel creepers. The thick-soled shoes became a key look for rockabillies in the U.S. and Teddy Boys in the U.K., and it’s said Presley’s “Blue Suede Shoes” was written in their honor.

Capri pants are a style of tight-fitting cropped trousers that became a signature look for Audrey Hepburn. As the name indicates, the pants were popularized by Italian designers such as Emilio Pucci. In the 1950s, pants for women were only just becoming socially acceptable, and when stars such as Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe adopted the look, it made pants seem even more modern and desirable.

The term “rockabilly” was coined to describe the music of Elvis Presley: rock and roll played by hillbillies. It soon came to encompass a whole style with a fashion look consisting of blue jeans, western-style shirts, quiffed hair, and suede shoes. For women, the look included cigarette pants, off-the-shoulder tops, short bangs, and a hair scarf.

Grace Kelly’s stunning wedding dress — worn at her 1956 wedding to Prince Rainier III of Monaco — is one of the most notable fashion looks of the decade. Kelly chose costume designer Helen Rose to create the look; the pair collaborated closely on a a number of films, and MGM even paid for the ivory silk dress to be hand-made by their wardrobe department.

One of the more popular styles for young men in the 1950s was the bowling shirt. These colored-block short-sleeved shirts were originally worn by 10-pin bowling teams — but as casual leisurewear became more mainstream, the style caught on. The shirts came in many designs but were often two-tone in color, with some designs made in silk.

The poodle skirt was invented by actress Juli Lynne Charlot in 1947 when she had nothing to wear to a Christmas party. She cut out a full circle of felt to make a skirt, and then added some festive appliqués. The skirt got such a positive response that she started a clothing company and the skirts quickly became one of the most popular styles.

Saddle shoes were unveiled for the first time in the 1920s, but they became a fashion mainstay in the 1950s among teen girls. The shoes were known for their two-tone color and red rubber soles, and were often worn with white socks known as “bobby socks.” The term “bobby-soxers” came to describe young girls who were zealous fans of the popular music of the era, particularly Frank Sinatra.

James Dean and Marlon Brando were the poster boys for the popular 1950s street style archetype known as the “greaser.” The typical look was blue denim jeans, a white t-shirt, and a black leather jacket. Hair was styled with “grease” such as pomade or petroleum jelly. Dean’s “Rebel Without a Cause” and Brando’s “The Wild One” were especially influential in popularizing the greaser look.