The Clothes Worn by Teenagers in the 1950s

Fashions in the 1950s had a distinct look.

The 1950s are regarded by some as an iconic era in American history. Everything from cars to neon signs to clothes had a distinctive look. Teenagers during that time pushed the fashions from the 1940s forward. At the time, some of those clothing choices were considered risque, however, compared to today's teen trends, the clothing from the 1950s is quite tame.

Girls Skirts, Tops and Dresses

The poodle skirt is a hallmark of the 1950s along with the crinolines that went under it. Often the poodle skirt was pink and gray. A-line dresses were popular as were straight lined skirts. Girls often wore two-piece cardigan sweaters. Also common were dickies -- a collar with a bib of fabric hanging down to wear under v-neck sweaters. Girls often attached a faux fur collars to the sweater neck. All dresses and skirts ended just below the knee. For leisure, a girl wore denim jeans and frequently an over-sized Oxford button-down shirt or sweatshirt. Bermuda shorts first arrived during this era. Girls wore kilts with knee socks and saddle shoes.

Girls Hats and Handbags

Hats were close-fitting and bell shaped. These hats did not interfere with a haircut since most popular hairstyles were ponytails and pixie cuts. Head scarves were common. Handbags were common outside of school and might be long-strapped and worn diagonally from shoulder to waist. For a more formal event a teen girl would use a small, rectangular hand-held purse.

Girls Shoes

Desert boots became fashionable in the late 1950s and can still be found today. They are more shoe than boot and are made of a soft leather, do not lace and stop just above the ankle. Penny loafers were a lace-less shoe with an appliqué of leather at the toe into which a penny could be inserted. Black and white saddle shoes were worn with a white anklet sock.

Jewelry

Girls might wear a string of pearls or the very popular mustard seed necklace. This necklace is a tiny mustard seed encased in a marble of clear plastic and was said to bring the wearer good luck. Charm bracelets became popular but were fairly costly. Circle pins were frequently used as an accessory for a blouse or scarf.

Boys Clothing

Boys wore denim jeans, but more often chinos. Chinos are a twilled cotton, khaki pant worn for a casual look. Shirts were oxford, buttoned down at the collar or worn unbuttoned with the collar standing up and away from the shirt. For sweaters, boys wore plain crew necks. Boys often wore T-shirts with denim jeans and a leather jacket. Boys wore suits with ties for holidays, concerts, church and other formal occasions.

Boys Shoes

Boys also wore penny loafers. For a more casual look, boys used black sneakers. White buck shoes were common as well. These were a laced shoes made of white suede, and were a hallmark of the 1950s.

References

• 1950's Fashion
• 1950s Glamour - Fashion History in the C20th