The History Of 1950s Wedding Dresses
The 1950s was the beginning of the economic expansion, which is coined as the Golden Age of Capitalism, or the postwar economic boom. It was a period of strong economic growth, following the World War II. The entire world in the 1950s were left to deal with the war’s aftermath, which is the destruction from the bombings and rebuilding of architecture. In Great Britain, Winston Churchill was re-elected, and this resulted to the abolition of food rationing, which eventually lifted clothing and fabric rationing. The end of the war brought life once again to Haute Couture, with Christian Dior and Cristobal Balenciaga leading the revolution from the restricted austere style. The 1950s also brought changes in terms of family life, as women became housekeepers once again, which later influenced the glamorous housewife.
Fashion historians regard the first few years after the war as a period of transition, where fashion sat groping after lines before settling into eight to ten years lifespan of trends. The waistline trend also sent fashion historians with head scratching, as the trend appeared and disappeared throughout the period. Due to this, the phrase “the wandering waistline” was coined during the celebration of the Paris spring collections.
Fashion in the 50s remained fluid, and women donned suits with belts over straight skirts. It was also an homage to the 1920s, with frills, lace, and floral dominating most runways. The most significant aspect of this era was that people were beginning to experiment and become free in their fashion choices.
This period also brought changes in weddings, particularly the 1950s wedding dresses. Wedding dress designers adopted to the changes made in the fashion world, which was all about glamour and somehow subverting the expectations. If you’re looking for vintage-inspired wedding dresses for your dream wedding, read on for a glimpse of what it was like to be a bride in the 50’s.
The Types Of 50s Wedding Dress
Dresses in the 50s
As the period of the 1940’s ended, women sought high fashion designers and Hollywood icons for fashion inspiration. The 1950s style wedding dress was not any different, as brides flocked bridal salons in department stores. Here, they ogled at the latest runway wedding gowns, flowers, veils, and accessories dedicated to weddings. Weddings were done for an entire day, and these events set the tone of weddings as being high fashion affairs.
The brides were encouraged to be like their Hollywood icons, and dress themselves in the most expensive gowns they could afford. With the boom of capitalism and assembly line, wedding dresses were finally offered “off the rack”, which was more affordable for brides. Cheaper synthetic materials were used, but they looked just as expensive. Brides could now afford a dream wedding, topped with her dream wedding gown, made complete with just as glamorous accessories. Beyond anything else, the 1950s was a decade identified with elegance, etiquette, and decorum. Classic weddings featured white roses, cut glass, silver on damask cloths, and Wedgewood china – all of these had to match the bride and her wedding gown.
The Early 1950s Wedding Gowns
For most of the 1950s, the sweetheart neckline, full skirt, and small waist was the classic silhouette for the retro 50s wedding dress. Fabrics used embraced a structure which easily molded to the shape of the torso, as well as shaped the hips down until the floor. Satins were also used, and the more popular ones were ribbed silk and Duchesse satins, both of which were shimmery and smooth. Lace was also used, but is only incorporated either at the top or the full dress, where the fabric is infused with silver of gold thread. Handmade lace was preferred, as it was extremely soft and comfortable to touch, but much too expensive. Brides opted for new cotton or polyester made ones, which were crisp but affordable. Lace was used extensively, from gloves, to veils and gowns.
Most weddings are done in churches during this period, which meant that full modesty had to be exercised. This was the peak of the 1950s long sleeve dress, and the sleeves were required to be long with some fullness. Necklines had the higher cuts of V, sweetheart, and scalloped shapes. Skirts hung from the waistline, as dresses from the 1950 were shaped in an A-line, which was supported by a long petticoat beneath.
The Mid 1950s Wedding Dresses
The dawn of the mid 50s brought about practical changes in the world of wedding gowns. While modesty remained to be required in churches, brides sought for the 1950 wedding dress screaming modern and fashion. Designers solved this problem by incorporating removable layers – bridal gowns were made strapless but came with matching bolero jackets. These had three-quarter length sleeves, which were to be worn at the ceremony. Bolero jackets could be made out of satin or silk, but most often brides used white lace, which were tightly fitted and can easily pass off as second skin. Another option used was to incorporate detachable sleeves, which can come off after the reception. It was not acceptable to wear sleeveless gowns to the ceremony, and this only changed in the 60s. Short sleeve jackets were also considered controversial, but women chose to wear these anyway.
The Late 1950s Wedding Gowns
The road to the late 1950s led to gowns shaping up into ballgowns, and designers used chiffon and tulle to make them lighter and more wearable. Hemlines rose up, which settled to the ankles and mid shin, then exposing footwear for the first time since the 1920s. This was popularized further Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face (1957), where she wore a ballerina style wedding gown. She danced and twirled in the movie, which showed off how light and magical the calf length dress can be. The bodice was also simplified, too, and short sleeves were finally preferred. Plain, round, and wide necklines without collars were utilized, as they were believed to exude an aura of doll-like innocence.
The Modest 50s Weddings
Even with the long economic boom, not all brides wanted luxurious weddings, and many others could not afford a couture wedding gown. These brides often opted for a small church ceremony, with receptions celebrated at home. Most of the time, best afternoon dresses or a tailored suit are worn. Brides also often chose to make their own dresses, with the help of experienced family members to sew a gown from a pattern and specially ordered fabric. Brides also chose to honor family tradition by wearing old heirloom wedding dresses, which were refashioned to fit into the current trends. Younger brides opted to re-wear prom dresses, or borrow their mother’s formal gowns – these were quite similar to the styles of wedding dresses. Brides also chose colors of pink, yellow, or ivory lace for their 50s bridal dresses, as they could be re-worn to fancy parties and dinners. All of these were affordable and practical choices for brides who had their minds set out for the future, and not just their weddings. For this reason, their wedding gowns became the iconic 1950s glamour dress.
Vintage-Inspired Wedding Accessories
As opposed to the previous decade, hats were no longer dominant in the fifties. Women wore scarves in their hair often, and butterfly glasses were worn for extra touches of glamour. Large belts adorned their waists to emphasize the highly-coveted feminine silhouette. Oversized rings and bracelets were a staple, but most jewelry were costume instead of real jewels. There was also a change in footwear, as it moved away from lavish embellishments and utility styling. Velvet and crocodile skin were utilized for shoes instead. Roger Vivier, a famous shoe designer, brought about the popular designs for the ballet pumps and high heels, motivated by his desire to create shoes with more freedom.
- Wedding veils, hats, and tiaras. The wedding tiara was popular in the 50s, but hats were also common. Despite not being a dominant accessory, brides chose to wear saucer-shaped hats embellished with beadings and flowers, pulled down low for a halo effect. There were also hats that saddled the head, but left enough room for the latest hairstyles. When Queen Elizabeth was crowned in 1953, however, there came a brief revival of jeweled crowns. Some innovative brides, though, like Audrey Hepburn, wore crowns of flowers.
Veils were old items usually passed down generation to generation. These were usually long and made of lace, which floats down the backs of wedding gowns. This added a classic touch to an otherwise modern style. Jackie Kennedy was an iconic bride who wore her grandmother’s rose-point lace veil, which was attached to a small tiara with designs of orange blossoms. It contrasted well against her ivory silk 1950s off the shoulder dress ballgown. These long veils were often updated with crowns of small flowers or plain pillbox hats. Brides who did not use heirloom veils wore should length tulle veils instead, which emphasized the ballgown skirt. This was often attached to hidden headbands or small combs.
- Gloves were made to be as elegant as the dress. In the early years of the era, a short sleeve gown was often paired with over the elbow white gloves. Gloves aren’t need for long-sleeved gowns, but they’re often adorned with a pair of wrist length or fingerless gloves made from tulle, lace, or satin.
- The use of jewelry was minimal. A short and single strand pearl necklace was the choice paired with low neck dresses. A matching pearl bracelet was considered a good addition, especially if it can be in tradition as “something borrowed.” Pearl clip-ons or stud earrings are worn only if they were not covered up by the hair.
- Flowers often used were Lilies of the Valley, attached with fern tied in a white satin bow. Hollywood icons like Elizabeth Taylor chose to use yellow daffodils and tulips, in order to match her bridesmaid’s yellow chiffon dresses. Jackie Kennedy opted for white and pink orchids paired with gardenia. Most brides opted for pink flowers, as anything pink was regarded as highly fashionable in weddings.
- Heels used were mostly cuban or kitten heels, which was made in a rounded toe in white, seen as the classic wedding shoe. Wearing anything else was unnecessary, as fancier or interesting” shoes were believed to rob the bride and her gown of the attention. For this reason, should had to remain simple. However, there is a rule that the shorter the dress, the higher the heels should be. The exposed calves were turned attractive by the high heels, and brides loved using the ultra-thin stiletto heel. Brides burdened with unsightly legs often used nude stockings with nude seams.
Fashion trends come and go, and the same goes with wedding dresses. Socioeconomic factors come into play with these trends, and for the 50’s it was the booming economy. The 1950s wedding dresses were spectacles to behold, with brides clamoring for luxury and Hollywood-inspired themes. Just like the era, the 50s wedding dress remains to be an icon, with brides today taking cues from the laces and frills that decorated the brides of the 1950s.
