1950's fancy dress by Fancy Dress 4 Sale

History of 1950's fancy dress

Until the 50s, young people dressed the same as their parents. Following the constraints of the war, the shops were full of consumer goods and the teenagers, influenced by the music scene and film stars were buying.

Fashionable girls were either 'preppie' types or the more rebellious 'Teddy girl'.

A 'Preppie' was very neat and tidy. They wore full circle skirts. Netted skirts were worn underneath to show the full effect of the skirt and to emphasis the waist. Shirts with a 3/4 length sleeve, tight fitting polo necks, cardigans and a scarf tied a the neck finished the look.

Teddy Girls wore a lot of make up. They preferred close fitted black sweaters, calf length skirt, or toreador pants or circle skirts with low cut tops. Teddy girls tended to wear their hair in a ponytail.

1950s fancy dress suggestions:
Rizzo from Grease
Sandy from Grease
Marilyn Monroe
Doris Day
Teddy Girl

Rebellious young men were also split into two main camps, the greasers and the Teddy Boys.

Greasers (as seen in Grease 1978) wore leather jackets, white tee-shirts and jeans. A greaser's hair was slicked back and their main influence was Marlon Brando as in the film The Wild One (1953).

Teddy Boys wore the "Drape" a long knee length, single breasted wool jacket with narrow contrasting lapels and cuffs either of velvet or satin and plenty of pockets. They wore contrast or matching narrow drainpipe trousers, brocade waistcoats, stiff shirts and shoestring ties or bootlace slim Jim ties topped off with suede shoes. Teds also wore crepe soled shoes which helped with the dance movements of rock n roll jiving.

Conventional teenagers would favour the smart suit with a narrow tie.

1950s fancy dress suggestion:

Danny (from Grease)
Bill Hayley
Elvis
James Dean
Marlon Brando
Buddy Holly
Teddy Boy

fancy dress sample 1950's fancy dress