Essay On 1950's Fashion

1950’s Fashion

Fashion has always been around the world, and it has always changed from decade to decade. There will always be fashion trends in the world. Fashion changes on a day to day basis and one thing that changes fashion history, is the events in the world. My following essay is about how historical events in the 1950’s era changed fashion history and it's also to compare how much fashion has changed since the 50’s era. Here is a sentence or two to explain what each paragraph is about. First I will discuss historical events in the 1950’s era. Next will being what was popular during the 1950’s fashion itself. Last but not least I will discuss how the historical events have affected the 1950’s fashion.

In the 1950’s many things were

invented, broadcast and styles were born. On June 25, 1957, CBS broadcasted the very first commercial color tv program. The TV show was called “Premium” the show featured people such as Ed Sullivan, Garry Moore, Faye Emerson, Arthur Godfrey, Sam Levenson, Robert Alda and Isabel Bigley. All of whom which hosted their own shows in the 50’s. “Premiere” aired from 4:35 to 5:34 P.M but only reached 4 cities which included, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington D.C. two days later on June 27, 1951. CBS began airing the first regularly color television series. The peace sign was created on February 21, 1958 by a man named Gerald Holtom who was a British artist. How Holtom created the peace symbol was by drawing a circle with three lines inside, which he intended to be used by the Direct Action Committee Against Nuclear War (DAC). The peace sign was created to represent the protest against nuclear war. The peace sign was then introduced to the world April 4, 1958. The first Diner's club credit card were given out in 1950 to 200 people. Most of the people for diners club credit cards were friends and acquaintances of McWave and was accepted by 14 restaurants in New York. The concept of the card grew and by the end of the 1950’s, 200,000 people were using the Diner credit cards. The cards are considered the first modern day credit cards.

The late 1940’s and 1950’s were a time in fashion history when many people were concerned with dressing just right, and the way they styled their hair and chose their hats were no exception. It was estimated that the typical American woman in the 1950’s owned four hats. Beginning in the late 1950’s hairdressers used curling irons and hair spray to create elaborately curled and piled hairstyles called bouffants and beehives. Men's facial hair was generally not popular with the opposite being for women and make-up which were very important for the well put together ensemble. When the tight sweater came into style in the mid-1950s, which was a short-lived craze for what is known as a “sweater girl” bra. Charm bracelets were wore by men as well as women and were intended as talismans for protection from adversaries or to reflect one’s profession, religious, or political affiliation, or status within the community. Young girls were especially fond of the charm bracelets. Men did not accessorize as much as women, but they did have several items they might wear to distinguish their outfits. A well-dressed man could choose from a range of cuff links, tie bars, and collar pins, made in gold, silver, or a new metal called palladium. The wristwatch called Timex was invented in the 50’s also.

Not only did color tv influence fashion but other events helped create new freedoms.

Lucille Ball by debuting her first pregnancy on colored tv helped promote comfortable new maternity wear. The peace sign later was used as a design on clothing. The hippies wore the most peace signs. Hippies were also the natural growth of the Beat movement in the 50’s. The peace sign really started to get popular into the 60’s. The reason for that being is that the hippies didn’t want to be normal like the people in the 50’s. They wanted to be more creative. The Diners Credit Card was going to be the middleman . Instead of individual companies offering credit cards to their own customers. Previously, stores would make their money with their credit cards by keeping customers loyal to that particular store, thus maintaining a high level of sales. However, diners club needed a different way to make money since they weren’t actually selling anything. To make a profit without charging interest, the companies who accepted the Diners Club Credit Card were charged 7% of every transaction while the subscribers to the credit card were charged a $3 annual fee.

In conclusion, Fashion will always transcend throughout the ages. Fashion is a form of expression, an art form if you will. The 1950’s will always be a foundation for the fundamentals of fashion. What someone has created will repeat itself in history, even if it unknowingly was a symbol meant for prosperity when in this day and age it stands for

peace.