At a time when men were men, women were women, and colour was a fantastic new invention, Hollywood epitomised the fashions of the age. TV was yet to become a ubiquitous household item and women’s magazines tended to contain more baking recipes than anything else. In such conditions, women looked to the silver screen for fashion inspiration. So just what were they wearing in that golden age, and how can you recreate it today?
Fantastic Forties
Screen Icons: Vivien Leigh, Ginger Rogers, Ingrid Bergman, Katherine Hepburn (above)
With fashion powerhouse Paris occupied by the Nazis and Europe under heavy rationing, the US became the leader in new fashions, with Hollywood at its centre. Restrictions on the amount of fabric that could be used in a garment meant that hemlines became shorter, and zips and buttons were little seen. Swing dresses were popular evening wear, and sweaters and cardigans were commonly seen on and off the screen.
Fabulous Fifties
Screen Icons: Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield, Elizabeth Taylor (above), Joan Collins
With the war over, the Fifties saw a more glamorous approach to fashion. Top designers like Christian Dior became household names, and women’s styles were becoming more daring. At the same time, trousers and suits became accepted women’s wear. But eye-catching 1950s dresses were certainly not in short supply. Maxi dresses in a variety of colourful and floral patterns were coming into fashion, as hemlines went down for the first time since the 1920s. With their elegance and sophistication, 1950s vintage dresses can look great for special occasions, while a 1950s wedding dress can make your big day even more special, and please gran immensely.
Swinging Sixties
Screen Icons: Raquel Welch, Brigitte Bardot (above), Faye Dunaway, Jane Fonda
Flower power, free love, the cold war and the moon landings were all hallmarks of the Sixties, as were mini-skirts, PVC dresses and bell-bottoms. Colourful stripy patterns were all the rage, and with the hippy craze came tie-dyed summer dresses, perfect for cavorting freely about some sun-kissed meadow or heading for the beach in a camper van. Hollywood has inspired and even led fashion trends for generations, and by drawing on the influence of the silver screen and checking out the vintage dresses in specialist shops and markets, you can recreate the innovative styles of the Forties, the glamour of the Fifties or that carefree ‘Summer of Love’ feel of the Sixties.
What's your favorite decade for style? Do tell all in the comments!
Disclosure: This post was produced in association with Fever Designs.
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