Back to the 50's

     The classic 1950’s look of the hourglass shape is sensual and also more realistic than later fashions that demanded a woman be thin to look stylish. You didn't have to spend time at the gym to get your waist slim enough to wear a 1950s dress - you had foundation garments to take care of any little bulges. These may not have been terribly comfortable, but once you got used to them, they were just part of your daily wardrobe.



Sophia Loren

      At the time, the "New Look", which began in 1947, was a departure for women who had been used to less during the war. Afterward, however, women began to want prettier clothes again, and such clothes were soon available.

Marilyn Monroe

     Dresses with flowing skirts in bright colorful fabrics quickly replaced the utilitarian look of wartime clothes. While some women derided the New Look as fussy, impractical and uncomfortable - forcing women back into a decorative role, after they had proven their strength and abilities - other women embraced the opportunity to dress prettily in a way they hadn't in years.

     Whether your dress style is long and strapless or short and high-neck, get a 1950's feel with plenty of lace and pearl jewelry. Feminine details on shoes and at the waist also add a glamorous 50's effect.

1940's Fashion

     The 1940’s was the war era. Due in part to the war occupying the first half of the decade, Swing and Big Band music still dominated the music industry. During the latter half of the 40’s, Rhythm and Blues along with Be-bop became part of the Big Band mix. Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Billy Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra were some of the big names of this era. The Jitterbug was still in full swing as was the Lindy. Less modern dances were still being done in form of waltz, polka and foxtrot.

Rita Hayworth

     Unfortunately for women, this decade began with a war stricken country still tugging on the coattails of an economic nightmare. Fabric and materials of almost any kind were in short supply due to the war demands. Fashion became less formal and very simple in design due to necessity. Women relied on jewelry, pins and hair accessories to make their attire more decorative. The silhouette of this era concentrated on the narrow hips, padded shoulders and hats of all kinds.

     Get the 1940’s look with suit jacket and soft matching skirt in a thin or slender silhouette. Try a full-length, simply styled slim fitting dress or anything with a really flowing and formal aura. Dress it up with a pair of longer gloves, fancy updo, hair accessories and jewelry or a brooch. An evening bag or purse was essential.

1930's Men's Fashion

Fred Astaire

     As we have seen throughout the last century, men’s fashion has not changed very much in formal wear. In the 1930’s, a single or double breasted white dinner jacket was worn with a cummerbund instead of the vest worn in earlier times. A black bow tie and black trousers, trimmed with braid down the outside seams completed the look. In warmer climates a white, waist-length mess jacket was also acceptable. Pocket handkerchiefs were customary with any type of suit.
     For the less formal look, suits were made with a little extra fabric in the shoulder and upper arm with a more tailored, slimmer look throughout the waist which really flattered the male figure and was fastidiously adopted by movie stars Cary Grant, Gary Cooper and Fred Astaire. The suit trousers were worn slightly tapered at the bottom as well and usually matched the material of the jacket. Colors included dark grays, navy, browns, with or without pinstripes. Ties had a straight silhouette or slight flare toward the bottom. Circles and plaids were common fabric designs for ties. Cufflinks were popular accessories for men throughout the 1920’s – 40’s.
     Shoes for a formal look could be copied with a modern basic man’s dress shoe – lighter weight, not heavy and shiny. An informal look could be done with a less dressy, medium weight shoe. The iconic two-tone shoes for men were worn with both formal and informal suits. For informal looks, the shoes did not always match the color of the suit.

Beautiful Vintage Style

This video has great vintage style. It represents almost 40 years of vintage wedding fashion. Enjoy.

Get that 20's look for your wedding.

The 1920’s were an era of change. Jazz and ragtime music came into vogue; new modes of dance including the Charleston and Shimmy were introduced. But the biggest change was in fashion. Women wanted to dress their way and not by the dictates of society. Bold women began wearing nude stockings in place of black wool stockings, dresses became sleeveless and jewelry became an ever-present accessory.

Necklaces, pins, rings and brooches came into style. Art Deco pieces were the most prominent type of jewelry during this period and incorporated prominent circles, rectangles and squares. Another example of Art Deco jewelry are the beaded necklaces, especially the multi-layered look.

Get the 1920’s look with short or long strands of pearls, Art Deco inspired rings, necklaces and other pieces. For a formal look, try a hair brooch or pin (fascinators), close-fitting headpieces or perhaps a birdcage veil for that special day. Hair accessories often displayed ostrich feathers for a glamorous, sultry look. Brooches and pins were often worn on a simple-styled dress at the middle of the neckline or to the side of the dress.