The History of Fashion : the 50’s & 60’s

After the war, fashion did not evolve much. Because of the shortage, dresses and short, narrow, strict suits with marked shoulders and a slightly stiff line are kept. However, haute couture was already trying to soften the silhouette and to give back to evening fashion a classic elegance thanks to long skirts, which had to make people forget the simplicity of the outfits dictated by the rationing. The woman returns to the home but her desire for freedom pushes her to reject the diktats of society and to emancipate her style.

Because each decade in the history of fashion is beautiful, the Actuelle fashion experts present you with a retrospective of the History of Fashion, highlighting the great trends of yesterday, always as topical in today's fashion.

Thes iconic pieces

At the end of the war, women aspired to regain their femininity and wished to forget the dark hours of the occupation. To do so, they turn to feminine pieces that highlight their assets while maintaining the grace andelegance that characterize them. Many designers are at the initiative of this stylistic revolution! By proposing pieces in accordance with women's wishes and anticipating their desires, they encourage a change in morals and style.

Numerous pieces and looks remain engraved in the collective memory: the feminine suit, with its modern lines, the iconic quilted bag, and the corolla dress that marks the waist, many styles follow one another and mark their time. They have become timeless pieces that continue to inspire through the test of time. Our closets are strongly inspired by the fashion of the last decades, the 50's and 60's being the pioneers in terms of look and femininity.

The big names in fashion

These names are synonymous with luxury but above all with revolutionary looks: we are talking about Christian Dior, Pierre Balmain, Coco Chanel, Hubert de Givenchy or Cristobal Balenciaga. The names of these iconic mid-20th century designers resonate around the world and evoke unique styles and pieces. A suit, a dress, a bag, these pioneering designers have greatly inspired today's fashion and are now considered myths.

The 60's, a new look revolution

Like the fifties, the sixties have a very important role in the history of fashion. After the wave of femininity initiated by the 50s, the 60s offer women a new silhouette and break the codes. Women are progressively freeing themselves from the stereotypical gender shackles. For proof, the pants finally become unisex! New cuts, new colors, new colors.... A multitude of styles allow women to enter a new stylistic era.

The invention of the mini-skirt by the Englishwoman Mary Quant completes the liberation of women and dynamizes the fashion world. The first miniskirt was marketed in England in 1962 in a store in a trendy area of London. The rise of ready-to-wear clothing makes the iconic pieces of this decade more and more accessible. New names appear: Pierre Cardin, André Courrèges or Paco Rabanne.

The fashion of the 50s and 60s is rich and varied. The period marks a real transition and a real upheaval in women's clothing. These upheavals have had a profound impact and inspire fashion experts in their creations and ready-to-wear collections.

Find out more about the History of Fashion soon!