This is a book sure to delight designers, social historians and anyone
with an interest in this style-defining decade. "The 1950s Look:
Recreating the Fashions of the Fifties" takes the reader on a tour of
the trends and signature styles of the era - from Audrey Hepburn chic to
high school prom queen. Moving forward a decade from his successful book
"The 1940s Look", Mike Brown deconstructs the key elements of iconic 50s
fashions, as well as shedding light on the origins of many items of
clothing now taken for granted on today's high street. Over 144 pages,
with more than 300 full color photographs and pictures, readers can
learn about the new synthetic wonder fabrics, the Trapeze dress and the
Teddy Boys' quiff, pedal pushers and drain pipe trousers. Prime Minister
Harold Macmillan famously summed up the mood of the fifties when he told
the country: 'you've never had it so good'. Cinched waists and full,
layered skirts celebrated femininity and the availability of luxurious
fabrics after the restrictions of the previous decade. The success of
fashion houses such as Dior signaled the rise of chic Italian and French
styling, and this was the decade that denim jeans arrived in the UK from
the USA. An eclectic British style began to emerge from these
influences, and with it a whole new breed - the teenager. Author Mike
Brown says: 'The 1950s was a decade of decadence - a rebellion against
wartime restrictions and rationing. As people turned their backs on the
privations of the drab war years, exciting new fashions and daring
styles from overseas found a place in British homes. In the decade of
the Coronation, the conquest of Everest and the Festival of Britain, the
second Elizabethan age had arrived, and with it came optimism for a
bright future'. Meticulously researched and lavishly illustrated, this
retrospective is essential reading for anyone interested in social
history, fifties design, and those that look back fondly at the 1950s.
Chapters of this title include: formal and informal fashions; couture
house to homemade; hairstyles and make-up; the figure; and, accessories.
