1950s-Style Evening Gowns

The 1950's were a time of social and fashion transition.  World War 1 was going on and fashion companies took advantage of this opportunity to mass-produce.  Only wealthy people could purchase designer gowns.  The marketplace changed when youth came on the scene with a desire for different clothes and money.

The two main styles of gowns in the 1950's were the full skirt and pencil slim tubular skirt.  Both dresses accentuated women's small waistlines. 

Gown Types

The evening gowns were defined by the bodice and the petticoats.  The bodices were covered with various kinds of fabrics including laces, such as Chantilly lace and tulle.  Petticoats were worn under the dresses to give them their shape. The petticoats were made of nylon and were stiffened by using starch or sugar solution.  The petticoats ranged in length and width.  Petticoats caused the dresses to have a slight flair to a very large one.  They also were knee-length and longer and came in other colors besides white. 

Gown Silhouettes

Some of the gown silhouettes included The Harem, Fantasy, European, lines, sack, trapeze and empire.  The Fantasy dress was inspired by the glamour and elegance of Hollywood. The European gowns were floor-length and full. The A-, H- and Y-line dresses were names after the alphabet that described the way the dresses hanged.  The empire dress started under the women's bust.

Teen Gowns

Teens wore gowns when they attended proms.  During the 1950's, it was not proper to dress inappropriately.  So, teenagers usually opted for the knee-length dresses. When they wore gowns, their dresses tastefully accentuated their waists.