1950s Schiaparelli fur coat
An advert from 1958 Vogue for a black Persian Lamb fur coat designed by Elsa Schiaparelli. The model is Sunny Harnett. Couturier talent drapes a Directoire …
Archive by category 1950s
After the hardships of the wartime years, the 1950s exploded in a riot of colour. Women embraced the hourglass figure of Christian Dior’s ‘New Look’ and wore big petticoats to make their skirts larger, and for the first time teenagers developed their own fun sense of style.
Wonderful 1950s Dior
Christian Dior’s wonderful “Zemire” gown from 1954 worn by 1950s model Nancy Berg. Photographed by Clifford Coffin for French Vogue. …
Backstage at Folies Bergere in Paris, 1950s
Seamstresses adjust performers’ costumes backstage at Folies Bergere in Paris, France, June
Audrey Hepburn looking cute in pigtails
The lovely Audrey Hepburn looking very cute and stylish in pigtails from the movie Love in the Afternoon (1957). She looks great doesn’t she? Despite …
Anne St Marie wearing a bag for 1950s Vogue
Model Anne St Marie wearing what looks like a baggy tartan sack in the sea, photographed by Richard Rutledge for Vogue 1957. She carries the look off admirably …
1950s pin up “First Mate”
A saucy 1950s pin up from the cover of Flirt Magazine, April 1953. The painting was by Peter
Who knew a nylon wedding dress could be so beautiful?
Isn’t this 1950s wedding dress a dream? It doesn’t seem so as appealing when you read that it’s made from Nylon, but all the same it’s …
Grace Kelly looking… enigmatic?
I’m not sure how to describe Grace Kelly’s expression in this photo. Is she looking worried, concerned, perplexed? Is she just concentrating hard, …
Looking dreamy in amongst the rivets, 1950s
What do you think the back-story of this fashion photo is? Is the model on a cruise ship? Is she visiting the troops on board a boat? A cruise hostess going on …
Marilyn having a laugh with Bogie and Bacall
A lovely candid shot of Marilyn Monroe having a laugh with some friends, who just happen to be Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart. I’m guessing this is …
How to become a 1950s mermaid
This is something which I’m sure we’ll all find useful in everyday life! This amazing 1950s video shows a young woman learning to be a mermaid at …
Pretty 1950s Shirley Lee dresses
Some gorgeous 1950s dresses by designer Shirley Lee. Aren’t they lovely? Which is your
Oh Italy *sigh*
Doesn’t this 1950s fashion photo make you long to go to Italy? I lived in Italy for a while while I was at university and it still holds a very special …
Jean Patchett drinking a glass of milk
The stunning 1950s model Jean Patchett reading and drinking a glass of milk (or perhaps a White Russian?) photographed by Irving Penn in 1950. I wonder what …
Marilyn Monroe lighting up
If you think how fashionable (and common) smoking was in the 1950s it was pretty inevitable for Marilyn Monroe to smoke, but you very rarely seem to see …
Bright scarlet lips and white fingertips
Gosh, I’m a poet and I didn’t know it! This is such a lovely cover. It’s from Vogue January 1952 and the colours are beautifully vibrant. Her …
Norma Jeane DiMaggio’s army ID card
Norma Jeane DiMaggio’s (better known as Marilyn Monroe of course) US Department of Defense ID card from 1954. This was presumably issued when she was on …
1950s colourful capri pants
The colours in this 1950s outfit are fabulous aren’t they? I love how much people enjoyed colour in the 50s, I wonder whether it was part of the …