evening dress

John Cavanagh 1914

Summary

White stiffened muslin (organdie). Bodice lined with white corded rayon. Straight top edge of bodice rising in front. Cb opening. Inside waistband fastening with hook and eye. CB zip extending below waist, hook and eye at neck. Train at back. Inside net skirt, two flared layers at back. Innermost skirt with rayon lining similar to bodice, embroidered with floral pattern in iridescent sequins, pink beads and diamante. Cotton Board

Display Label

In fashion terms, it is intriguing to look back upon the 1950s as the heyday for the mature style, emanating a mixture of glamour, prosperity and confidence, and shortly to give way permanently to the attractions of youth. Having endured the stringencies of the Second World War with shortages and rationing (which continued on some commodities to the early 1950s), consumers were desperate to buy fashionable and extravagant clothing and exotic fabrics. In womenswear, Christian Dior caught the spirit of the new age when he launched his spectacularly successful "New Look" in 1947, sweeping away shoulder pads, boxy shaping and skimpy skirts, and featuring instead full or pencil skirts, nipped in waists and sloping shoulders. This yellow cotton suit by Michael Donnellan for Lachasse exemplifies the "New Look", as do many of the other outfits photographed below in black and white publicity shots, showing some of the most celebrated models of the age. The 1950s also saw social change, leading to major innovations in fashion, such as the new importance of teenage styling, recognizing the "teen-pound" and youngsters' increasing access to cash for clothing. Similarly, American influence showed itself in the widespread popularity of vibrantly printed summer frocks or Hawiian type shirts for men, made popular in Hollywood movies, and contrasting strongly with plain and rather dull English urban business-wear.