Full A-line Skirts
Few looks in history have their origins as greatly documented as the nipped at the waist, long A-line skirt silhouette of the 50s. This is the rare occasion where the cause and beginning of a trend can be distinctly pinpointed to one moment (Christian Dior’s Spring/Summer 1947 Collection). When it caught on, it caught on quick. This was partially because as a trend, it was ultra feminine, at a time when women were ready to feel pretty again. For me, any style that inherently makes a woman feel attractive and girly, is one I’d like to see play over and over again. Although, if you’re petite, be careful with this trend. Avoid anything that will cut you off at the calf or swallow you up by aiming for a skirt that stops at the knee or above and doesn’t extend out more than three inches off the body.
Cat Eye Sunglasses
Marilyn Monroe was famous for wearing them in the 1950s. A fuss was kicked up when Scarlett Johansson wore them to an appearance earlier this year. It’s safe to say, judging by their feline shape and the women that are associated with them, cat eye sunglasses are an easy thing to add to any ensemble. Resist turning this into a costume by skipping glasses in an actual cat print of any kind (cheetah, tiger, etc!). If you want to forgo the basic black route, try a neutral color like beige or a classic print like tortoise. Candidly, part of my desire to see this trend brought back may be my fan-boy like obsession with seeing Anne Hathaway play Cat Women in the next and final Batman movie, due out next year.
Peter Pan Collars
So often what makes a trend stylish or an outfit stand out is an unexpected twist. You expect collars to be two upside down triangles. The swoop of a Peter Pan collar gives a youthful and surprising uniqueness to a top or dress. Femininity seems to be a recurring theme with my favorite trends from the 1950s and Peter Pan collars go right along, with their delicate half moon shape in contrast to traditional sharp and pointed collars. You don’t want this look to read as schoolgirl, so be mindful when choosing accessories (i.e. no frilly socks or headbands) and try not to tuck a top with this kind of collar into anything high-waisted.
Half Hearted Beehive
Do NOT think that this trend has anything to do with the big haired, Bump-It styles of the Jersey Shore girls. This is a softer, sweeter look, reminiscent of Brigitte Bardot in the south of France, soaking up sun without a worry. There is a done, yet undone quality about it. Like cat eye sunglasses, it gives off a sexy vibe with it’s care free attitude and wispy nature. This look proves that teasing to achieve big hair was not invented by mall rats or Bon Jovi fans in the 1980s, and as any girl with fine hair can tell you, a hairstyle that provides added height can be a major plus, no matter what decade it is from.
Beatniks
It goes without saying, Audrey Hepburn could make any style look chicc In an iconic scene from 1957′s “Funny Face” she danced around in a smoky nightclub like a fool, dressed in all black. For this scene, Hepburn was supposed to look the part of that decade’s beatnik. As a group they were laid back and played it aloof, but strong on their politics and artistic expression. This translated into the clothes with hip and sly touches like berets and cropped pants, but with the color black and turtlenecks for the right amount of serious cool. When it comes to warnings, tips, or advice for executing this trend in the modern world, I have none. Black on black on black, with quintessential French styling, is impossible to screw up.
It goes without saying, Audrey Hepburn could make any style look chicc In an iconic scene from 1957′s “Funny Face” she danced around in a smoky nightclub like a fool, dressed in all black. For this scene, Hepburn was supposed to look the part of that decade’s beatnik. As a group they were laid back and played it aloof, but strong on their politics and artistic expression. This translated into the clothes with hip and sly touches like berets and cropped pants, but with the color black and turtlenecks for the right amount of serious cool. When it comes to warnings, tips, or advice for executing this trend in the modern world, I have none. Black on black on black, with quintessential French styling, is impossible to screw up.
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