Today, I continue my look at coat styles through the years with the 1950s. As Dior's New Look emerged in the late 1940s, coats began to increase in width and volume to cover the new full skirted fashions. Full skirts did not trickle down to regular fashion until about 1950, which is when we start to see the same volume in coats worn by the everyday woman.
From 1950, here you see a coat with a fitted bodice that flares out with deep pleats in the skirt in the style we now call a princess coat. Notice the wide sleeves and huge collar.
Another popular style to wear with full skirts was a coat with huge volume that flares out from the shoulders. Today, we call this a swing coat. This coat dates to 1951. Note that the sleeves are now at 3/4 length with deep cuffs.
By 1955, a more modified princess style started to emerge with a fitted bodice and a flare that is not quite as wide in the skirt.
By the mid 1950s, the clutch coat becomes very popular. While very impractical, clutch coats were made with no buttons or closures of any kind. Women would wrap the coat closed and hold it in place with one arm clutched across the waist.
Here, you see another popular trend, the pushed up sleeve. When combined with a clutch style, I can imagine this woman constantly having to fuss with her coat!
Also, while full coats were still popular, we begin to see simpler, straighter cuts. This coat, from 1955, has sleeves that can be worn full length or pushed up.
In 1956, we see styles that are straight cut in front but with a bit of sack like fullness across the back. Those push up sleeves and clutch styles are still popular.
By 1958, sleeves are back to hanging straight. Slim Chesterfield style coats are popular for day...
...while for evening, the full cocoon style emerges. These coats were made of exotic fabrics and had unusual cuts with most of the sleeve cut as part of the body of the coat. This style will continue to emerge in the early 1960s, which we'll look at next week!
The work of Galanos is as close to true haute couture as you can get. Each piece is hand finished with the finest of details. This evening gown by Galanos was sold by Bergdorf Goodman and dates to the early 1990s. It is fashioned of brown silk velvet with a burnout windowpane pattern that is lined with a sparkling black lurex fabric.
Combine a velvet halter bodice with a tiered taffeta circle skirt and you've got a fabulous vintage 50s party dress!
This vintage 60s cocktail dress by Christian Dior New York is fashioned of an unusual black mylar and sequin outer layer lined in nude color silk.
I wonder if, in it’s former life, this dress was worn by a woman of the Jet Set who traveled to the Cote d’Azur and wandered on the beach at sunset before going to a posh dinner party. Shown here with the matching huge silk chiffon wrap, click into the listing to see what this vintage 1960s evening dress looks like on it's own.
In the 1950s and early 60s Arthur Jablow was one of the companies authorized to copy Chanel suits. This is one of those copies. Fashioned of cream wool boucle, it is trimmed with gold metallic braid.
The name Lilli Ann brings to mind some of the best suits ever made. This vintage 1970’s evening suit is no exception. Here, Lilli Ann takes gold brocade to the maxi!
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