Vintage Fasion Guild Timeline 1950 - 1960
 Early 1950s Red Silk Gown Candy Shiveley,contentmentfarmantiques.com  Early 1950s Navy Faille Suit,courtesy Jody Steinman, coutureallurevintage.com.
Hems fell and hems rose but the hourglass silhouette remained. In addition to the full skirt, slender pencil skirts were worn too. The emphasis on silhouette and form created a dependency on foundation garments - bullet bras, corselets, waist-cinchers and girdles pulled in, pushed out and persuaded while crinolines lifted and shaped full-circle skirts.
 ca 1955 - 56 Suzy Perette Velvet & Plissé Cocktail dress, courtesy Linda Warren, vintageclothesline.com.  ca 1953 -54 Lilli Ann Petite Silk & Wool Suit,Hollis Jenkins-Evans,pastperfectvintage.com
Led by Dior, Paris couture retained its popularity but the private couturier was being supplanted by pret-a-porter and mass production. Design houses such as the USA's Suzy Perette and Lilli Ann and Horrockses in the UK, as well as American designers such as Ceil Chapman and Tina Leser, were proving that off-the-rack garments of quality could be made. America led the way with ready-to-wear and high fashion, once restricted to the wealthy, was available to the general population.
 1950s Tina Leser Cotton Print Dress w/wrap, courtesy of Vintage-voyager.com  mid 1950s Ceil Chapman Ballgown, courtesy Marlene Garcia, memphisvintage.com
 ca 1951 - 54 Green Chiffon Evening Gown, courtesy Deborah Burke, antiquetextile.com  ca 1951 - 54 Suzy Perette Black Satin Dinner Dress, courtsey Marie Baker, thevintagepeddler.com
The second half of the 1950's still emphasized women dressing for 'their man.' Structural garments (such as stiletto heels, girdles and bullet bras) were designed to highlight the natural appeal of a woman's figure, instead it virtually caricaturized it. American designer Anne Fogarty even wrote a book called "Wife-Dressing", where she emphasized that a woman is never properly attired without her girdle.
 ca 1958-59 Ceil Chapman Orange Silk Cocktail Dress, courtesy Maggie Wilds, materialgirlbags.com/Denise brain.htm  ca 1958-59 Bendel's Satin & Velvet Party Dress, courtsey pastperfectvintage.com
 1950s Surfriders Cotton dress,courtsey Marie Baker, thevintagepeddler.com  ca. 1955 Tina Leser Cotton Print Dress, courtsey Linda Ames, vintagetextile.com
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