Classic fashion is the highlight of the '50s, where the dressing was simple, subtle, and awe-inspiring. Cashmere blazers, basic cardigans, and wool coats were every man's staple, and long flair dresses and full skirts with a little reveal were women's favored styles. Since then, the fashion industry has seen massive changes and grown to a worth of approximately USD$343.70 billion, introducing more sophisticated styles.
While the times of classic fashion are long gone, the contemporary world can still revisit the past by theming events and parties with a 1950s dress code. This article breaks down how to dress for a 1950s-themed party:
Men's dress code
Men used to ace their dressing codes in the ripe years of the 50s, defined by dominant classic fashion. Unlike today, men used to love suits and ties, even for parties, which seems odd to the modern world that's seemingly moved on with the times. Classic parties are still bliss, and you can leverage tips throwing a 50's styles grease party if you plan on having one that goes with the proper attire. Below are ways men can dress for a 50s-themed party:
- Footwear: Dress shoes can be perfect enough to don the 50s fashion for a party. Any leather shoe can be ideal, but please ensure they're well-polished and black. Darker shoes perfectly match darker suits and offer you a desirable 50s clad for a 1950s-themed party.
- Suits: Men in the 1950s loved to keep things a bit more official, even for casual events. Three-piece suits were the go-to for vintage fashion, and ties and bowties were the finishing touches that completed the looks. You'd ace your suit if it's well fitting and made of wool or wool blend. Your ties and bowties can be silk with a more solid and plain color.
- Hairstyles: A swoop pompadour or a hipster hairstyle can be perfect. However, a classic 50s hairstyle can identify you with the era and possibly make you stand out. Still, a messy quiff hairstyle works fine if your barber can make the touches correctly.
- Accessories: Cufflinks, belts, and watches define the peak 50s fashion and can be perfect for your party. You can still patch the gentleman's hat on your head to complete your look and make you appear as if you belong in the early decades of the millennium.
- Color coordination: Black can be your perfect suit color, and you can match it with slightly lighter ties or shoes to balance things out. Your ties should also be a little light for some contouring, and your shirt be the traditional white or light colored.
- Perfume: Body sprays and fragrances were also simple back in the day before its market, valued at USD$33.5 billion in 2021 and beyond, brought in a few modifications. While giving people a show with vintage looks can be more appealing, gracing their senses with soothing fragrance makes you more like the classic gentleman. Spraying some vintage perfume can make the people around you take you for a party enthusiast with a taste of class.
A clear sense of vintage party fashion can make you stand out at a 50s-themed party. But it takes a keen eye for detail and a proper acquaintance of appropriate clothes, shoes, and accessories that give you an appealing cosplay of the classic times.
Women's dress code
Women, too, like men, can get at the peak of the 50's classic fashion for themed parties. However, it'd help if you had an in-depth understanding of the clothes to pick and footwear to clad. Fashion for women can be lightly nuanced from men and include makeup and various accessories: Below are women's tips for dressing for a 50s-themed party.
- Dresses and full skirts: Unlike in the present day, vintage women know nothing about pants at parties. Dresses and full skirts were the pillars of classic fashion, and you can wear them for your 50s-themed party. You may not necessarily have to wear specific colors as you can be versatile with your options.
- Perfume: Like men, women need to smell nice with vintage perfume. A feminine cologne can still work fine to create a vintage aura around you. It's best to make a more informed choice on your perfume or cologne pick to avoid robust and disturbing scents.
- Footwear: The footwear market has quickly grown with a CAGR of 7.8%, transitioning it from vintage to modern. However, you can still find classic 50s shoes to ace your party looks. Some high heels can be okay as they represent the cusp of vintage and modern footwear fashion. However, you can still wear peep-toes, saddles, and ballet flats to get on par with classic footwear party fashion.
- Accessories: Gloves, hats, and pearl jewelry iconized early women's fashion for the parties, and it'd be more thoughtful to have them on. Your handbag should be small to fit your eye-shadow kit and eyeliners for some follow-up retouches and keep looking good.
- Makeup: Over 6000 years of makeup have brought subtle styles and variations throughout different eras. The 50s have a unique style that you can replicate to blend in your vintage party. Bold red lips and winged eyeliners can be your best pick, but please ensure you or your makeup artist knows it well.
- Hairstyles: The Beehive, French twists, and pin curls are perfect vintage hairstyles to match vintage party looks. Moreover, the shot bob, which involves cutting your hair just above the shoulders before styling it with waves or styles, can replicate classic hair fashion. A ponytail can also be perfect for the event.
It's also best to consider picking color choices and preferences that balance your hues and don't appear to clash. You can choose a single color but vary the shades for a complete vintage party appeal.
Conclusion
Knowing how to match your vintage attire for a 50s-themed party can get you at the top of your fashion game. Unlike in the modern fashion age, dressing in the early days was quite simple, and you could get yourself acing the looks with minimal effort. Your footwear, hairstyle, clothes, and accessories should all represent the early days of party fashion when everything was simple yet subtle. Moreover, your scents should define the era quite well, making your choice of perfume and fragrances much more vital.