The 1950s, or the ‘Golden Age,’ as it was otherwise known, marked the beginning of the Post-War era. What with World War II and the Great Depression becoming a distant memory, people revelled in this newfound sense of freedom. The ‘50s were a time of social change where civil rights began to be considered, pop culture defined identities and rock and roll dominated the music world. In 1952, the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II took place which sparked a sense of hope for the people of Britain and a brighter future seemed possible. This, alongside their new disposable income and the encouragement from the media, sparked a dramatic change within fashion and beauty industries, which became revolutionary for 1950s women.
With the Jubilee Celebrations coming up and everyone looking back at the Fifties, here is a handy guide with some easy ways to recreate the most popular looks from the decade.
MAKE-UP
The 1950s saw the introduction of the Avon which led to a huge increase in accessible make-up and beauty products. With beauty standards higher than ever before, 1950s make-up looks are among the most iconic in recent history.
The Lips:
Although the use of make-up was on the rise, a more subtle look was favoured.
To recreate the lips, you should start with an application of foundation to ensure a smooth and neutral base. Then, add lip liner. It was common in the 50s to extend the natural border of your mouth using the liner- it was thought this made women appear more feminine. Then add your lipstick of choice. Unlike the 1920s, where there was only one lipstick shade, the 1950s had a wide selection, with pinks and oranges being popular amongst blondes and redheads and darker reds/purples with brunettes.
The Eyes and Cheeks:
Eye make-up in the 50s was minimal in comparison to previous decades. A dash of a pinkish eyeshadow was applied to the top lid alongside a few coats of black mascara. A softer application of eyeline was also popular, with the arch and wing kept very close to the eyelid.
Pastel pink blusher, or rouge as it were called, was applied to the apple of the cheeks, and went no further than the tip of the nose to accentuate the cheekbones. Blusher was also applied to the outer edge of the eyebrows to highlight the prominent arch and add definition.
HAIR
Celebrity culture was on the rise and with leading ladies such as Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield at the forefront, 1950s women were desperate to try out this trademark look. In the 1950s there were many different types of hairstyles, but the most popular ones were ponytails with a short fringe and a scarf bouffant.
Scarf Bouffant:
To recreate this hairstyle, you will need hairspray (and a lot of it), bobby pins and a head scarf; preferably nylon or a silk-like material. The good thing about this style is that the scarf can hide a multitude of imperfections so don’t worry if it is a bit messy!
To begin, start by parting your hair at the top, as if you were going to cut in a fringe, and roll this parted section towards the centre of the hairline, just above your forehead. Secure this with a few bobby pins (this will be altered later so don’t worry about it looking perfect!)
Now let’s focus on the remaining hair. Push the rest of your hair behind your head, as if you were going to put it up in a low ponytail and split it into two sections: a top and a bottom. Take the top section and tie it into a side ponytail to keep it out of the way- you will return to this later.
Next, take the bottom section and twist it on top of your head and secure with bobby pins along the back of your head, (make sure to leave enough hair on top of the head to backcomb later). Hairspray this section and begin to backcomb- moving the brush in a repeated, downwards motion towards your scalp.
Once this has been completed, remove the hair from the side ponytail and repeat the backcombing process with this section. Once all hair has been backcombed, lightly brush the hair from the front to smooth out any bumps or stray hairs.
Now scrape back all of your hair and begin pinning the ends to the back of your head- it should look like a low, messy bun. Spray this with further hairspray.
Now, back to the front section from earlier. Remove the pins and split into two sections and backcomb with more hairspray. Then roll both sections towards your front hairline, but this time pin it just off centre.
Finally, its time to add the scarf. Wrap the scarf around the back of your head and tie it just behind the pinned front section and spray with hairspray.
In the YouTube tutorial below explains in further detail how to achieve this iconic, 1950s hairstyle!
DRESS
With war-time clothing and the occupation of, ‘The Land Girl’ now a thing of the past, women’s fashion became more impractical as, ‘The New Look’ was introduced; making it impossible to participate in manual labour. This, therefore, reintroduced what is now commonly known as the ‘50s Housewife.’
A common stye of 1950s dress used pinched-in waists, a fitted top half and a full skirt which came to just below the knee (SHOCK!!).
The colour palette of clothes was also a big change in the 1950s. Work attire, such as tailored suits and pencil skirts, showcased block colours with very little detail. However, dresses, such as the iconic Rockabilly swing dress, were fashioned with a multitude of patterns and prints such as stripes, spots and florals which ran in just about any colour combination imaginable.
DANCE
Now you have perfected your 1950s hair, makeup, and dress you’re now ready to party!
Like many decades throughout history, dance was one of the main forms of entertainment. The ‘50s introduced an updated version of swing dancing, which adapted dances like the Waltz and the Charleston, in order to accommodate to the rock and roll music of the time.
So, what was famous about dancing in the 1950s? Well, the word ‘Bop’ was introduced and pretty much all styles were called as such. This phrase referred to a family of low swivelling, Charleston-like steps which were sometimes danced with a partner.
Fiona will be teaching a ‘50s style workshop at Roedean School on Friday (27th May) and she discovered a couple of videos which will help you get into the 1950s dancing spirit!
The first shows classic Fifties moves, and you can clearly see the influence of the Charleston.
The second one is amazing! It really shows urban dance moves in a style which encapsulates the energy of the original ‘Bop’ dance!
If you know of any great routines old or new which capture this decade of dance, please do share them with us!!
Now you’ve got the full 1950s look and dance moves to match, why not check out the playlist below which is full of great tunes to get those feet ‘Bopping’ to transport you back to the ‘Golden Age’…
By: Eleanor O’Donnell