1950’s Prom Dresses

by

Rebecca Jayne Taylor

Proms are a common sight in the UK today but have always been associated with 50’s Americana. Proms started in the 1920’s in America as a right of passage for school leavers and a way of finalising the end of their education. Through the 30’s and 40’s proms were quite a modest affair and young people were seen as good members of the community if they attended their proms. It wasn’t until the 1950’s when competition started to be seen and the titles of Prom King & Queen were extremely sought after. The clothing got more elaborate, the dancing riskier and the aim was to be with the best looking and most well dressed partner in order to win the titles.

The 50’s prom dresses still had the classic shape of the era but were a lot more glamourous than any other occasion wear. Most dresses were full circle on the bottom with layers of chiffon, lace and tulle to create an amazing image when dancing. The large petticoat and wide design of the bottom half of the dress accentuated the tiny waistlines of the girls and gave them the iconic hourglass figure. The tops of the dresses were commonly strapless with a sweetheart neckline which drew attention to the chest and neck and made the ladies look even slimmer. Other dresses could be seen with thin straps, off the shoulder detail or capped sleeves. Pastel colours were popular in the 50’s and made the dresses seem even more elegant and dreamy. The 50’s boom in the 80’s saw prom dresses be recreated and this time the colours and patterns were more vivid. 1980’s dresses in the 50’s style are easier to get hold of and are often in better condition if you are looking for a show stopping piece of vintage clothing. The prom scene in the movie Grease shows perfectly the array of different styles that were available and what would have been worn with them. Vintage dresses can be worn for almost any occasion now and look great for parties, weddings or just for an evening out. When wearing it for daytime pair with flat ballet pumps and a vintage cardigan for a simple, more toned down look. A dress without many frills is best for this look and the pastel shades look stunning in summer. At night peep toe heels and a faux fur stole will up the glamour of your dress or a vintage blazer over the top will modernize this style.

Rebecca Jane Taylor is the PR and marketing manager at Brag Vintage, an online

vintage clothing

store based in the UK stocking everything from vintage dresses to vintage denim.

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