Welcome to the fashion portion of our show, I’m Kellen Knill and I will be walking you through day-to-day styles and fashions. The rise of the Rock industry is cause for a drastic change in the way our teens dress these days. The rebellious types follow their role models, like Elvis Presley, and James Dean, and wear their hair in shiny, “greaser” high quiffs. Happy days’ Fonzie, or Henry Winkler represented the ideal “bad boy cool” attitude that the greasers try to emulate. Smoking was popular among this crowd. The heavy use of Brylcreem Gel gives the hair a shiny look, and a comb is always carried, even among more mature men, to maintain their hair. The comb was used to part the hair, usually on the side of the head. A popular type of quiff is called the “Curry puff” where the hair tufts just above the forehead. Greasers typically wore a plain white t-shirt, tucked into belted pants, under a leather jacket. Heavy boots, or converse-style shoes were the greaser’s choice. Boys who tend to avoid the rebellious “greaser” crowd, wear the crew-cut, or Ivy-league hairstyles that were derived from the military. They dressed in a “preppy” style, with button up long sleeve shirts, tucked into khaki pants, with a sweater-vest on top. The higher class dress aimed to appear civilized, or “mainstream.” Older men continue to keep their hair short and neat, and use gel to keep it shiny and in place. Teen girls usually wear their hair in ponytails, but around age 20, tight curls and high volume hairstyles become extremely popular. When A teenager has to dress up, his clothing isn’t much different from an adult’s. A suit and tie, pleated slacks, and shiny leather loafers. Long and slender ties were preferred over thicker ones. 
Teen girls usually wear their hair in ponytails, but around age 20, tight curls and high volume hairstyles become extremely popular. Young women tended to want to emulate the fashion role models such as Audrey Hepburn or Marilyn Monroe, so short hairstyles like the “Elfin cut” or the “Italian cut became popular. The invention of hairspray allowed for nearly any hairstyle, and it was certainly used in excess. Hairstyles like the “Poodle cut” and the “Beehive” came about due to this possibility, and hair was curled into a tight perm. The “Gamine” cut was popular because it could accentuate a long, slender neck. Clothing was just as influenced by famous movie stars as hair is. Long white or gloves was growing more popular as formal wear among more wealthy women. Gloves worn in so many colours were usually made of cotton as this was more affordable than leather, or nylon. A girl in highschool might wear simple outfits to school, with a long skirt, that was expected to cover the knees, with a petticoat or blouse. For anything other than school, a different, more formal form of dress was required. Young-women would wear poodle skirts, with a sweater. When staying in, a girl would wear jeans rolled up to mid-calf, or pedal pushers, with a cotton button down shirt. Teens would also often wear a variety of loafers, saddle shoes and flats with bobby socks. ballet slippers were also sometimes seen. 
Adult men’s fashion was very formal, often they wore business suits, so a key part of the outfit is the grey or navy blazer. Another coat commonly worn is the double breasted coat, which crosses on both sides and overlaps, rather than meeting in the middle. Many soldiers returning from the war wanted a flashy change in wardrobe, and they adopted the double breasted coat. Until 1949, there was a fabric restriction, because of the war, and it’s lift allowed for larger, more loose and comfortable fitting clothing. The pleated and chino trousers were looser than the flat-fronted pants. The complete casual male look was a pair of pleated khaki/chino trousers paired with a shirt, tie and blazer or sports coat. Men wore hats, most commonly the flat topped, or trilby. 
Adult women’s fashion was much different than that of their teenage counterparts, because high fashion designers, like Dior completely revamped the style of the time. The trends were set in America, and echoed across the Atlantic ocean, to Europe and Asia.  He created the “new look” which focused on delicate, feminine hourglass figures, with a cinched waist. At home wear for women was focused on being comfortable, and easy to clean. Most women were housewives, and they wanted clothing that would be easy to wash. The baby boom forced a massive overhaul in maternity wear, and with the fabric restriction gone, bigger, more comfortable clothing was able to be made. Vibrant colors, and defined waists are essential to their style. The pencil skirt made an appearance, often worn with a peplum top or blouse. Shorter pants, varying of length from knee-length to ankle length became popular among women, often paired with patterned blouses. Higher class, and wealthier women’s casual dress included khaki bermuda shorts, a floral blouse, tucked into the shorts. Stilettos have become popular, along with a slim-fitted sheath or cocktail dress are often chosen for semi-formal wear. Handbags were an important accessory, because of hats become less popular, ladies needed something to compensate. Handbags often matched the shoes. They were very small and usually held in the hand, or over the arm, as shown by Grace Kelly, who hid her pregnancy with her bag. Many handbags had side pockets, or even grip clasps or rings for a woman to keep track of her gloves. Pink, red and orange are popular lip colors. The 50s brought along as many new role-models, and new fashion designers, along with plenty of natural resources which allowed for a very progressive field of fashion.