The style of 1950s clothing is iconic, full of color and celebration, as the decade enjoyed the end of the World War. The 1950s marked the birth of Playboy magazine, which thrust woman’s bodies into the spotlight. This publication forced the world to see women as more than a housewife or a mother, but as a sexually appealing and confident person. Many women from this era are responsible for helping to perpetuate sexy fashion choices, changing how women see themselves as well.
Brigitte Bardot
Brigitte Bardot, an established film legend, commanded attention with her beauty and fashion choices, but it wasn’t until 1953’Ws “Un Acte D’Amour” that the world began to see her curves and sex appeal, dubbing her a “sex kitten” throughout the world. Her fame helped encourage female fans to try to achieve the hourglass figure she was popular for. While she stopped acting in 1973, she still has a massive male fan base for her femininity and desirable body.
Marilyn Monroe
There are few pinup icons that are more popular than Marilyn Monroe. Born “Norma Jean,” Marilyn’s seductive figure earned her many roles throughout the 1950s, after she caught the attention of 20th Century Fox executives, following her modeling career. Though she was known for her sex appeal, she had a smart head on her shoulders, making her remembered for each decade after her death, encouraging girls and women to be proud of their voluptuous figures. Marilyn became one of the most recognizable faces in show business, with her outfits becoming so memorable that they are hung in museums for anyone to view.
Sophia Loren
Sophia Loren is an Italian film actress, earning her accolades in the form of a Grammy Award, five special Golden Globes, a BAFTA Award, a Laurel Award, and the Honorary Academy Award in 1991. However, her exotic and curvy figure earned her notoriety, which exceeded the attention of American icons. With full red lips and her figure-hugging outfits, she helped pave the way for pinup fashion everywhere. She even once quipped, “Sex appeal is fifty percent what you’ve got and fifty percent what people think you’ve got.”
Translating Fashion to Today
The impact that these women had on fashion and women’s liberation is significant, encouraging girls of all body types to flaunt what they have, which remaining unafraid of what life can throw at them. By making the hourglass figure the new “normal,” they inspired fashion designers to accommodate the curves of women everywhere, giving us many of the looks we know and love today.
Tatyana is an online clothing store, in which consumers can select from a variety of 1950s clothing, shoes, accessories, and other options. Clothing is available for women, men, and children.
