Clothing trends of the 1950s were the subject of a brisk cyber discussion this week, prompting a nostalgic look the days of ponytails and poodle skirts. Our senior class, Class of 1957, had about 50 students, most of whom had shared classrooms for 12 years, and were close friends or enemies. We attended a segregated School campus for all 12 grades in a small Middle Tennessee town with one main street lined with businesses, three full-service gas stations, and a Dairy Delight.
Our high school look was not dictated by fashion magazines, but by our mothers, and the influence of the town churches. We wore little make-up, just some Tangee orange lipstick that turned pink after you put it on, a little brown mascara put on with a tiny wet brush, and a Love Pat dry powder from a small compact with a mirror. Only the very ‘fast’ girls wore eye shadow or lipstick with much color.
Skirts were wide and swinging with crinolines or hoops worn underneath. At least three crinolines were necessary to get sufficient buoyancy. These were starched with sugar and would stand alone. White socks were rolled over a second pair of sock tops to make thick rolls at the ankles and mink or lace collars graced the tops of sweaters. Every ponytail was decorated with flowers or ribbons. With their ducktails, pink shirts, black duck trousers, and leather shoes the boys were presentable for any occasion. Occasionally someone would turn up in high top black sneakers with red balls on the side, but tennis shoes were worn mainly for playing basketball. The girls wore Keds in red, black, blue or white, the only athletic shoes available at that time.
I sewed full circle skirts on Mom’s old Singer, tapering the material near the waist to make it fit my 19-inch circumference. My favorite skirt, which I wore square dancing, had a black background, and purple daisies all over it. Worn with a white peasant blouse, and a stretchy wide cinch belt, this ensemble was completed with black flats with clip on purple flowers. These skirts had to be sprinkled with a cork tipped Coke bottle and freshly ironed for each wearing.
Jeans were just coming onto the scene for everyday wear. During our junior year the guys began wearing them to school. Girls would wear them at home, but when going out in public, it was Capri pants or pedal pushers. And even these were for working on school projects or picnics, never worn on dates.
Church on Sunday was always a main event of the week. Dressier dresses, hats and nylon gloves with a ruffle at the wrist were the uniform of the day. And of course the dreaded latex girdle with garters to hold up your hose. No one was ever happier about the invention of panty hose than I. You could count my ribs and yet I wore a girdle because it was the thing to do. Theses ensembles were completed with the highest heels you could stand up in. My favorite was a pair of strappy black suede heels.
Clothes no longer rule my kingdom. They are now chosen for comfort and wearability. Denim has become my favorite outfit, worn out jeans and a large denim shirt – so comfortable and soft. In the future I vote all clothes be made of denim.
