1950s

In the aftermath of the war, women tended to reject the 40s simple militarism, and grand, ultra-feminine silhouettes were back in style. The stereotype of the 50s housewife became a glorified figure, and soft colors and historically feminine styles were most popular. Iconic fashion houses like Dior, Givenchy, and Balenciaga dominated women's trends. Christian Dior is responsible for popularizing the cinched waist and full skirt in the late 40s, and the romantic style was seen everywhere during the 50s. Hollywood became the pinnacle of trendsetting, and the grand ballgown style was most desirable. For this look, I created a Hollywood-style mermaid gown. The gown is covered with a full ball-style skirt with over 100 micro-pleats. The dress is worn with a sheer shawl, a nod to the romantic femininity that the decade offered.