Fashion in the 1950s

by Daniel Milford-Cottam

More than a footnote to the Second World War, or a foreword to the youth-obsessed exhilaration of the Sixties, the Fifties was a thrilling decade devoted to newness and freshness. The British people, rebuilding their lives and wardrobes, demanded modern materials, vibrant patterns and exciting prints inspired by scientific discoveries and modern art. Despite the influence of glamorous Paris couture led by Dior, home-grown fashion labels including Horrockses and the young Queen Elizabeth's couturier Norman Hartnell had an equally great, if not greater impact on British style. This book, written by an assistant curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum, is a fascinating look back to the days when post-war Britain developed a fresh sense of style.

Genres: Fashion, History, Nonfiction, Fashion History

65 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 23, 2013

About the author

Daniel Milford-Cottam has been involved with dress and textile history from a young age. He worked for five years as an assistant curator in the Furniture, Textiles and Fashion Department at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, during which time he worked on various shows and projects and contributed to several publications for the Museum, including 80s Fashion and The Wedding Dress: 300 Years of Bridal Fashion. Prior to this, he was a volunteer at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter, where he worked with the Textiles and Dress department and helped with the major RAMM fashion exhibition 'Does My Bum Look Big In This?' which exhibited eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth century fashion from the Museum's collections. In February 2014 his first solo book, Edwardian Fashion 1900-14 was published by Shire Books, followed by Fashion in the 1950s, Fashion in the 1970s and Fashion in the 1960s.

Reviews

[Am Y · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thin book, but cuts to the chase and covers what the title says, with plenty of illustrations.

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny that I picked up this book right after “The Art of the Well Dressed Wife” and boom, Fogarty is being mentioned left and right! Quick, informative read.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched, really enjoyed it!

[Liselotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are just starting out in fashion history, the Shire Library is a great way to start! I especially like this one, as it covers even more than most "bigger" history books, which I appreciate. Do mind, however, that these books only outline the basics, as there is very limited space to show and tell. If you want a more in-depth book, I suggest Mike Brown's The 1950s Look, and if you want to start out, you can't go wrong with this one! :)