final piece

 

 

I decided to make this circle skirt using the heavily printed floral design fabric as i feel that these are two aspects of the 1950's that were the most iconic of the time; prints and circle skirts as the fashion at that time was all about accentuating the female silhouette .

 

I feel that the making process of the skirt went well however if i was to do it again i would maybe add an under skirt to emphasise the silhouette more and add more fullness to the skirt.

 

Overall i think that the 1950's were a time of revolutionary changed,it opened up oppourtunities and gateways for many people,forever changing the way we live.

making ..

final design idea

After doing some fabric sourcing i found a fabric with a floral print which i felt represented the 1950's prints.i have decided to make a mid length circle skirt which will be very full and heavily gathered to put emphasis on the the importance of the figure in the 50's.

possible design ideas

I have looked at the iconic circle skirt and thought about how i could adapt it with the floral prints and i have also looked at adapting the length and the fullness of the skirt to create different effects.

Printed fabrics

The introduction of bold print designs such as stripes,check and polka dots were introduced in Vogue in the 50's aswell as graphics inspired by space and planets.Fabrics with fruit prints and floral designs were being seen everywhere and were used on household furnishings aswell as in fashion.

I have looked at a few different type of printed fabrics that i could use to help me with the idea for my final garment.

style of the 50's

The fashion of the 50's was all about the silhouette,the way a garment fit and lay on the body  to produce a feminine look.Emphasis was put on making waists smaller by making the skirt fully and this was seen in many looks within this period.

The circle skirt is one of the looks that immediately comes to mind when the 1950's are mentioned,it was an iconic look of that decade.After the war skirts were being fuller and longer as the restrictions of rationing were ended.These skirts were so easy to be made that women started constructing them within the home which made them even more popular within society.teenagers took the idea of the circle skirt and put their own twist on it by adding decorations and applique that reflected their interest in rock and roll and music.

I am going to start thinking about developing the idea of the iconic circular skirt as i feel that this is a garment that really shows the importance of shape and silhouette,which was a really important factor in the 50's.

Circular skirts

Circle skirts reached their height of popularity in the 1950's, it was the classic flaring silhouette that became and iconic image of fashion from that time period.

The skirt was names after its construction from a circular piece of cloth,with a cutout in the center for the waist.many paper patterns  for circle skirts were available at the time for women to purchase and make for themselves,giving and opportunity for them to add their own persona touches.

Circular skirts were worn mainly by teenagers in the 50's accompanied by petitcoats,many of these skirts were homemade and decorated with applique however it was not just the teens that had started wearing them,women of all ages had started wearing them, as they were a simple design that was flattering to all types of figures.

these skirts are still seen on the market today though they have been modified slightly,the fabrics and the lengths of the skirts have been altered and they usually come in block colour without any type of decorative technique applied onto them.

cigarette pants

Cigarrete pants were another popular trouser style in the 50's.These developed from the Capri pants as they were almost a longer version. They had high waists,full hips,they were slim fitting through the legs and ended just above the ankle. Many paper patterns were also made and bought for the trousers too as women did alot of sewing and constructing of garments at home.

capri pants a look of the 50's

The capri pants were a look that was introduced and soon became popular in the 1950's, trousers were still considered to be shocking before the war period but became more acceptable to be worn by women after the war.

These capri pants followed the slim body, perfect body silhouette that was popular in the 50's but was a chance for women to get more freedom and be more practical unlike the constructed dresses and skirts. 

The look was supported by Hollywood actress Audrey Hepburn which made the Capri pants even more popular and successful during the 50's.Women felt that they too could be like Audrey Hepburn if they wore the same clothing as she did.

The introduction of the Capri pants was a revolutionary change and they are still seen on the runway and streets today.

1950's hollywood

Hollywood was a big influence on the people of the 50's ,people used Hollywood actors as inspiration for fashion and people such as Audrey Hepburn, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe and Marlon Brando became the icons of the time.Women wanted to be as beautiful and sexy as the women shown in these films and men, teenage boys particularly  wanted to be as rebellious as the heroes shown. The styles that were seen in these films was soon reflected in society as many teens took on the looks of their favourite stars.