WHEN it comes to1950s fashion, most of us immediately think of the classic, clinched waistline and huge circle skirt, filled with petticoats and crinoline.

That killer New Look shape, created by Dior after the Second World War, has got to be the epitome of mid-century style.

It’s most definitely the shape I am asked for most at My Vintage and one that I tend to stock the most of.

Underneath all the puffed out petticoats, though, there was so much more to fifties fashion, most of which is still with us in 2015.

One of the most prevalent features of those days was prints — beautiful florals, cartoon-style novelty designs and technology-inspired geometrics.

They featured on a range of fabrics, starting with silks, satins and cottons, and then on the new light nylons of the era.

These materials were very popular as they dried overnight after washing, meaning clothing was cheaper and easier to wear.

Christian Dior may have created the New Look shape, but he always said that fashion should never stand still. This led to him introducing collections that each challenged preceding silhouettes.

From Tulipe to H-line, A-line and Y-line, these collections were so popular that manufacturers from leading fashion houses rushed over to invest in patterns and were sometimes even known to smuggle garments back so they could be copied.

Meanwhile, over in American, a new market was blossoming. Ready-to-wear separates for the younger market — namely blouses, jumpers, tops, skirts, knitwear and jackets.

What really made these different was that they no longer needed to coordinate. Mix and match became a real thing, and was commonly know as ‘sweater dressing’.

This new trend became an alternative and internationally accepted way to dress, and that’s why it provides so many of the vintage garments from the 1950s that we see today.

Apart from the many rails of beautiful reproduction 1950s clothing we have at My Vintage, we also have many stunning original pieces from the era.

Pop in to see us or have a browse online to see some of our current 50s pieces and more.