Having watched my fair share of Mad Men while at sea and prompted by Jane's comment on my last post, I thought I would share some information I read on shapes and sizing in the 50s and 60s
here in a newsletter.
In the 50s, the industry standard for measurements was a 10in (25cm) difference between the bust and waist. Which means if your bust is 36in, your waist measurement is 26in - hmmm, not so for women these days I think. In the 50s, girls as young as 15 started wearing girdles or waist cinchers (not shapewear - not enough support) so their waists were trained into shape - comfy!
Also longline bras would also help smooth out the bust to waist area.
So if the shapes looked impossibly smooth and the waists impossible small, they were and helped by some serious undergarments.
By the 1960s, women were moving away from wearing girdles at all times and styles moved away to a more relaxed waistline. Empire line, straight shift dress and looser styles in general, slowly reflecting the changes in times and attitudes.
I don't know about you but I love the glamour of the 50s and the wearability of the 60s.
Also further to my last post on slip dresses, the
VFG also has a great post on Slips. I'll update my last post with this link also.
Fascinating, I wouldn't mind a long line bra just to have on hand for those bloated days - although I'm glad we're not under pressure to wear them all the time!
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