How Silhouettes Change in 15 years 1950 to 1964

It doesn't matter if it's patterns, advertisements or actual clothing, when you are working with a large lot of fashion over a period of years, you learn to date certain silhouettes at a glance.

In listing these 4 patterns today, I realized that the finer points of the changes aren't just in the price, logo placement and art work, but in the width and length of the skirt and undergarments, placement of the waist and emphasis or lack of such, on the bust line.

This lovely 1950 party dress is strapless and fitted, but has emphasis on the hips with the peplum. The skirt is full but lays gracefully instead of being puffed up with petticoats. Skirt length is mid calf.



By 1955 the emphasis is on an Hour glass figure with a dropped waist (this style is often called a Long Torso), and very full skirt held out by layers and layers of petticoats. The skirt length drops to 3/4 of the way below the knee almost to the ankle.


In 1961 choose slim or full skirt under a fitted midriff with major emphasis on the bustline. Puffy skirt stars at the waist and is once again held out by layers of petticoats but the puff starts at the waistline, not below. Skirts are shorter but still well below the knee.


1964 brigs us slim but not the form fitting sheath of the 50's. This styling is softer and less structured and emphasizes the bust without being obvious. The waspish waist is gone and slim hips prevail. The skirt is still below the knee but higher than the past 15 years.




All of these and many many more can be found at www.cemetarian.com

A Day in the Life of a Mad Men Era Teen - Monday

Dear Diary, I'm really sleepy tonight. I rolled my hair again last night and didn't get a wink of sleep, cause these rollers kept pokin' me in the head. But my hair sure looked good this morning when met Bobby in the bus parking lot so he could walk me to my first class. I hope he noticed how shinny and curly it was. Mama had my dress made last week and Bobby said it brings out the blue in my eyes and I like the way it looks with my new black suede flats. If I could just wear it with socks and penny loafers instead, I'd be really happy. These garters and stockings are real hard to handle after PE. I never seem to get them back on just right. But Mama says, that's the price we girls pay for wanting to look pretty. But she doesn't have to climb 2 flights of stairs to get to class every hour. At least I've got Bobby to carry my books.

A Day in the Life of a Mad Men Era Teen - Sunday

Dear Diary, Church was good this morning. Joyce and I sat on the back pew and watched all the boys down front. I wore my dress and matching coat with that cute little roller hat. It mashed my hair down but I managed to get it sprayed and fluffed before Joyce and I went skating. I wore my new pleated dress to the Skating rink because it's so easy to skate in and looks good with my skates. My pink pom poms contrast nicely with the grey of the dress since Mama had the collar made in pink. I sure wish Bobby skated, but he just doesn't like to go to the Rink. But I met the cutest guy and we skated all the couples skates. I really like Bobby Vinton's new song, Roses are Red but the really fun one is to click and clack to The Wanderer by Dion...........he's so dreamy..................

A Day in the Life of a Mad Men Era Teen - Saturday

Dear Diary, I LOVE Saturdays! No school. I slept kinda late this morning and after breakfast I washed my hair and set it in rollers. I have the cutest pink ruffled net roller bonnet and the elastic is not all stretched out and it went perfect with the turquoise and lavender capri outfit that I wore to the movies this afternoon. Linda and I went downtown and shopped for nail polish and then went to see Dr No with Sean Connery...........SIGH....he is so dreamy. Then after the movie we stopped at the Dairy Queen and had a Butter Pecan Sundae and went to her house to get ready for our dates tonight. Bobby and I doubled with her and Billy, since Billy does have a car. We went to the drive in and saw The Music Man. It was so much fun and the music is still ringing in my ears. I wore my new blue dress with the shaped neckline and the full skirt. Mama had the one with the straight skirt made for her and said I could have one next year when I'm 15. She's not ready for me to give up the petticoats yet.

Mollie Parnis Designers to First Ladies

Born to a poor immigrant family in New York City before the turn of the century, she started working at odd jobs when she was 8 years old, and eventually built a multimillion-dollar dress business. But her interests ranged well beyond her Garment District cutting rooms. She became a skilled collector of art and of people and contributed some of her fortune to the beautification of New York and Jerusalem.

Dresses she designed were worn by First Ladies from Mamie Eisenhower to Betty Ford. Lady Bird Johnson became a a close friend and one year, one of Miss Parnis's designs was bought by four Kennedys in four separate cities.

In her office, Miss Parnis kept photographs of First Ladies wearing her designs posed with their husbands, as well as a signed photograph of Lyndon B. Johnson in a shirt she had made for him. To four Presidents, she was Mollie, but as often as she was invited to the White House, she said she could never get over the thrill of being in what she called "the President's house." Simple Beginning.

And this Coppery Brown and Black Silk Jaquard Mad Men BEAUTY can be yours, this week at cemetarian on eBay.