The Trouble with 1950s Dresses

Its been nine days since the Chiswick Vintage Wedding Fair, and I still am answering your queries and requests my dear friends. Keep them coming. Im not complaining.Image Alex Drake VintageFirst off, thanks to all who came to my stall for a chat, tried my tiny lace American 1950s dresses on, and told me about your upcoming weddings. As you all know by now, Im a hopeless romantic and its great to share common interest with you ladies, - vintage and happy fairy-tale endings are the stuff of life, methinks.Here are the most prominent questions you asked me:❤ Why 1950s dresses wont fit meThe average measurements of women in the 1950s USA were: 36 bust , 24 waist , 35 hips. Unfortunately, most of my dresses at the fair were made in the USA.Image from Listal.com, Marilyns waist fluctuated from 22-24 inches❤ Why were women so small in the 1950sGirdles and corselettes were worn to achieve the most glamorous look of all - the hourglass figure. Womens busts and hips were accentuated and waists were pushed in.In the 1950s, the sudden need to enjoy affluence – following years of austerity during and after World War 2 – manifested in several ways, including an improvement in ladies wardrobes. This was mainly because of the possibilities opened up by new textiles and manufacturing techniques. Women began to indulge in the ultimate "me-time" – pleasurable hours spent applying make-up and doing their hair, then dressing up in layers - foundation garments (such as girdles, corselettes, suspender belts), petticoats, a main dress and perhaps a coat, then shoes.Image from Jumpingfrog.com❤ I desperately want a 1950s dress. Where can I get one?If your patience has ran out after trawling the Internet, flea markets, thrift shops to no avail:1. Get patterns and find a good seamstress. Youll be guaranteed a perfect fit. For a touch of authenticity, try and find an original 1950s fabric. 2. Use your styling skills and mix and match a top with a 1950s skirt, etc, etc. Nowadays, anything is possible.Image from Sensibility.comI hope this helps.Finally, thanks to Tinkerbelles for the lovely mention of my stall.I leave you with this wonderful stop motion animation from the creators of Tinkerbelles who also run Manasi Kashyap Photography.Ciao! Ciao!Music by A Fine Frenzy (I love Alison!!)❤❤❤