Designing for Curves: Size and Shape Elements of 1950s-Style Fashion

Author(s)
Hackett, Lisa J
Publication Date
2021
Abstract
<p>Retro fashion trends continue to be a feature of the contemporary clothing market, providing alternate configurations of womanhood from which women can fashion their identities (Hackett). This article examines the design attributes of 1950s-style clothing, that some women choose to wear over more contemporary styles. The 1950s style can be located in a distinctly hourglass design that features a small waist with distinct bust and hips. This article asks: what are the design features of this style that lead women to choose it over contemporary fashion? Taking a material culture approach, it firstly looks at the design features of the garments and the way they are marketed. Secondly, it draws upon interviews and a survey conducted with women who wear these clothes. Thirdly, it investigates the importance of this silhouette to the women who wear it, through the key concepts of body shape and size.</p>
Citation
M/C Journal, 24(4), p. 1-9
ISSN
1441-2616
Link
Language
en
Publisher
Queensland University of Technology, Creative Industries Faculty
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International
Title
Designing for Curves: Size and Shape Elements of 1950s-Style Fashion
Type of document
Journal Article
Entity Type
Publication

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