Figure 1.--We are not sure when this photograph was taken. It is definitely an American photograph. It looks to us like a birthday part in the late 1950s. The Eton suits and girl's fancy party dress look to us like a party for children from affluent families.

The 1950s were a mixed decade with girls wearing many older fashions, but a variety of new styles appearing. Girls still wear dresses to school and when dressing up. Party dresses and white gloves might still be worn even at birtday parties--at least by girls from affluent families. Suspender skirts were a school staple. Girls by the 1950s have begun to wear pants at least for play, especially in America. Girls fashions were more traditional in Europe. We note teenage girls wearing shorts in the summer for play. We also notice girls wearing jeans with bobby socks and saddle shoes, a style wich began in the late 1940s. We also notice girls wearing Capri pants.

Early 1950s

Early 1950s: Tartan dress: French girl

Early 1950s: Sweaters: German girls

1950s

1950s: Blue dress: English family

1950s: Little girl's dress: German girl

1950

1950: Sunday dresses: French family

1951

1951: Suspender skirt: Dutch brother and sister

1951: School smocks: Greek girls

1952

1952: White dresses and hairbows: Canadian school childrenFrench family

1952: Dress coat: Belgian girl

1952: School smocks: Belgian boys and girls

1953

1953: Dresses and pants: Swedish school children

1953: Dresses and aprons: Austrian school children

1954

1954: Catholic school uniform: French Canadian children

1954: Hair bows: American school girls

1955

1955: Long pants and knickers: Swedish girls

1956

1957

1957: Matching girl's dress and boys' rompers: French brother and sister

1958

1958: Matching vests: American brother and sister

1959

Late 1950s

Late 1950s: Party dress: American girl at a birtday party

Created: April 28, 2004
Last updated: 9:05 AM 4/26/2012