Sneak Peek to New Series!

written by Lee Strauss | Cover Reveal, Indie Publishing, Kindle Unlimited, Lee Strauss

March 5, 2020

What’s not to love about 1950s fashion? From Pin Up to Rockabilly there was a style for nearly everyone. Or at least every woman.

Kitten heels, capri pants, poodle skirts, and high waisted jeans were all the rage in this era! New fashion trends in the 50s were introduced by designer Christian Dior, featuring full skirt dresses that accentuated tiny waists. With their husbands at work, many women had more disposable income to spend on fashion than in previous decades.

Here’s a look at some of these iconic styles. Which one is your favorite?

The 50s Swing Dress

Swing dresses boasted a full skirt, with a shirtwaist top. These dresses were often made out of cotton and came in variety of patterns and colors. The loose-fitting skirt allowed women to go about their housework but could easily be dressed up for outings by throwing on a pearl necklace or hat.

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The Pencil Dress

Nearly as popular as the swing dress, pencil dresses were all the rage! These tight-fitted garments generally had pleats built into the back to allow some movement. Large pockets and big buttons were popular features of the pencil dress.

Poodle Skirts

Poodle skirts were highly popular among teen girls. Typically paired with sweaters, these skirts allowed for girls to show their personality with unique cutouts. These cutouts could be sewn or ironed on. Poodles became one of the most popular decorations although Christmas themes and a variety of other images were used.

Capri Pants

Although pants were no longer illegal by the 1950s, they were still somewhat taboo in pop culture. Even so, many women enjoyed the freedom of wearing slacks at home. As women's pants became more accepted, a variety of new styles emerged. Most 1950s pants featured a high rise with a slim fit. Capri pants that were cut off mid-calf also came into style in a variety of colors and designs.

Kitten Heels

Kitten heels had a low thin heel that allowed women to look glamorous while also being sturdy on their feet. They were usually made of soft materials such as suede or velvet with a pointed toe. For day to day use, heels were often brown or black while a more glittery version was donned for evening outings. Many women paid particular attention to making sure that their shoes matched their other accessories.

I'd love to hear from you! Leave a comment and let me know if you learned anything new. Can you think of any other styles that made a significant impact in the 1950s?

Murder at High Tide Sneak Peek!

Murder at High Tide, the first Rosa Reed Mystery will be released on March 24th.

That's less than 3 weeks away- wow!

Here’s a teaser from Chapter 1.

>>> Hugging was a very “un-English” thing to do.

Rosa Reed, rather British through and through, had yet to acclimatize to the exuberance of the American branch of her family and had endured more hugs in the few days she’d been in Santa Bonita, California than she’d had for most of her life growing up in Great Britain, the war years excepted. Now that she and her cousin Gloria had arrived at her Aunt Louisa’s charity event on the beach, Rosa braced herself for even more.

Drinks and cigarettes in hand, a crowd of people milling about, standing or sitting at round tables covered in white linen. Catering staff, all dressed in white, were busy fussing with the food.

“I feel overdressed,” Rosa remarked to her younger cousin Gloria Forrester. Red ribbons adorned Rosa’s white dress that was sprinkled with black polka dots. Short chestnut-colored waves were crowned with a white straw sun hat trimmed with matching red ribbon.

“You’re a Forrester,” Gloria said. With dark hair curled tightly around her ears, and dark lipstick on a bright white smile, Gloria spun to show off the fancy baby-blue crinoline skirt of her party dress. “You’re supposed to overdress.” <<<

Read the full excerpt here!

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How it All Began. . .

Like many British children during World War Two, Rosa Reed’s parents, Ginger and Basil Reed, made the heart-wrenching decision to send their child to a foreign land and out of harm’s way. Fortunately, Ginger’s half-sister Louisa and her family, now settled in the quaint coastal town of Santa Bonita, California, was pleased to take her in.

By the spring of 1945, Rosa Reed had almost made it through American High School unscathed, until the American army decided to station an army base there. Until she met the handsome Private Miguel Belmonte and fell in love. . .