Fashion

'50s Style Inspiration to Channel Into Your Spring Wardrobe

From poodle skirts to kitten heels, '50s fashion is back.

A woman in a yellow floral dress.
Audrey Hepburn circa 1955.

Fashion, being the cyclical industry that it is, never fails to bring forth trends we otherwise thought would be long left in the past. Since the pandemic, trends from the '90s and early 2000s have dominated the fashion scene, with styles such as mini skirts, slip dresses, chunky heels, low-rise pants, baby tees, and buckets hats as all examples of items that have been made popular once again. While there aren't necessarily signs of fashion's ongoing love affair with the two decades fizzling out, there are hints that trends from other decades are starting to come back in mainstream fashion. 

Yes, we're talking about the '50s. The fashion from the decade was all about embracing traditional feminity in a modern way. Think of poodle skirts, fit and flares, neck scarves, polka dots, cat-eye sunglasses, cardigan sets, and pencil skirts—anything that was fun, flirty, and accentuated the figure.

It was a rather amusing era of fashion that was quick to embrace playful colors, patterns, and silhouettes. Style icons such as Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, and Marilyn Monroe were the ultimate fashion muses, Christian Dior's "The New Look" was all the rage, not to mention films such as Grease, Don't Worry Darling, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel are applauded for accurate reference to the '50s style.

The resurgence of '50s fashion should come as no surprise, as we currently live in a time defined by chasing individuality and finding freedom through clothes. From upcoming films such as Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies to trends spotted on the Spring/Summer 2023 runways, designers are already putting their own twists on '50s style perfectly suited for the modern-day lady.

Look no further than labels such as Valentino who are designing chic iterations of the poodle skirt, Hermès making a case for high-waist shorts, and Miu Miu proving that pencil skirts can be tasteful too. Below, L'OFFICIEL has compiled complete style inspiration on how to channel '50s style inspiration for your spring and summer wardrobe.

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Who better to get inspiration from than the '50s fashion It girl herself, Audrey Hepburn?
Fit and flare dresses were a '50s staple. Get inspired by this modern interpretation as seen on Bottega Veneta's Spring/Summer 2023 runway.
The '50s style inspiration from 'Don't Worry Darling' had everyone excited to buy their next sundress.
A model likely on our vintage fashion Pinterest board, Fiona Campbell-Walter was the face of '50s beauty.
High-waist shorts are a '50s fashion must-have, as proven by Hermès Spring/Summer 2023 collection.
Right next to Christian Dior, Balenciaga was also a popular designer in the '50s known for having created same now-iconic silhouettes.
'50s fashion isn't all about clothes, but also had decade defining accessories. Straight from Valentino's Spring/Summer 2023 runways are the perfect inspiration for the classic cat-eye sunglasses.
Another '50s fashion icon, Marilyn Monroe had no shortage of looks to pull inspiration from.
Miu Miu's Spring/Summer 2023 collection proves that pencil skirts can be fun and chic too.
Grace Kelly shows how to dress casually—'50s style.
Loewe's Spring/Summer 2023 collection shows an exaggerated version of the '50s fit and flare dress, though this iteration is equally as chic.
A style icon that deserves more flowers, Brigitte Bardot was the epitome of '50s French elegance.
A subtler version of "The New Look," this fit and flare dress from Rokh's Spring/Summer 2023 collection checks off all the boxes.
More '50s style inspiration from Audrey Hepburn in 'Funny Face.'
The '50s style inspiration from 'Grease' was all about preps vs. greasers.
Another defining '50s accessory? Kitten heels. Take a cue from Diane Kruger and style your favorite pair of kitten heels.
Michèle Arnaud poses in (now vintage) Chanel while in France in 1954.
Valentino's Spring/Summer 2023 collection brings poodle skirts to present day.
Find all sorts of colorful '50s style inspiration in the TV series 'Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies.'
The one who popularized the cinched waist and flared skirt silhouette, there's no better style inspiration than Christian Dior's "New Look."
It wasn't the '50s without polka dots, a trend that Emma Roberts proves can be brought into 2023.

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