Retro Fashion Ideas: How to Dress like a Leading Lady from a '50s Sitcom

Classic television and fashion are two of my favorite things in the world. When I was growing up and watching reruns of the old classics on Nick at Nite, I was always enamoured with how stylish and elegant the female stars on the shows were. Fashions from the 1950s, in my opinion, are the epitome of fun and femininity, and never was this more apparent than in the sitcoms of the time. Here are some ideas on how to dress in the style of a leading lady from a classic 1950s sitcom, with a 21st Century edge!

When you think of the leading ladies from those classic sitcoms from the 1950s, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Is it June Cleaver's pearls? Lucy Ricardo's elegant polka-dotted dresses? How about Alice Kramden's whimsical aprons? The reason we remember what these ladies wore is because such careful attention was paid to the details. And also might I add, these ladies' styles were always of polished perfection.

The first thing you will need when recreating a 50s sitcom look is a beautiful, fitted dress. A very popular style from that era which is making a comeback in modern fashion is the shirt dress. These lovely dresses which were favored by Donna Reed and Harriet Nelson can be found for sale online at Macy's website. The neat thing about shirt dresses is that the modern styles are made in pretty much the same cut and shape as vintage ones, so hunting down an authentic looking dress is easy. Another vintage inspired style are full 'circle' skirt dresses. My favorite website Modcloth sells many of these 'Lucy' dresses in both solids and prints. Just be warned though, these particular style dresses are a hot seller, so always check their site daily for updates and restocks!

I personally like to find a circle skirt or dress that has a built in crinoline petticoat, as that is a distinctive 1950s throwback. Full skirts and petticoats were worn in everyday life back then, and besides being cute and sexy, they are downright FUN! Try to find a dress with a built in petticoat slip, or if you really want to be daring, find an authentic vintage one for sale on ebay and wear it under your circle skirt.

Once you find that perfect 'June Cleaver' style dress, then its time to accessorize! To give your classic 50s 'housewife' look a modern edge, be sure to accent with trendy accessories. For instance, instead of a classic pearl necklace, wear a strand of red beads. Whenever I wear my black shirt dress, I always like to wear a strand of colored beads with matching hoops. This provides a funky contrast with the classic style, giving it a fresh update. For your shoes, sexy opened toed high heel sandals are perfect, as they give the conservative look a touch of modern sexiness. Play mix and match and have fun with this look.

Finally, when paying homage to the classic ladies of 1950s sitcoms, be sure you exit the house looking every inch the lady. Be sure to have your full make-up on and your hair curled and styled elegantly. This website has a plethora of retro hair and make-up tips for achieving that glamorous look. Also, fingernails and toenails painted a ravishing red are a perfect touch for this look, as well as red lipstick. Most importantly, carry yourself with class and style!

Further Reading:

www.fiftiesweb.com