...Nifty Fifty

If there is one era in time I wish I could jump into my time travel machine (if I had one of those-must look into getting one) and travel to, it would be the 1950's.

I just love everything about the era,so keeping in theme with today's Nifty Fifty Blogfest, I am going to attempt to list 50 things I love either, about the 50's or things inspired by the 50's. (Eeeek.)


1. Rockin' Around the Clock
Let's start with a party. The music from the 1950's was so much fun. I can remember dancing around to this song as a child, with my older sister. (By dance, I mean more jumping around, attempting to do a jive of some sort. And by child, I mean...I still do it now.)

2. Funny Face
In 1956 one of my favourite films was made- Funny Face, starring Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire. 

(I often call people funny face...in the nicest possibly way, of cause.)

3. Dior's New Look
Christian Dior was one of the most influential designers of the 1950's (and 1940's) and fashion was dominated by the hourglass silhouette. During the 1950's Dior was one of the biggest haute couture house in Paris and with dresses like this, is it any wonder?

4. Dresses
 As lovely as it is to think that everyone was parading around in haute couture back in the 1950's, the average woman probably looked a little something like this:

Still not bad, hey? The dresses of this era were so cute, and like all good fashion trends, these beauties made a comeback. Last year's Autumn/Winter trends were inspired by 1950's glamour, with the mid-length skirt back on hangers.









4. My Mum
On a more personal note, my lovely mummy was born in 1954-the best product of this era.

(This obviously wasn't taken in the 50's-look at my uncle's shirt! I'm guessing the 70's.)


















5. Eye Wear
Think of 1950's fashion and you must think of the amazing cat-eyes, rhinestone glasses.

I love sunglasses, they are my summertime guilty pleasure; I spend far too much money on them.

(Okay, so they aren't cat-eyed but they are rather Audrey-esque.)

6. Automobiles
Now I don't claim to know anything about cars, but I do know a pretty thing when I see one...and this is pretty.

7. Pan Cake

Nope, not the type you eat, but the kind you put on your face. With colour motion pictures becoming increasingly popular in the 1950's, there was a higher demand for make up. Everyone wanted the perfect face that was shown on the big screen so Max Factor invented Pan Cake-a foundation to give the flawless effect that was shown on screen. Along with cherry lips and rosy cheeks, women were able to achieve the glamours movie star look...and I'm still trying.

8. Advertisements
PC was clearly not a concern in the 1950's and thank goodness it wasn't. There are so many fun adverts from this time, like this one:

There you have it, the secret to a happy marriage!

9. Dating
Dating in the 1950's, to me at least (not that I was there) seems to have been so much easier. I wrote a post a little while ago on dating during different eras. I linked a great video, explaining how to get a date in the 1950's. There was no talk of emails, text messages, Facebooking...it all seemed so simple. Check it out.

10. Drive-in Movies

I wish I lived in a country with a predictable climate, where it was warm for more than a handful of days a year and rain wasn't always threatening. Then maybe I could drive on along to a movie. (In my Cadillac of course.)









11. Marylin Monroe

Surely one of the greatest actresses of her time. She was beautiful, charming and I love so many of her movies. (Check out number 17 and 39 of this list.)

12. Rock Hudson

From one beautiful Hollywood star to another. Rock Hudson.I haven't come across a film he was in that I didn't love. (The fact that he was irresistibly cute helps of course.)

 

(Be still my beating heart!) 

13. I ♥ Lucy
I will let this short commercial do the talking, good, clean fun...

14. Inspiration
I have quite a few 1950's inspired bits and bobs around my house. One of which, is my favourite mug...

 It is from makeinternational.com and is part of their Fifties range.

15. Suits

I love a man in a suit and the 1950's were full of them! Whether he was the head of a company or simply an office worker, he would have been suited and booted.

16. Curly hair dos

My hair is naturally straight, I wish it was curly (it's always the way).Short and curly hair was in during the 50's and it involved a lot of pinning and waiting.

Luckily, if I want to recreate a 1950's do, I just need to reach for my curling irons and blow dryer. (If I did go back in time, I'd be sure to take them with me.)

17. The Seven Year Itch (1955)

I love this film, the story (told mainly by a man with an over active and vivid imagination) of a married man experiencing temporary bachelorhood whilst his wife is away for the summer. Even if you have never seen the film, you will recognise this iconic shot from it...

18. Jive

If I could go back to any moment, it would have to be right there. It looks like such fun. This year I want to learn to jive...I just need to find me a partner. (Offers on a postcard.)

19. Pillow Talk

One of my favourite parts of being in a relationship is pillow talk. Those moments where you are in bed and just talk about everything and nothing until you fall asleep.

The film Pillow Talk (1959) is more the tale of the annoyance of pillow talk when sharing a phone line with your neighbours but of course, it ends with a happily ever after. (And you get 102 minutes of Rock Hudson!)

20. Dial-a-Phone

When I was younger we had a dial phone. (Not that I grew up in the 50's-I wish. I'm an 80's baby). I desperately want one now, not that I ever use the phone in my house, my Blackberry has made it defunct. Ah technology.

(I wonder what these women would make of those of us now, with phones coming out of our ears. There are more mobile phones in Britain than there are people!)

21. Interior Design

The kitchen. The woman's place. According to the not so PC adverts, at least. But if I had a cute 1950's kitchen, I probably would want to spend most of my time in there too. Hopefully not burning the dinner.

I love this modern take on a vintage kitchen. I want, I want, I want.

22. From the Kitchen to the Fridge.

If I had a spare few thousand pounds knocking about, I would have me one of these.

23. Diners

How fun does this look? A bit of jive, jukebox playing, burgers and fries. I would have loved to have gone on a date in the 1950's to a diner. I guess if I really wanted to, I could go on a date to Ed's Diner...I'm not sure if they would let me jive around the tables though (after I have had my lessons of course).

24.The Jukebox

The 50's equivalent to the iPod.

Although the jukebox was around well before this era, it is an iconic symbol of ice cream parlours, burger joints and all things socially 50. If I had a kitchen like the one above, I would definitely have a jukebox in it.

25. Bowling

If you weren't hanging out at a drive-in movie, jiving around in a diner, chances are you could have been in the bowling alley.

I once went on a date to Bloomsbury Lanes; a bowling alley full of wonderful 1950 touches. However, I never saw that date again; clearly I didn't manage to bowl him over (but I did win the game).

26. Neck Scarves

Accessories were an important part of 1950's fashion, neck scarves being no exception. I ♥ mine.

 

27. Roman Holiday (1953) another great film from this time.

28. The LBD became dangerous again

The little black dress is one of Chanel's creations and has been around since the 1920's and will be for ever more so. With the war over, the LBD could return to it's roots as a uniform (as Vogue described it) and be a symbol of a dangerous woman. Pair a black dress with a pair of Louboutin's and you really have got yourself a deadly duo...those heels could knock someone out!

29. The world's first credit card

This is something I will be eternally grateful for.

In 1950, the Diners' Club issued the first credit card. Although it was in fact more of a debit card, it set the wheels in motion for guilt free shopping. (Until the statement comes at the end of the month and I ask myself, did I really need a new 16 piece dinner set-when I live by myself?)

 30. Mr Potato Head

Something I would probably buy on a credit card and then ask myself why.

First made in 1952, Mr Potato Head was inspired by an earlier toy called, Make a Face-you actually stuck body parts into a potato.

Now, Mr Potato Head has found fame with the Toy Story motion pictures, along with his wife, Mrs Potato Head of course.

 (Looks like someones had a bit of airbrushing done.)

31. Elvis

He really shook things up and became the King of Rock n Roll. Between 1953 and 1955 he made his first recordings, and his music has influenced genres of all kind since.

(He was quite a hottie too. Pre-cheese burger days obviously.)

Talking of food...

32. Spam

Although rationing came to an end, some foods which were once eaten out of necessity remained popular, as people liked them. Spam included. Used in recipes such as fritters, goulash, sandwiches and salads, spam was an enjoyed source of protein. Even now, with all the selection in the supermarket, I still enjoy a nice spam fritter sandwich. Some things may never change.  (Although I'm not sure I would give it to my guests for lunch.)

 

 33. Andy Warhol

Known for his famous prints of Campbell's soup and Marilyn Monroe, which he did in the 60's, here is some of his early work, from the 50's.

Entitled 'My Shoe is your Shoe' (1955) he clearly had no idea what it was like to be a woman. My shoe is my shoe...and so are all the rest. (All 92 pairs of them!)

This is in fact an ad for Shoe and I and he also did work for Tiffany's, designing Christmas cards. Impressive hey?

34. Fuzzy Felt

I loved this stuff as a child, I wish I still had some. (For what purpose I'm not sure-nostalgia?) Originally made in 1950, three decades later it gave my sister and I many hours of fun (and caused many squabbles).

Time for some music? I agree.

35. Goodnight Sweetheart, Goodnight (1954)

(Just don't fall asleep, there are still 15 to go.)

I watched Three Men and a Baby, for the first time, in a long time yesterday.It brought back lots of childhood memories. (No, I wasn't left on a doorstep, but I did watch the film over and over again as a child).

I loved this part...

 

36. Barbie

From baby dolls to Barbie dolls. Barbie made her debut appearance in 1959 at the American International Toy Fair and ever since she has been an international sensation. Children around the world have had many happy hours dressing up this (unproportionate) little woman, and I am sure they will for many years to come.

37. Costume Jewellery

In 1954, Chanel introduced long chains with coloured stones, scattered along its length, in a collection of costume jewellery. Immediately, they were sort after and became very popular.

From coloured stones to a girl's best friend...

38. Diamonds!
Modernism influenced the 50's with the use of diamonds in all shapes and sizes. Diamonds were worn in the evening, (hopefully not whilst eating spam) whilst in the day gold jewellery, without gemstones was worn. But how could one acquire such gems? Why, marry a millionaire.

39. How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)

Starring Marilyn Monroe and her quest to find a rich man to buy her all the diamonds her heart desires. When I first watched this film, I had a pen and paper to hand, ready to take notes. Unfortunately it didn't prove extremely helpful, but it was very entertaining.

Loco: All my life, ever since I was a little girl, I've always had the same dream. To marry a zillionaire.

40. Fifty Inspired Signs

This sign hangs in my house; almost as a warming to potential suitors.

41. Pin Up Girls

Although pins up date back before the 1950's, the girls of the 40's and 50's offered a new brand of girls.

42. Swim Wear

Few women dared to wear a bikini in 1950 and why would they when they had great all-in-ones to wear. With zips on many, to give the corset like appearance, this helped to suck in the tummy.
For Luna have a great range of swimsuits in this style, I bought this one for my holiday to California last year. I love it.

43. Vintage Clothing
Peekaboo vintage online store has a great collection of clothes from yesteryear; 1950 dresses included. Time to get the credit card out.
44. Hats
To add to the glamour of an outfit, hats were the perfect option, especially in the early fifties. As the decade went on, and hair styles changed, wearing a hat wasn't always suitable, for risk of ruining a new bouffant. (A girl has to have her priorities.)
And with the change in hair, came a change in fashion. Hats were off.

45. The Clutch

Clutches and beaded purses were the standard handbag in the 50's. A very similar story now. Although I sure the contents differed slightly.

 46. Soap & Glory
More 1950's inspired than 1950's but I love this stuff. The packaging is cute, it smells gorgeous and looks pretty in my bathroom.

 

47. Elvgren to Banksy

48.Soda machines

If I could go back to the fifties, I'd imagine this is what I would look like stood next to a soda machine.  (I'd probably have on a nice frock though, and a few diamonds for good fifties measure.)















 49. Ice Cream Parlours

Thank you for reading this far, it has been such a long post. I think I have probably spent about 50 hours writing it!
So go on, treat yourself to some ice cream. I'm going to.











50. The Best Of Everything by Rona Jaffe

The Best of Everything tells the story of five young women working in Manhattan in the 50's; their families, love lives, careers and friendships... a fabulous book. Remind you of anything?

And there you have it...the best of everything from the nifty Fifties.