@Ornella: yes, two belts! It was a day of two experiments. I just posted a thread separately.

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....-two-belts

This isn't a way out there look for me, this is actually what I wore to my high school reunion this summer (different shoes and hair down).

One of my favorite dresses. Tonight I wear it in the kitchen cooking up a storm in preparation for a dinner party tomorrow, I think that's appropriate for the era.

Nice outfits, ladies!

Tracina, what an awesome dress that is; I LOVE the print and the colors.

Tracina- I used to have that same dress!

Wow, you guys all look terrific!

Reading over this thread I feel like we're all just about to excitedly head out the door to meet each other at a fancy cocktail party. (My place! 6 PM!) And that's by no means a bad thing. Everybody looks fantastic! As a whole-hearted member of Team Dressy, my heart is singing at the full skirts (and pencil skirts, of course!) , pearls, and gorgeous fabrications that are represented.
Seriously think that we need to have a dressy night if we ever have an actual "YLF Convention." You all can really turn up the classy factor!
I'm feeling VERY inspired and excited to see how everyone turns out once we dip our toes into the 1960s.

Kim - I love the silhouette of your dress, so pretty and spot on.
Katiepea - Are you kidding, you look fabulous!
Kari - a pattern mixing success!
Sveta - wow, Sveta, your Grace Kelly is spot on.
Jenava - sweater over skirt is a very 50s look, well done!
Diana, Sharon, citygirldc, Di, tracina - your dresses are adorable! This is a very flattering look, I am glad that it made a comeback and we have abundant choices.
Deborah - I like your outfit. What part of it doesn't feel like you? I am interested to hear.
Astrid - I think this is your signature look. I love the red shoes.
Natalie - you have so many choices! The polka dot dress is adorable.
Kim - your sassy cardi also evokes the 50s.
JJ - Love that crinoline!
May K - Go pencil skirts!
Suz - you are rocking this challenge! Fabulous outfit!
Ornella - Another chanel jacket! I am so glad you are paying tribute to Coco. And thanks for being such a great sport and commenting on everyone's outfits.
MamaKate - I am very intrigued by the double belt, I'll check your other thread.
Antje - thanks for coming out of the dark for the style challenges! I know I can always count on you.
Dianthaus - that's a gorgeous midi!

I actually wore this a week ago, but this might be my only chance to get in on this challenge so I'm adding it

The first photo is before doing my hair and putting in contact lenses!

Gilr X = CUTE!! I esp. love the red gloves. Ooo lala!

Popping in to have another look at the fab outfits. I am really inspired by everyone's creativity. Forgive me for not commenting individually but it's a crazy week at work with some travel involved some I feel Im on the run a bit.

To answer your question Bella, I don't enjoy that particular silhouette on myself.
The style of the outfit also highlights the size of my bust, which i normally prefer to play down.

This is my absolute favourite era and everyone looks amazing!
My clever and very generous mother-in-law made me this dress for Christmas. It's from a 1952 pattern called "the walkaway dress" - supposedly easy enough to start sewing in the morning and walk away in it by the afternoon!
Bonus shot of me wearing it last Christmas with DD wearing her Horton mask.

My inspiration is, and I don't have the right words so help me out if you can, Hollywood's sultry free spirit trope (Who knows what real free spirits wore then - probably not this!).

She may be from the wrong side of the tracks, she may be a little or a lot gypsy, she may dance (perhaps interpretively) in bare feet, she probably has gold hoop earrings, and although she may come from racial stereotypes there is something awesome about her.

This skirt wraps around and I found it sat smoother if I tucked instead of tying the sash, so it would be quite easy to quickly and dramatically unravel it and cast it aside for a drum-heavy musical number!

Will check out everyone's when kids are fed. ^_^

Fruitful! Releasing you inner model :). You look so gorgeous and what a great interpretation of this decade. Love it!!

In a rush - going out to the movies as a 60s gal - here is my outfit (decided on the one with the jacket since the blouse seemed too cold).

THanks everyone for posting (and a special hurrah for those who make the challenge work-appropriate, love it) this is fun!

Ooooh! So glad I checked back here. Antje, you look MadMen worthy. Fruitful, you are GORGEOUS in that outfit. It is perfect! So fun and sexy. Glam, I can't get over that amazing dress; I saw the pattern for it when I was scouting inspirations! And Girl X, I always love your outfits. It's a rare treat to see one but always a thrill.

Fruitful and GOTI I'm so glad I checked back. I love the 50's pattern dress AND the poses, Fruitful you really pulled it off. (-:

Antje, love the little necktie and tweed jacket (-:

More beautiful outfits showed up. Antje - I love your necktie. As we talked before, I want to try this look, but I never got a chance. Yours looks amazing!

Finally coming back to comment individually, though I've been poring over the images on my own.

Sveta, your Grace Kelly shots are gorgeous - I love your choice of the inspiration photo and your interpretation with the gray Halogen seamed skirt and crossover top is inspiring me to see if I can't try something similar.
Jenava, I love how you tried a bit of a softer look than what I usually see you in. I love the outfit you chose, but it would be fun to see you try something similar to the form-fitting Balenciaga outfit if you can find the right pieces.
Diana, what a cute dress! I agree the the Fluevogs are a more updated inspiration.
Sharon, I'm in awe of the perfect proportions of the belted cardigan with that dress. I often struggle with pairing cardigans that have a different neckline than the dress I'm wearing it with.
Deborah, even though the outfit wasn't really you, I think you did an excellent job capturing the challenge. I really like the cut of the midi dress on you, and the button earrings caught my eye even at a distance.
Astrid, this really is your niche - you have such a great fit-and-flare skirt collection. Love those red shoes!
Goldenpig, I'm really inspired by your collection of such a variety of 50's inspired looks. I'm especially drawn to those with the gorgeous floral midi skirt (#1-2.)
Kim, I love how your outfit fits into the fashion of the era, but also very much looks like you even if it's a little outside your comfort zone. That black and white cardigan is a gorgeous piece on you!
Jjsloane, oh my gosh, your crinoline petticoat makes me want to break out into a dance!
Citygirldc, I love the polka dots on that dress. I agree that it's interesting to research some of the trends from certain eras and see how many have still carried over to what we're wearing now.
Di, I really like how you started with the base of a very 50's dress but modernized it and made it feel more like you.
MaryK, I can always trust you to inspire me with the most gorgeous colors. WOW! That magenta skirt pairs so perfectly with French blue. And those gold heels!
Suz, your piles of pearls with the Chanel-esque jacket are so fantastic - I'm going to try something like that someday.
Ornella, I love your inspiration. What a gorgeous skirt! And can I say that you always have such a pretty smile in the pictures you post?
MamaKate, I like how the double-belt and the pattern mixing add an unexpected twist to the base of a classic outfit.
Antje, that black and white dress is so fun! I can also imagine wearing just the dress and shoes for a party outfit. And I love your 2nd more 60's-inspired outfit with the sweet jacket. Is that the magenta Halogen skirt? The polka dot necktie is a fun variation to the pussycat bow.
Dianthus, my pussybow blouse twin - LOVE the bright red midi, and the brown leather jacket is a great modern note that still really works with the outfit.
Bella, I'm in awe over those shoes and the way that you tucked in your scarf under your shirt. (How did you tie the scarf?)
Tracina, that dress is beautiful! Totally perfect for the era as is, and that's awesome that you're also wearing it for a dinner party.
GirlX, I'm so glad that you added this to the challenge post. I gasped over the hat and the gloves. Especially the hat - I'd love to find one that is dramatic and large without being too costume-y like that. Your accessories really kick this up a notch.
Glam on the Inside - I love that dress! You had me fooled - I was going to guess that it was a Boden dress, actually. Well done to your MIL, and what a sweet wearable gift!
Fruitful, I love how you went with a different angle/inspiration for the 1950s. (Your inspiration photos also made me think of this.)

Oh wow, ladies - I don't have time to comment individually, but you all look fabulous, and yes, as Kari says, as if you are all about to meet for a lovely 1950s cocktail party

Kari - I just saw this. I am wearing my scarf muffler style.

(Oops! Posted my 40s outfit on the wrong thread. Will post the 50s outfit tomorrow )

Here is my (late entry) 1950s inspired outfit! This was definitely the hardest challenge for me. I don't find this decade particularly inspiring, so I thought I'd go with something that I really rarely sport: a pencil skirt. I have no peplum tops/toppers, so I went with a cardigan for the "soft shoulder" look that was popular in the 50s. Wore my new 2-tone pointy toe heels because they are very reminiscent of the era, and what better way to debut them eh? Pearl earrings because a pearl necklace would be too much, cream flower pin because I couldn't wait to wear it and the outfit really needed more white, and small layered necklaces to be more "me" but still delicate. Lastly, I did an up-do of sorts as a nod to the coiffed hair of the era. While I think this is a nice outfit and seems to fit the 50s theme, I am considering this a miss solely because of the hair; my poof-banged high pony tail would have made this a hit for me and give it a rockabilly touch. As-is I feel very not me, but by the time I realized that I was halfway to work -_-

Aida - those shoes are gorgeous!