What decade's fashion was most flattering on real people?

When I have looked at old photos, I have often been struck with how people looked better in some decades than others.

I am asking you to consider not high fashion, celebrity wear and especially not fashion illustration, but instead what you might have seen in family photos and in your memory of everyday wear.

I am also asking not what was necessarily the best designed, but what made people look their best.

I'll kick off with my opinions

bad
1920's - almost completely ghastly in baggy shapeless dresses and dowdy looking hair. Worst decade, IMO
1950's - at the point at which every dress was a full gathered skirt with a tight bodice - only good on a limited range of figures. My mum, a slim rectangle managed okay with the aid of padded bras (but she was made for the early 60;s) but the very flat chested and anyone with a bit of weight around the torso did not look very good

good
1930's and 40's most family picture were wearing simple cotton shirtwaist dresses, uniforms or wedding pictures, or a coat with a fur collar. Nothing fancy in the clothes, but they seemed to flatter them. (mind you, practically everyone under 45 was very skinny!)

that is a very cursory start from quite few pictures, but I'd be interested in seing your opinion

16 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Anne, what a great question. I think I agree with you, especially about the 40s. To me that was a glamorous time and people dressed up more in every day life, too, which helps.

I would also say the 90s... when we had minimalist looks (NOT the grunge stuff... I'm talking simple lines, monochromatic, etc). Yeah, it was boring, but easy to wear and flattering to many. But eh, boring.

Otherwise, I'd say right now is the best decade, because we have moved from one style everyone must wear to a range of styles - pick your favorite, we have looks inspired by 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s... virtually everything you can imagine - so it's easy to find something flattering, no matter what your body type.

Laura

(website)

I was thinking the 60s, but while I associate the 60s with mod, most people are probably thinking "summer of love." NOT a good look.

The 40s-50s were pretty good for those with hourglass figures. But the mere thought of wearing a girdle makes me cringe: Not fab!

anne

Thanks Shiny. I agree with you totally about the 90's - I was almost going to say almost exactly what you said! ( I was in a hurry )

Also agree about the range now and how that contrasts with the past. It is funny seeing pics of my grandmother in her 50's wearing a mini because EVERYONE was wearing them - no exceptions!

chewyspaghetti

I assume that you're only talking about the past century, Anne.
I think that it just depends on the person and the styles they chose- just like today. Yes, there are overall silhouettes that emerge as the predominant one for each decade, but there is also a range to what was worn. I can see by looking at Shiny and Anne (assuming that your families were of similar build) , that the 30's and 40's would have been good era's for you. My own family members looked much better in the 20's and 50's.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

I'd say RIGHT NOW gets first place.

Then the late 50's and early 60's. Think Mad Men and Jackie 0. Everyone could look good in those styles. After that the 40's.

Worst eras 80's and 90's.

Thanks for the responses Laura, Shiny, Angie and Khris,

To Khris's point - I do think there was much less of a range of styles and silhouettes available. To illustrate my point. I saw a home economics book from the 50's which demonstrated different dress types - every single one of which had a tight bodice (the necklines etc were different). In Australia at least every women in the 60's (after they came in that is) wore a mini whether it flattered on not.

I also think that a lot of women who don't really follow fashion much still wear it because it is what is available.

The pictures I have seen from the 20's were from a different side of my family (who were old enough to be adults then) and they were very short and rather dumpy! But it is an observation I have found confirmed by non-family historical photos too. I was surprised by this, as people in historical films, fashion illustrations etc for this period look quite good!

The pictures I was thinking of from the 50's which didn't look that great were not of my family (as I said, my Mum looked pretty nice) but of her friends who had quite a range of figures. Maybe the fact that lot of them were taken in thin summer dresses (holiday pics) added to the unflattering look. Maybe if they were dressed up a la Madmen they would have looked better!

Angie by the late 1950's you are getting sack dress and A lines aren't you? which would have added to the available flattering looks

Ele

Active Member

I agree with the late 50's and early 60's, but I think the 30's edge out the 40's, slightly. The styles were feminine but still quite relaxed. I love the 40's, but can imagine that all the sharp tailoring could be difficult to wear- those slim pencil skirts!

For sure "right now", as well. But it's not a very fun answer, is it?

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