The poodle skirt was only one of the many trends of the 1950s.
The 1950s saw the debut of the teenage subculture, according to "Rewind the Fifties" by Erika Cox. This generation was more independent than previous generations and developed tastes that differed from what their parents enjoyed. They listened to Elvis, watched "American Bandstand," selected songs from a jukebox and looked up to such idols as Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello. The 1950s teenager also had a unique dress style that introduced new trends, such as the poodle skirt and the leather jacket.
School Clothes
Girls during the 1950s did not wear pants to school; they wore knee-length dresses. One dress style was the jumper, where a blouse was worn under suspender-like straps. The waists of the dresses were cinched and girls wore starched petticoats beneath the skirts. The pleated plaid skirt was another style. Although jeans were available, teenage boys didn't wear them to class. Instead, they wore long pants made from recently introduced materials such as nylon, acrylic and polyester, according to Historical Boys' Clothing.
Teenage Girls
One version of a teenage girl ensemble was to pair A-line pencil skirts with saddle shoes.
Girls during the 1950s wanted to flaunt an hourglass figure. They would often wear corsets to pinch their waists and show off the bosom area. The 1950s teenage girl also wore poodle skirts. The poodle skirt was a full skirt with a hemline that reached the knees and had a poodle appliqu on the bottom. Some girls sported the A-line pencil skirt that Christian Dior popularized. For casual weekend wear, there were pedal pushers. These were pants that reached the middle of the calf and had rolled-up cuffs. These pants were sometimes paired with saddle shoes, which were a flat, white leather shoe with a black strap over the top.
Teenage Boys
1950s boys who wanted to look like the rebel would wear black leather jackets.
Teenage boy icons such as Pat Boone popularized a preppy look. This look consisted of a sweater vest over a button-up shirt and starched slacks. Taking a cue from such film stars as Marlon Brando and James Dean, some boys rocked the rebellious look by wearing denim jeans that they paired with a white t-shirt and a leather jacket. During the 1950s, the British introduced the Teddy Boy style to American teens. Inspired by the flamboyance of the Edwardian era, the Teddy Boy ensemble paired a tailored jacket with a velvet collar with trousers that had a drainpipe lining. The Teddy Boy look also included suede shoes.
Accessories
Chiffon scarves were used to accessorize ponytails.
For girls who needed glasses, there were cat-eye glasses with frames that flared out slightly at the top. Another accessory was a chiffon scarf that was either tied around the neck or used to secure a ponytail. In order to look more adult, girls would wear elbow-length satin gloves and fur stoles. When teenage boys dressed for formal occasions, they would sport striped ties.
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