The 1950s was truly the beginning of a new era. In a post-WWII world, pop culture was driven by fashion, and plenty of stars from that time still reign supreme as style icons. Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor… the list goes on. From those iconic poodle skirts to cat-eye glasses and everything in between, 1950s fashion has stood the test of time as a staple of vintage style.
Cinched waists and victory rolls aside, 1950s fashion also just leaves us yearning with nostalgia. That point in time is largely romanticised as one full of love and hope, with the counter-cultural tidal wave of the 60s just on the horizon. Who doesn’t think the idea of a date at the milkbar or the drive-in is a cute one?
Now, as fashion inspired by the early 2000s dominates runways and Instagram feeds, there are plenty of people online looking to keep 1950s fashion alive — but with a modern twist that spotlights inclusivity and female empowerment. In celebration of Paramount+’s exclusive new series “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies”, we’ve scoured TikTok for some of the most dedicated style goddesses who are showcasing all that 1950s fashion has to offer.
Anastasiia Nova (@s.nova.vintage)
Ukrainian content creator Anastasiia Nova’s TikTok page looks like she was plucked straight out of the 1950s and forced to live in the digital age. Nova, currently based in Slovakia, has curated her online presence around paying homage to the most iconic fashion moments of the era. Think Audrey Hepburn in “Funny Face” or Marilyn Monroe’s legendary red lips and tight curls. She even thrifts pieces and styles them to resemble the work of high-end fashion houses at the time, such as Dior and Givenchy.
FYI: She also sports fashion inspired by looks as early as Gibson Girls in the early 1900s to the sun-drenched aesthetic of the 1970s you already know and love.
Hannah Truly Elisha (@hannahtrulyelisha)
Hannah Truly Elisha’s entire MO is to keep pop culture history at the front of people’s minds, especially as we see trends from decades ago become new again. She has amassed a huge audience of over 100K followers on TikTok, not only by showcasing fashion of eras gone by, but also by actively educating and informing audiences about how certain events impacted fashion trends as a whole.
In fact, she dives even deeper, with many videos discussing aspects of day-to-day life in the 1950s and beyond, and how it differs to today. Unfortunately for them, dating for students at Rydell High wasn’t as easy as just swiping left until they found the T-Bird or the Pink Lady of their dreams.
Letitia Norris (@meandmrnorris)
When we do think of 1950s-style icons, the faces that come to mind are likely all white. Hollywood and the star machine were focused on pushing white stars to the front, with people of colour, especially Black people in America, being excluded from the love and hope that we often associate with the 1950s. Dorothy Dandridge was never considered a style icon on the level of Monroe and Hepburn, even though the looks she served in 1954’s “Carmen Jones” are TIMELESS.
One TikTok user aiming to get rid of the exclusivity around who can don vintage fashion is Letitia Norris, who often posts GRWM videos where she rocks vibrant 1950s-inspired outfits, and even shares how she styles textured hair into those renowned 50s styles.
Jenny Dame (@jennydame_)
While you can spend hours and hours sifting through vintage and thrift store racks to find the perfect piece, Jenny Dame takes matters into her own hands and makes her 1950s-inspired outfits herself.
Dame also shares various hacks to help those interested stay committed to the vintage wardrobe life, such as staying warm in a 1950s-inspired skirt (that she made). Spoiler: it involves leggings, sweats, and a petticoat.
Gabi’s Vintage (@gabis_vintage)
Gabi’s Vintage is the perfect person to follow if you’re looking to go beyond merely staring doe-eyed at creators with the perfect 1950s style. Gabi’s fashion is certainly nostalgic, but she pulls it off with modern clothing and gives you tips on how to do it yourself.
Beyond her how-tos, Gabi also styles herself specifically for certain events in years passed, like imagining what she’d wear to New York Fashion Week in 1953 or even applying vintage fashion to your favourite cartoon princesses.
Stream “Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies” only on Paramount+ from April 7 to help quench your thirst for the most iconic 1950s fashion.
