In the 1950s, fashion reflected a new sense of freedom. Women wore form-fitting dresses showing their waists and large accessories. Gray flannel suits and pleated trousers were popular for men. Rock and roll music exploded, led by Elvis Presley, while Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin performed vocal jazz. Teenagers tested new freedoms in sexuality and consumerism as music and culture became increasingly important. New technologies like the first credit card and home computers emerged during this period of economic growth and social change in America.

1. Lifestyle of the 1950’s
By: Evian Benjamin

2. Women’s Fashion
• People were beginning to feel a lot more freedom in
their fashion choices
• The waistline was a major issue with more women
wanting to show off their waistlines
• Dior dresses and accessories became very popular
and were worn by most women
• Fur coats kept women warm while they were
wearing sleeveless dresses
• Large hoop earrings and makeup were widely used
throughout this time period

3. Men’s Fashion
• Gray flannel suits became particularly popular in this
decade became the American people liked the sense of
security that dressing the same gave them
• Top hats also became wildly popular during this time
period as a way to separate yourself from the crowd on
the commute to and from work
• Pleated trousers became popular because they were
comfortable and worked well with suits

4. Music
• The mid 1950’s saw the explosion of Rock &
Roll led by Elvis Presley
• Rock and Roll is a type of dance music
characterized by a heavy beat and simple
melodies
• Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Dean Martin
ushered in the era of vocal jazz music
• Vocal Jazz is when a singer matches his/her
voice in tune with the instrument that is being
played in the background with a stylistic
approach to lyrics

5. Values/Culture
• The 1950’s was a time of social revolution in
America as certain ideals and stereotypes were
dropped and new forms of art and expressionism
were valued
• Music became a huge part of American Culture,
particularly among teenagers who would rush to
concerts
• Teenagers at this time tested the boundaries of
sexuality and consumerism

6. Politics
• Harry S. Truman was president from 1945-1953
and Dwight Eisenhower succeeded him from
1953-1961
• Congress held hearings designed to put an end
to “un-American activities” in the federal
government, universities, and Hollywood
• Richard Nixon became Eisenhower’s running
partner and upon Eisenhower’s victory, Nixon
became vice president in 1952

7. Economy
• 4 million “baby boomers” were born each year
• Rates of unemployment and inflation were
low as wages increased
• Congressional hearings caused tens of
thousands of Americans to lose their jobs
because of speculation of involvement with
Communism

8. Technology
• On October 31, 1950, Frank McNamara created
the first credit card called the Diner’s Club
• The Chevrolet Corvette was first built and
introduced in late 1953 and referred to as the
“solid-axle”
• On October 31, 1956, he first computer hard
disk was used. The computer was as big as two
refrigerators and cost $10,000 per megabyte of
data stored
• The first heart pacemaker was invented by John
Hopps on October 31, 1959, it artificially
stimulates the heart in case it stops beating

9. Trends
• 3-Dimensional movies first made an appearance in
the 1950’s and many people went to see them
• Beatniks were urban literary intellectuals that
wrote and performed acts of spontaneous
creativity
• People combined the now booming car industry
with movies and got the idea for Drive-In Theaters
• Soda Fountains were counter-style restaurants that
served soft drinks and ice cream
• The Twist was a dance that originated in a Hank
Ballard song (named the Twist) in 1959
• July 1, 1952 was the date of Houston’s first
network television

10. Celebrities
• Elvis Presley created the image of rock and
roll after making his debut April 23, 1956 in
Las Vegas
• Marilyn Monroe was famous for being an
actress and a model, the most prominent and
well-known of her time
• James Dean was a brooding, rebel actor who
died after making only 3 movies

11. Movements
• Rosa Parks was arrested in December 1955 for
refusing to give up her seat on a city bus to a
white person
• Martin Luther King Jr. emerged during this
time, organizing his first boycott of the
Montgomery bus line on December 5, 1955 and
led the Montgomery Improvement Association
• The Beatnik movement was a counterculture
movement where one tried to be in rhythm with
the beat of life
• Beatniks often were seen wearing berets,
sunglasses, and turtlenecks and were often seen
speaking in jive slang, smoking, and drinking
coffee.