Australian Home Journal, April 1956

Let's look at some of  the ladylike fashions of the mid-1950s, as depicted on the cover of the Australian Home Journal.  In Paris, couturiers produced an endless succession of "lines" and "looks" each season.  In the towns and suburbs of Australia, however, fashion in the 1950s took a more "steady as she goes", approach.  

Thoughts of what to wear in the coming months, as Autumn deepens into Winter, are uppermost in the minds of most of us just now.  Although there are no revolutionary changes in line, the new season's styles offer infinite variety to the home dressmaker.  The slender silhouette is a fashion leader.  Other styles, by concentrating attention on the hips, achieve the longer line which is so flattering to those who lack height...

The use of tabs for ornamentation as well as practical purposes is a feature of many autumn styles.  Artfully used at focal points they add importance to the line of a frock or coat.

A Glimpse of Stocking (Montgomery Ward, Fall & Winter 1929-20)

 Victorian and Edwardian women's stockings could be surprisingly decorative, but they were not for public display.   In the 1920s, however, skirts became very much shorter, and legs (and the stockings covering them) became a focal point.  How did this change things?  I'm going to take a look at the stockings advertised in a Montgomery Ward catalogue from 1929 to find out. 

The first thing I noticed was that the stockings on offer were plainer and less colourful than their 19th century counterparts.  Victorian women could wear stripes, checks and embroidery under their petticoats.  The modern woman of 1929 was offered a subdued palette including black, "tansan" (dark tan), nude (light tan), pearl blush, gunmetal and medium gray.  Clearly the wearer's legs were the focus, rather than her stockings!

Still lower prices for the Golden Crest full fashioned stockings that were such a sensation last season!  Choice of clear, sheer chiffon or service weight  silk—both in the new narrow French heels or slender pointed heels that make ankles so chic—so charming.  The chiffon are dainty, sheer silk from top to toe with cleverly reinforced silk covered foot to give extra wear and elasticity; fine lisle strengthens the inner surface at points of wear.  The service weight is strong, highly elastic silk well over the knee to the serviceable hem of fine-knit mercerized lisle.  Slipper soles, toes and heels are same fine lisle.