"Choose Partners... Change Partners" (Good Neighbor Club Plan, Spring and Summer1954)

 At first glance, these demure, ladylike separates look as if they would have been right at home at the turn of the century—skirt lengths excepted, of course!

A. LITTLE BOY SHIRT in fine combed broadcloth.  Round collar and neckband borrowed from the boys, even to the lining.  Washable.  (Flower not included.)

B. 16-GORE SKIRT in permanent embossed Everglaze cotton.  Washable.  Zipper placket.

C. NYLON AND ACETATE BLOUSE... famous skirt-loving classic tucked to perfection.  Washes beautifully, always has that luxury look.

D. CINCHED FAILLE SKIRT... romantic rustle in its wide flare, the little middle nipped by striking red elasticized belt.  Zipper placket.  Dry clean.

E. DAISY-FRESH BLOUSE of permanent embossed Everglaze cotton.  Resists soil and wrinkles.  Daintily embroidered organdy daisies.  Washable.  White only.

F. SANFORIZED COTTON SKIRT in pert posy print.  Unpressed pleats, softly billowed.  Washable: less than 1% shrinkage.

A. NYLON CLASSIC BLOUSE, ready to go places... you just suds it, forget the iron.  Crisp convertible collar, flap pocket, pearl-like buttons.  

B. SIDE-SHOW PLEATS... newest look skirt of washable, linen-weave rayon.  Novel buttons and tab trim.  Back zipper.

C. SHEER ORGANDY FIESTA BLOUSE with deep-dip, V-yoke and cuffs of imported lace.  Washes like a hanky, permanent finish keeps it crisp.  White only.

D. WHIRLAWAY 4-YARD SKIRT... mated to Fiesta blouse.  Same imported lace alternates with big block print of fine broadcloth.

E. SHEER NYLON BLOUSE... very precious with its tucks and scallops... its lush embroidery... its ballooning sleeves.  Rhinestone-sparkled black velvet bow.  Suds-loving, never needs ironing.

F. ORLON AND RAYON... miracle washable, wrinkle-free fabric for the skirt of the year!  Tiny all-around permanent pleats mold hips, widen into knife-sharp pleats.  Zipper placket.

It's only when you see the fabrics these clothes are made of that you realise how totally modern they are!  To begin with, nylon, Orlon and rayon:

• Rayon, an acetate fibre, first introduced to the mass market in the 1920, and still (in 1954) the most popular synthetic textile.  Known for its ability to mimic other materials (see "linen-weave rayon" above.)
• Nylon appeared on the world's stage in 1939.  The Second World War slowed its adoption by the general public (though it had its military uses!)   Originally best know for being used to make women's stockings ("nylons") it was in all sorts of products by 1954.  It was also popular for blending with other fibres, including natural ones.
• Orlon, created by Dupont, made its debut in 1948, but didn't become commercially viable until 1952 when chemists figured out a way of dying it.  Like Rayon, it had the ability to mimic many other materials.

But what about the natural materials listed above?  Well, you'll notice the words "Everglaze" and "Sanforized" describing some of the cottons.  "Everglaze" was a method of treating the surface so it had a satiny finish and was stain and wrinkle resistant.  It was first produced by the Bancroft Company in the mid-1930s.  "Sanforization" was a chemical treatment of natural fibres that prevented shrinkage.

So we have very feminine, traditional styles in very modern fabrics.  The difference between these garments and their Edwardian predecessors is that they cost their wearers much less time and money.  Not only were the artificial and treated fabrics much cheaper than the ones they replaced, they also were easier to care for.  By the 1950s, ordinary women could treat themselves to the kind of fashions that only the well-off and leisured had once been able to wear.