Michael Hamilton and Poodle Skirts Another name often associated with the poodle skirt is Michael Hamilton. Michael Hamilton takes credit for inventing poodle skirts in the early 1950's. Hamilton says she made poodle skirts in her neighbor's barn in Montecito, California near Santa Barbara.

Hamilton became known as "the Poodle Skirt Lady" as these skirts were very popular. Her original designs included imprints of circus horses, monkeys and pigs. These fun skirts became the symbol of the 1950's fashion.

Poodle skirts were made out of full circles of felt fabric. Designs were placed around the skirt for embellishment and to add personality. Many poodle skirts were made by the girls who wore them.

Decorations on poodle skirts reflected what teenagers of the time were interested in. Some designs included appliqués of 45 rpm records. Rock and roll music was popular, and these skirts made dancing to the music even more fun.

Circle skirts were worn by women of all ages during the 1950's. Poodle skirts, however, were seldom worn by any besides the teenagers. Poodle skirts have become what we typically associate with when we think of 1950's clothing styles.