The poodle skirt is arguably the most iconic item of the 1950s. We still see people wearing them today at Halloween or at 50s themed parties, coupled with saddle shoes and a cardigan. The poodle skirt is obviously a perfect product of fashion, because it hasn’t really changed at all since it got its start almost 70 years ago.

During the economic prosperity of the 1950s, homeownership became available to more and more Americans. This lead to an influx of families moving out to the suburbs in order to find a place that suited their needs. People were living further from the city and having to commute each morning and evening for work. Families were able to justify owning their own car in order to make the daily commute possible, and by 1950, 60% of households owned their own automobile.

1950s America was a country recovering from the Great Depression and two world wars. Everyone was glad to see things calming down, and no one was looking to do anything that might rock the boat again. No one, that is, except the teenagers of the era.

The teenagers of the 1950s needed something to dance to in their poodle skirts and saddle shoes and Elvis Presley was the man to give it to them as he ushered in the age of rock ‘n’ roll. Like so many artists, he came from humble beginnings, but managed to become one of the most beloved international stars of all time. His career spanned decades and successfully covered both music and acting.

The rags to riches to tragedy story of Norma Jean Mortenson has captivated the entire world since she hit the limelight in the 1950s. We know her as Marilyn Monroe, the epitome of a sex symbol and a mystery all rolled up into one.

Norma Jean Mortenson was born in 1926 to a mother who struggled with psychological problems and had a difficult time caring for the little girl.

Andy Warhol was a leader of the pop art movement that began in the 1950s and developed over the following decades. He lived a life of contradiction where he both criticized and celebrated commercialization and celebrity. He was simultaneously a tortured artist and someone who just wanted to have fun.

The style of art referred to as “pop” began in the early 1950s, gaining popularity as the decade wore on. In pop art, artists make a statement by featuring commonplace items in their work. Some of the more famous works of pop art were of a Campbell's soup can, Marylin Monroe, and ice cream.

The 1950s was the first time in our history where the term “teenagers” was used. Prior to this time, adolescents’ behavior and fashion were expected to be a close copy of that of their parents. The 50s brought a new freedom to teens who were allowed to express themselves with individual activities and dress.

One popular item of teenage clothing from this time was the poodle skirt. By the mid 1950s, it seemed like every teenage girl had one and there was an entire culture surrounding poodle skirts.

The U.S. Civil Rights Movement that began in the 1950s laid the foundation for new legislation that made great strides toward equality for all citizens, regardless of the color of their skin. The success of this movement can be attributed to great leadership from people like Martin Luther King, Jr. When King was assassinated in 1968, he was only 39 years old, but he had changed the face of a people and a nation.

The 1950s saw the beginning for our nation’s biggest civil rights movement to bring equality for African-Americans. Although blacks had been granted their freedom from slavery at the end of the Civil War and were now recognized as citizens, they were still largely oppressed by segregation and discrimination. A series of nonviolent protests and some genius organization helped the Civil Rights Movement hit several milestones during the 1950s.

The United States wasn’t the only place going through big changes during the 1950s. While American youth were attending sock hops and wearing increasingly tighter sweaters, British youth were having a rebellion of their own. Radio and television gave ever-increasing access to other cultures and British mania made its way to the U.S., along with social movements and politics. One British social movement that had an impact in America was that of the Teddy Boys.

Also referred to as the Edwardian Revival, Teddy Boys were a youth subculture that emerged in London in the early 1950s. They were the first adolescents in England to adopt their own style, different from that of adults. They wore long cut suit jackets, narrow trousers and narrow or bolo ties. Their clothes were meant to look upscale as part of the message they were sending to society.

The Beat generation that began in the 1950s permanently reshaped the social landscape of American culture. Hippies, bohemia, rock n’ roll, and basically any other counterculture that would arise thereafter was influenced by the Beats.

Inspired by French Surrealism, the philosophies of the Beat generation were originally based on the opinions and literature of three important writers at the time, Allen Ginsberg, William S. Burroughs, and Jack Kerouac. Kerouac was the one who coined the term Beat when referring to his followers. The suggestion is that this group of people were “on the beat” in terms of music, art and life philosophies.

Although conformity was the fashion goal for most people in the 1950s, there were a few groups daring enough to step outside the box. Most of these fringe fashion trends were associated with some kind of social movement of the time. Two examples of this are the styles associated with the Beats and the Teddy Boys.

Beats were a group of writers who used their craft to express their desire for freedom from institutionalism. Their fashion trends favored those found among French poets of the same movement. They can be recognized by their affinity for wearing black from head to toe. The men wore tight fitted shirts or sweaters featuring no design or pattern. Turtlenecks were a favorite for Beat men. They often accessorized with berets and/or scarves. Even their shoes were black and many wore big, dark sunglasses. As a contrast to the clean-cut look that was the mainstream preference, Beats could be seen with pointed goatees and long hair.

The post-WWII atmosphere of the 1950s saw the beginning of the cold war. Everyone was nervous about the new nuclear technology, and the possibility that the enemies of the U.S. might get their hands on it. Citizens were eager to portray themselves as “good Americans” and this can be seen in the fashion trends of the time.

Although some fringe groups like Beatniks or Teddy Boys had some variance in their styles, conformity was the order of the day for most people. The order of the day for men in the 1950s was generally clean and conservative looking. Everyone wanted to be viewed as willing to do their part in society, and fashion reflected this desire. Men were the examples of this rule and operated within the boundaries laid out for them.

The famous incident in 1947 in Roswell, New Mexico, sparked alien fever in the United States and the entertainment industry cashed in on the hysteria. A rash of alien themed movies came out in the 1950s with much success. Everyone wanted to see what the next take on alien invasion would be and Hollywood gave the people what they wanted. Here are a few of the most popular alien movies from the 1950s, just in case you’ve got alien fever too!

In 1947, an event occurred in Roswell, New Mexico that would forever change the way Americans thought about their government, the desert, and aliens. A rancher by the name of Brazel found some unrecognizable debris in one of his pastures. The material wasn’t anything Brazel had seen before, but it was silver and similar to paper and plastic. There were also metallic sticks, tape and foil. Brazel notified the local authorities and soon there were military personnel all over his land, loading up the debris and taking it away in armored cars.

The headlines in the paper the next day announced that a flying saucer had crashed in Roswell and that the government was trying to cover it up. The government's official statement on the issue at the time was that the debris was from a weather balloon that had been launched from the nearby Roswell Army Air Force Base. However, anyone who witnessed the site could see that the debris was very clearly not from a weather balloon. American citizens felt there was something fishy about the story and began traveling to Roswell to see for themselves what the story was all about.

The 1950s was a time of classic beauty and intricate design. The winter fashions of the time were particularly chic, with each big name designer going for a specific look. Many of the fashions from that time have been repeated over the years, and we even see them in our new fashion lines this year.

Coats are always a staple of fashion in the winter because you're going to be wearing one out and about every day. In the 1950s, many coats featured an oversized collar and large or decorative buttons. A ¾ or mid-calf length was popular with a flared skirt to fit easily over dresses and skirts. Most coats included a high waist with a wide belt to flatter the figure. Felt, twill, canvas, and wool were all popular coat fabrics of the time.

Food has always been a big part of the holidays. With the celebration of domestic engineering, the 1950s were a great time for food and cooking. Suburban family life was revered and bakers and chefs of the time focused on taste and presentation, much like we do today. Sweets are always a crowd pleaser at Christmas time and many favorite holiday recipes are meant to satisfy a sweet tooth.

The holidays are a time for gift giving and anyone who has kids knows about the rat race of getting the most popular toys. The 1950s were no exception to this rule and many of the hot items that came out during that time are still big hits with kids today.

The 1950s were a rosy time in American history but it wasn't all fun and games. They saw their fair share of political disagreement, economic hardship, and natural disasters. The winter of 1950 brought one of the biggest storms on record to the east coast, The Great Appalachian Storm.