1947–1957; revived through 1950s vintage and bridal

New Look

Christian Dior's 1947 silhouette revolution — nipped waists, padded hips, full calf-length skirts and an exaggerated hourglass after wartime austerity.

Palette: dove grey navy blush ivory cherry red soft black
Signature garments: full circle dress pencil dress Bar suit jacket tea-length skirt stiletto pump pillbox hat structured handbag
Canonical brands: Dior (heritage) Unique Vintage Pinup Girl Clothing Stop Staring! Trashy Diva vintage thrift

About

The New Look names the silhouette Christian Dior introduced in his February 1947 Paris collection — christened by Harper's Bazaar editor Carmel Snow — and which dominated women's fashion through the 1950s. Reacting against wartime rationing, Dior used yards of fabric to construct calf-length full circle or pencil skirts, sloping rounded shoulders, a tightly nipped waist (often achieved with a waspie or merry widow corset), padded hips and bust. The look came with stiletto pumps, white kid gloves, pillbox or saucer hats, pearl chokers and structured handbags. Today it lives on through 1950s vintage collectors, swing-dance and rockabilly scenes, brides choosing 'tea-length' wedding dresses, and the entire visual language of Mad Men's Betty Draper. Designers including Dior itself, Erdem and Simone Rocha continue to reference the silhouette on the runway.

Not Rockabilly — the New Look is high-couture Dior glamour with stiletto refinement; Rockabilly takes related 1950s silhouettes and reworks them with greaser, tattoo and pinup grit.

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