by Avis
Yarbrough
It all started with the sweater girl. A term used to describe a look
popularized in Hollywood by such female stars like Lana Turner and
Jane Russell.
In the 1950’s the cardigan became the trend of the day. We all can
remember images of housewives, dressed in a cardigan twin set with a
single strand of pearls surrounding their necks.
This was the norm, women of the 1950’s often wore them to compliment
the neckline of the sweater. Another trend that had been started in
the 1940’s, but continued into the 1950’s, centered around adolescent
girls. They often wore cardigan sweaters backwards, and buttoned up in
the back. Also, the cardigan twin set was a “must have” to any young
college women’s wardrobe.
How did the cardigan get its name? It was actually named after an
actual person: Cardigan, James Thomas Brudenell, a British general
The evening sweaters also became an important part of women’s closet
in the 1950’s. They came in various kinds of decorations. Women could
be seen in evening sweaters with sequins or with embroidery.
There were also the sweaters with appliqué- where pieces of fabric is
sewn onto a foundation piece of fabric to create designs. Other
popular nighttime sweaters had lace, beads, rhinestones and even huge
fur collars.
The cashmere sweater in the 1950’s and 60’s also became a popular item
among young women, as well as men. Cashmere is made from the fur from
a cashmere goat.
In the late 1950’s and 60’s, these beautifully
decorated sweaters were produced in Hong Kong. Other huge name
manufacturers of the time were Schiaparelli, Dalton, and Hardly.
Even today sweaters of that era are in vogue.
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