Franklin Dean
Wedding dresses in 1957 were typically ballgowns made from chiffon and tulle, with calf-length hemlines and short sleeves. This style was popularised by Audrey Hepburn in the film Funny Face, in which she wore a ballerina-style gown. The 1950s saw a shift towards high fashion in bridalwear, with brides looking to Hollywood icons for inspiration. As such, gowns were often luxurious and glamorous, with full skirts, small waists, sweetheart necklines, and fabrics such as silk, satin, and lace.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Chiffon, tulle, satin, lace, silk, synthetic materials |
| Shape | Ballgowns, tea length, calf length |
| Neckline | Sweetheart, wide and round without collars, bateau, fichu, strapless |
| Sleeves | Short, elbow length |
| Accessories | Veils, flowers, gloves, hats, crowns, tiaras |
| Colour | White, ivory |
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What You'll Learn
Ballgowns were popular
By the mid to late 1950s, wedding dresses had evolved into round ballgowns, with ankle-length hemlines that exposed the footwear—a novel feature not seen since the 1920s. These ballgowns were made of lightweight chiffon and tulle, with simplified bodices and short sleeves. The necklines were typically plain, round, and wide, without collars, halternecks, or high necks, as these were considered old-fashioned by the 1950s. The ballgowns of the 1950s exuded elegance, glamour, and doll-like innocence.
The iconic wedding dress of Audrey Hepburn in the 1957 film *Funny Face* popularised the ballerina-style wedding gown. Designed by Pierre Balmain, Hepburn's dress featured balloon sleeves, elbow-length gloves, and a stand-up Peter Pan collar. The satin sash waist accentuated Hepburn's petite figure. The light and magical calf-length dress was showcased as Hepburn danced and twirled in the movie.
Another famous wearer of the ballgown style was Jackie Kennedy, whose wedding dress was designed by Ann Lowe and made of bouffant-style ivory silk taffeta with a portrait neckline. Wax flowers were embroidered throughout the gown, and it featured an exaggerated skirt, a popular silhouette at the time. Although Jackie later admitted she would have preferred a simpler and slimmer silhouette, her dress remains an iconic example of 1950s bridal fashion.
The 1950s marked a shift towards high fashion in bridal wear, with brides aspiring to dress like Hollywood stars and don the most expensive gowns they could afford. Wedding dresses were often made with luxurious fabrics such as satins, ribbed silk, Duchesse satins, and lace. The use of cheaper synthetic materials that resembled expensive fabrics also enabled more brides to achieve their dream of wearing a glamorous ballgown on their wedding day.
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Audrey Hepburn's dress in Funny Face
In the 1957 film Funny Face, Audrey Hepburn's character Jo Stockton wears a range of outfits, from casual pant outfits, day dresses, tailored suits, and evening gowns, to an iconic wedding dress. The costumes were designed by Edith Head, and Hepburn's Paris wardrobe was designed by Hubert de Givenchy.
Hepburn's wedding dress in the film is a white retro-style gown with a boat neckline, fitted bodice, and full circle skirt, with layers of white petticoat that hit below the knees. Her two-tiered veil is pinned to her sculpted updo, and she accessorises with white gloves, kitten pumps, and simple white pearl earrings.
Hepburn's other notable outfits in the film include a black outfit consisting of a black sweater, casual slacks, and black oxfords, with no socks. She also wears a white and pink evening gown, which is a white floor-length silk dress with short-sleeved pink blazer and a long train, paired with white gloves, white shoes, and diamond jewellery.
Another iconic look from the film is Hepburn's red silk tube evening gown, with a long red train and matching red silk wrap. She pairs this with red kitten pumps, long white gloves, a statement necklace, and matching earrings. Her hair is styled up, and she wears this outfit in a photoshoot at a historic chapel in the town of Coye-la-Forêt in Northern France.
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Strapless styles
In the mid-1950s, strapless styles became popular for wedding dresses, but they were often paired with a bolero or crop jacket for modesty in church weddings. These jackets were typically made of white lace, fitting tightly like a second skin, or of solid silk or satin. They usually featured three-quarter-length sleeves. Another option was to have detachable sleeves that could be removed for the reception.
The 1950s wedding dress was all about glamour and elegance, with brides encouraged to dress like Hollywood stars in the most expensive gowns they could afford. Wedding dress designers embraced these trends, using chiffon and tulle to create light and magical ballgowns. The full skirt and small waist, with a sweetheart neckline, was the classic silhouette of the decade.
Lace was heavily used in 1950s wedding attire, from gowns to veils to gloves. It was often infused with gold or silver thread, with handmade lace being soft and expensive, and machine-made lace more affordable. Ribbed silk and Duchesse satins were also popular, smooth and shiny fabrics that easily moulded to the shape of the body.
The 1950s saw the rise of the high-fashion wedding, with brides flocking to bridal salons in department stores to view the latest runway wedding gowns and accessories. Thanks to manufacturing improvements, cheaper synthetic materials that looked just as expensive became available, allowing more brides to afford their dream gowns.
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The use of chiffon and tulle
Wedding dresses in the 1950s were all about glamour and elegance. Brides were encouraged to dress like Hollywood stars in the most expensive gowns they could afford. Wedding dress designers used chiffon and tulle to create light and airy ballgowns. These fabrics were used to make the gowns more wearable and to soften up the shape.
Chiffon is comparable in quality to silk but is much easier to clean and care for. It is made from a simple weave and has a light and airy effect. Chiffon is used for upscale garments like wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, and evening wear. It is a popular choice for bridesmaids as it is softer and smoother than tulle and usually only requires one to two layers since it is more opaque.
Tulle, on the other hand, is a mesh fabric that is especially popular in the wedding industry. It is dreamy, lightweight, and feminine, giving a soft and romantic yet traditional bridal style. Tulle dresses usually have one or two underlayers as the fabric is quite sheer. It has more flow and movement, lending an airy or dreamy look. This makes it a popular choice among brides who prefer a more ethereal vibe.
Both fabrics were used to create the iconic 1950s tea-length wedding dresses, with calf-length skirts that exposed the footwear, as popularised by Audrey Hepburn in the 1957 film Funny Face.
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Brides' fashion inspiration
Brides fashion inspiration for 1957
The 1950s was a decade of elegance, etiquette, and decorum, and this was reflected in wedding fashion. Wedding dresses of this era were often ballgowns, with chiffon and tulle used to create a lighter, more wearable feel. Hemlines rose to the ankles or mid-shin, exposing footwear—a novel feature not seen since the 1920s.
Fabrics and silhouettes
The fabrics used in the 1950s embraced structure, moulding to the shape of the torso and hips. Popular choices included satins, ribbed silk, and Duchesse satins, which were shimmery and smooth. Lace was also used, either at the top of the dress or throughout, and was often infused with silver or gold thread. The classic silhouette of the era was a sweetheart neckline, a full skirt, and a small waist.
Necklines
The ballerina-style wedding gown, popularised by Audrey Hepburn in the 1957 film *Funny Face*, featured a simplified bodice and short sleeves. Plain, round, and wide necklines without collars were also popular, as they were believed to give an aura of doll-like innocence. Necklines of the era embraced a variety of shapes, including the bateau—cut straight across the collarbone in the front and back with a small gap at the shoulders—and the fichu, which featured a frill that gathered into a point at the breasts.
Accessories
While veils were often passed down through generations, hats were also a popular accessory. Brides chose saucer-shaped hats embellished with beading and flowers, or hats that saddled the head, leaving room for elaborate hairstyles. Innovative brides, like Audrey Hepburn, wore crowns of flowers.
Iconic dresses of the era
Jackie Kennedy's wedding dress was an ivory silk ballgown with an off-the-shoulder neckline and a bouffant skirt. It featured tiny wax flowers embroidered throughout and was designed by Ann Lowe. Another iconic dress of the era was worn by Audrey Hepburn in *Funny Face*. Designed by Pierre Balmain, it was a ballerina-length gown with balloon sleeves, elbow-length gloves, and a stand-up Peter Pan collar.
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Frequently asked questions
Wedding dresses in 1957 were typically ballgowns made from chiffon and tulle, with calf-length hemlines and short sleeves. This style was popularised by Audrey Hepburn in the film Funny Face.
Jackie Kennedy's wedding dress was a ballgown made from ivory silk taffeta with a portrait neckline. It was designed by Ann Lowe and featured tiny wax flowers embroidered throughout and an exaggerated skirt. Audrey Hepburn also wore a statement ballerina-length gown by Pierre Balmain when she married Mel Ferrer in 1954.
Ribbed silk, Duchesse satins, lace, and tulle were all popular fabrics for 1950s wedding dresses. Cheaper synthetic materials were also used, which looked just as expensive.
Accessories included saucer-shaped hats, veils, flowers, gloves, jewellery, and crowns. Veils were often passed down through generations and were usually made from lace.
The classic silhouette of a 1950s wedding dress was a sweetheart neckline, a full skirt, and a small waist.
