Nifty Fifties Summary

This week, we updated popular outfits from the 50s.

Our main difficulty was with how to make outfits that really said “1950s.” A lot of them had the right elements, but didn’t work together, which is fine. This is a learning experience. Nobody looked bad, but only a few actually stuck to the 50s.

This month will be different when it comes to how winners are selected. As you probably noticed, there was a different winner every day. I chose the theme winners based on who did the 50s the best. Was it always the cutest or trendiest outfit? No. And that’s where the People’s Choice vote comes in.

I want you guys to be completely honest with your votes. Your favorite outfit does not have to be the best theme outfit, it is literally the outfit you find the most appealing. You guys are voting for the cutest outfit. The prize is entirely separate from the theme winner. You can vote for yourself, you can vote for someone you hate, you can vote for me. Do not let me sway your vote, and do not let the others sway your vote. You’re not going to hurt anyone’s feelings if you don’t vote for them.

May Points

One point awarded per person for personal participation, none for group participation.

Vanessa – 2 theme, 0 PCA

Chelsey – 2 theme, 3 PCA

Kristen – 2 theme, 0 PCA

Adriana – 2 theme, 0 PCA

April – 1 theme, 2 PCA

Jena – 2 theme, 1 PCA

Monica – 2 theme, 0 PCA

Nicole – 2 theme, 1 PCA

Tatum – 0 theme, 0 PCA

Best Nifty Fifties Looks

Look of the Week: Monica

Nifty Fifties Friday

4/4 participation

Best update was Nicole! The off-shoulder ruffle top, paired with a pencil skirt and kimono, was a spot-on take on the 50s.

Friday’s People’s Choice Award also goes to Nicole!

Nicole – Top: Garage, Kimono: Forever 21, Skirt: Forever 21, Flats: Urban Outfitters

Jena – Button Down: Garage, Jeans: American Eagle, Sneakers: Keds

Vanessa – Tank: Old Navy, Button Down: Garage, Jeans: Garage, Sneakers: Converse, Scarf: Garage

Lauren – Tee: Garage, Cardigan: Garage, Skirt: Garage, Sneakers: Converse

Nifty Fifties Thursday

3/4 participation

Best update was Kristen, who went for the old country look in short-alls.

Thursday’s People’s Choice Award goes to April!

Kristen – Top: Garage, Overalls: Garage, Sneakers: Vans

April – Tank: Garage, Flannel: Garage, Jeans: Garage, Sneakers: Converse

Vanessa – Tank: Old Navy, Leggings: Garage, Flannel: Garage, Sandals: Payless

GREASE

4/4 participation

Best 50s update was Vanessa. We tried to do Grease today, which is a 70s movie about the 50s. Vanessa looked a pin-up Greaser, Chelsey looked like Sandy in the final scene, Kristen also went with a Sandy off-the-shoulder look, and Lauren dressed similarly to a Pink Lady.

And Wednesday’s People’s Choice Award goes to Chelsey! (In her totally 70s outfit, but it’s fine.)

Vanessa – Tank: Garage, Denim Jacket: Garage, Shorts: Kohl’s, Wedges: Kohl’s

Chelsey – Top: Garage, Jacket: Wilson Leather, Leggings: Dynamite, Booties: Lucky, Belt: Dynamite

Kristen – Romper: Garage, Sandals: JustFab, Necklace: Garage

Lauren – Tank: Garage, Jacket: Garage, Skirt: Garage, Sneakers: Converse

Nifty Fifties Tuesday

4/4 participation

Best updated look was Monica. She looked like she stepped right out of a time machine.

Tuesday’s People’s Choice goes to April!

Monica – Top: Madewell, Pants: Old Navy, Sneakers: Converse

April – Tee: American Eagle, Button Down: American Eagle, Jeans: Garage, Flats: Toms

Chelsey – Top: Garage, Flannel: Garage, Jeans: Garage, Sandals: Birkenstock

Kristen – Romper: Garage, Cardigan: Old Navy, Sneakers: Vans

Nifty Fifties Monday

4/4 participation

Best update was Ana in neutrals and animal print. Perfect modernized update of celebrity style from the late 50s.

Monday’s People’s Choice goes to Chelsey!

Adriana – Sweater: Kohls, Jeans: American Eagle, Flats: Toms

Vanessa – Tee: Old Navy, Cardigan: Old Navy, Jeans: Garage, Sneakers: Converse

Chelsey – Button Down: Garage, Bralette: Pink, Jeans: Garage, Flats: Lucky

Kristen – Cami: Garage, Button Down: Abercrombie, Jeans: Garage, Sneakers: Vans

Nifty Fifties Sunday

4/4 participation

Best update was Chelsey in baggy overalls. The look was less fashionable teen update and more hard-labor update, but it was still a good update.

Sunday’s People’s Choice Award also goes to Chelsey.

Chelsey – Tee: Garage, Overalls: Garage, Sneakers: Converse, Socks: Garage

Jena – Button Down: Target, Cami: Garage, Jeans: Garage, Sneakers: Converse

Kristen – Cami: Garage, Denim Jacket: Gap, Sneakers: Vans

Lauren – UFO Tee: Garage, Jeans: Garage, Sneakers: Converse

Nifty Fifties Saturday

5/5 participation

Best updated 50s look was Jena. Kathy’s reasoning was “it’s exactly what teenagers would have worn.”

Saturday’s People’s Choice Award also goes to Jena!

Jena – Button Down: Garage, Cami: Garage, Jeans: American Eagle, Sneakers: Keds

Monica – Button Down: Gap, Skirt: Grandma, Sandals: Payless

Chelsey – Button Down: Garage, Bodysuit: Abercrombie, Jeans: Garage, Sneakers: Garage, Socks: Garage

April – Sweater: Garage, Jeans: Garage, Sandals: Birkenstock

Lauren – Dress: Forever 21, Bralette: Garage, Bomber: Garage, Flats: Aldo, Socks: Topshop

Week 17: Nifty Fifties

May Music Month

May is the month of music. Music & fashion go hand in hand.

Each week will have an accompanying 10-15 song playlist for inspiration.

People consider decades in trends as starting in the first year of the decade, but in actuality, trends change midway through. Popular music and popular fashion face transitions in the year of 5. We’re going to be doing this in regular decades, 0-9.

For this reason, most of the decades this month will feature at least two separate types of fashion. To be definitive: 50s fashion was really 55 – 65. 60s fashion lasted 65 – 75. And so on. Expanding and evolving every decade to incorporate more and more types of music, ending in more and more styles of fashion.

For reference, right now, we are in year two of our ten year trend. Fashion is dependent on vintage looks and graphics, and music borrows heavily from the 90s. This is the nostalgia decade. We will not be doing the 2000’s, or 2010’s.

Use the music to help you plan your outfits.