Christian Dior launched his 'New Look' collection on 12 February 1947. After the austerity of utilitarian wartime fashion it was a relaunch of glamour and femininity. Dior himself didn't come up with the 'New Look' name, that was coined instead by the then editor-in-chief of Harper's Bazaar Carmel Snow who exclaimed: “It’s quite a revolution, dear Christian. Your dresses have such a new look.” The style was characterized by a full flowing skirt and a tiny nipped in waist. War time fabric restrictions were still in place at the time and the idea of using 20 yards of fabric for just one outfit was considered scandalous*. * In stark contrast, the average wartime dress used just 3 yards of fabric. The society ladies and magazines went crazy for the elegant new style, but reaction wasn't all positive. At a photo shoot in Paris the models had the outfits torn off them by angry women who were enraged by such excess at a time when the general population had so little. The British press were also scathing of the new wasteful designs, and American women saw the restrictive waistlines and impractical skirts as a step backwards from the emancipation of wartime practicality. However by the time the 1950s arrived the glamour of Dior's New Look had worked it's magic and become the style to wear. It was worn by Hollywood stars and royalty (Princess Margaret was a real champion of this style in Britain). The style of dress would influence fashions throughout the 1950s and create the definitive silhouette of the decade. Here are some of my favorite New Look-style vintage dresses in store at the moment. You can see the whole collection of 1950s vintage dresses here. Don't forget to leave me a comment letting me know which is your favorite! 
