Endlessly glamorous, Elizabeth Taylor’s career spanned decades where she is as memorable for her sense of style as her film roles. Do an internet search on her name and you are greeted by an endless stream of glamorous shots of her in movies or modelling, or just generally looking amazing in everyday life. No matter what decade you look at, she is a huge style inspiration, but for this article I’m looking at the 1950s when she starred in classic Hollywood greats like A Place in the Sun, Giant, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and ‘Suddenly Last Summer.
There are so many beautiful outfits to choose from so here are a couple of my favourite looks.
Now we are heading into warmer weather it’s time to crack out the summer dresses and free a bit of flesh!
This dress is utterly beautiful and very similar to the style available at Vivien of Holloway. The shape is so flattering and available in an amazing choice of fabrics, but this polka dot print one is my choice for summer…
It might not seem like daily wear but a dress like this without a petticoat and with flat sandals or ballet pumps is a stylish day time outfit for a summer day and easily transforms to evening wear!
You can view the whole range here: 1950’s Circle Dress – Vivien of Holloway
Another lovely spring outfit that’s easy to do for work or play! All black works for everything but this outfit can be as fun as you want it to be, a straight forward outfit that is all about the colours and accessories you choose.
Most short sleeved fitted shirts will work but if you fancy a slightly more vintage cut these two by Freddies of Pinewood are gorgeous and available in a few lovely colours.
Yellow Blouse – Freddies of Pinewood
Green Blouse – Freddies of Pinewood
If you’re a crafty sort and you fancy making your own – this vintage pattern by Simplicity 4237 is perfect!
Again Capri pants where are my favourite style of trouser for the summer months. Standard black is available in most high street stores now as cropped slim leg trousers are in, but I’m rather in love with these denim ones, mainly because denim – like black – goes with any colour!
Denim Capri Pants – Bamboo Bettie
After that, just add a waist belt, some ballet pumps or sandals and a dash of red lippy and you are good to go!
If you fancy baring some leg, switch the Capri pants for a pencil skirt and you can achieve one of the easiest classic Hollywood glamour outfits.
In Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Taylor wore a number of neutral toned outfits. This one is so wearable – the classic shirt and pencil skirt combo that for me has always been my go-to outfit…..not sure what to wear? To work, to lunch, on a date? You can never go wrong with a pencil skirt, shirt and belt! Add some colour with some simple gold hoop earrings and bangles and a red belt; classic and smart. Throw on a pair of heeled court shoes too if you want a bit of height, nude or neutral tone were a favourite in the 50s and are available from Dune, ASOS and several other high street stores.
This outfit was also beautifully recreated by In Retrospect last summer, recommending the gorgeous cream work blouse from Freddies of Pinewood…
…and a lovely lemon pencil skirt by Lady K Loves
A pencil skirt is very easy if you fancy trying to make something for yourself. Usually a simple four piece pattern with a couple of waist darts and a zip. A perfect starter project or a quick one day job for an experienced dressmaker. A search on Etsy or eBay will yield a great choice of vintage patterns, I’m currently eyeing this one up on Etsy!
Taylor’s outfits all made the most of her curves, but even if you don’t have that many to start with, these outfits will help create them for you.
It’s also about achieving style with comfort, so stretchy fabrics for trousers and skirts and elastic belts will allow you the close fit of the 50s silhouette without discomfort! You may be sitting in an office rather than lounging around a southern mansion, but there’s no reason you can’t look just as amazing!
