by 12 people |
The Poodle Skirt - Symbol of 1950's Americana
is a fashion that immediately brings to mind the 1950's decade. The interesting thing about the decorated circle skirt is that it was actually designed in 1947 by a young actress-turned-designer named Juli Lynne Charlot.Miss Charlot made a skirt to wear to a Los Angeles holiday party by cutting a big circle of felt with a hole in the middle to fit her own waist. Then she appliqued "whimsical felt Christmas tress" on it.
For her next project, it was suggested that Charlot create a line featuring dogs. Among the dog skirts was the poodle, and the rest is fashion history. The skirt was a huge it, and was copied widely.
The poodle skirt was easy for young girls to make at home, and decorate with symbols of the Rock 'n Roll era including 45 rpm records and decks of cards.
It was perfect for Swinging to the sounds of Bill Haley and the Comets, Chuck Berry and Elvis. What better outfit to wear while dancing the Lindy Hop and Jitter Bug.
The poodle skirt remains one of the most memorable symbols of 1950's Americana.
A Quick Swing Through The Contents
- Not Your Mother's Skirt
- The Classic Poodle Skirt
- Make Your Own Poodle Skirt
- The Poodle Skirt Is Great for Halloween or 50's Theme Party
- Swing Dance on YouTube
- Your Poodle Skirt Must Have A Crinoline Petticoat
- Did You Ever Wear A Poodle Skirt?
- Poodle Skirt Is Easy Even If You Can't Sew
- Swing By And Drop A Line
- About the author
- Love This Lens?
- Bookmark This Lens
- This Lens Was Created by a RocketMom
Not Your Mother's Skirt
The poodle skirt defined the teenage girl.
The 1950's gave birth to the teenager as we know it. This was the first time that marketers targeted adolescents. Movies, books, gadgets, music, and fashions were being produced specifically for teenagers. Previously there had been "junior" fashions, but they were similar to what adults were wearing.Fashion changed radically in the 1950's. Novelty prints were used in women's fashion. Day wear included a blouse and cardigan over a bright skirt. An adult woman would not wear a poodle skirt under any circumstances. It was something just for the teenage girls. The Poodle Skirt became a way for teenagers to create a fashion of their own.
The Classic Poodle Skirt
A wide circular skirt with an interesting applique
The Poodle Skirt skirt was traditionally a wide swing felt skirt of a solid bold color (often pink or powder blue). Felt was inexpensive and quick and easy to sew, and could take an ironed-on appliqué.The most popular poodle skirt appliqué was a coiffed French poodle, usually with a bow on its head and a sparkly leash attached the wound its way up to the skirt's waist. The poodle often sported a sparkly collar and bright eyes.
Poodles were not the only items used on these skirts, just the best remembered. Other appliqués included flamingos, flowers, hot rod cars, silvery telephones, and black records surrounded by the words "See ya later, alligator."
The hemline for this skirt was to the knee or just below. It was worn over a crinoline petticoat made from netting stiffly starched to provide the lift needed to flare and swish.
The complete outfit included bobby sox, saddle shoes, a blouse and cardigan, chiffon scarf and ponytail, and rhinestone cats eye glasses. This remains one of the defining images of the 1950's.
Saddle-50 Ladies Saddle Shoes 1950s By Pleaser
Amazon Price: (as of 12/29/2009) 
Women;s Bobby Socks for 50s Costumes and 50's Sock Hops
Amazon Price: (as of 12/29/2009)
61459 Poodle Chiffon Scarf NEW BY FORUM
Amazon Price: (as of 12/29/2009)
Make Your Own Poodle Skirt
Making your own Poodle Skirt is easy and fun.
Even if you don't sew, making a Poodle Skirt can be a fun project. You can find plenty of simple patterns for full circle skirts at your local sewing center or online.If you choose one with an elastic waist you won't have to bother with a zipper. Free Applique has a very authentic poodle applique you can download.
Once you have the pattern and applique you just need to make a trip to the local fabric store for the felt and whatever fabric needed for the applique.
You can use Wonder Under Fusible Web to attach the dog to the skirt. No sewing required. Place the poodle applique towards the bottom of a wide skirt, then add some loops to her leash while angling the leash up towards the waist of the skirt. Use fabric glue to add a sequin collar and sparkly eyes.
Put on your pink poodle skirt and get ready for the sock hop! This swinging skirt is just the thing for dancing and romancing.
Juli Lynne Charlot described herself as "unable to sew."
"I cut it out of felt, because I didn't know how to sew, and that was the only material I knew wide enough to cut a complete circle skirt without any seams."
The Poodle Skirt Is Great for Halloween or 50's Theme Party
Adult Sock Hop 50s Poodle Skirt Costume
Amazon Price: (as of 12/29/2009)
Swing Dance on YouTube
Dance Performance "At The Hop" with The Lindy Hop All-Stars 2006
The Lindy Hop All-Stars perform at a New Jersey School for Dance. The Show was titled "At The Hop" and the performers in this number are Matt Bedell and Jennifer Jones, Roddy Caravella and Amanda Brewster, Paolo Pasta Lanna and Vanessa Toleno. 2006
Runtime: 49
2139 views
1 Comments:
curated content from YouTube
Your Poodle Skirt Must Have A Crinoline Petticoat
Hey Viv! Adult Sz: Poodle Skirt Crinoline Slip
Amazon Price: (as of 12/29/2009)
Ready to Swing ? Here's a fun 50's style Crinoline - perfect for your Poodle Skirt or Circle Skirt.
You might wonder why the poodle is the most popular emblem.
I heard through the grape vine the that the poodle and leash meant you were going steady. The leash meant you were tied to someone. No leash meant you were playing the field.
Did You Ever Wear A Poodle Skirt?
If you were not yet born, maybe you wore one as a costume.
The Poodle Skirt is an easy costume to make for adults and children. You could decorate it with your favorite emblems of the day.
Poodle Skirt Is Easy Even If You Can't Sew
Great for 1950's Grease or Happy Days Impression
Butterick Poodle Skirt Sewing Pattern 4286
Amazon Price: (as of 12/29/2009)
1950's At the Hop Poodle Skirt Pattern
Amazon Price: $21.00 (as of 12/29/2009)
Swing By And Drop A Line
Tell us what you like most about the 1950's
If you have ever made a Poodle Skirt, what's been the secret of your success besides having a huge table to cut out more than 4 yards of felt?
-
Reply
- Jenifer Jenifer Oct 15, 2009 @ 9:31 pm
- I'm working on a poodle skirt to waer at any time i want to.
-
Reply
- Treasures-By-Brenda Treasures-By-Brenda Sep 14, 2009 @ 7:25 pm
- Nicely done & blessed.
(Don't forget to change the default title on the Table of Contents.)
-
Reply
- 24websurf 24websurf Sep 10, 2009 @ 4:12 pm
- This is a really great look back those Poodle Skirts! I was born a little later but I can remember seeing them in the movies and on shows like Happy Days and thought they were "oh so cool!" Love this lens!
-
Reply
- shannonpatricia shannonpatricia Sep 9, 2009 @ 8:08 pm
- I remember my Mom making me one to wear to school on 50's day, during homecoming week.
great job!
-
Reply
- Susan52 Susan52 Sep 8, 2009 @ 3:00 pm
- I love that I was born in the 50's. Love poodle skirts, too, though I don't think I ever had one.
-
Reply
- seashell2 seashell2 Sep 6, 2009 @ 1:25 pm
- I wore a poodle skirt for Halloween back when I was a teenager! Lots of fun... Great lens!
-
Reply
- KarateKatGraphics KarateKatGraphics Sep 6, 2009 @ 12:28 pm
- This was a VERY popular Halloween costume when I was a kid. I think "Happy Days" and "Grease" sparked the fascination for my generation. 5*
-
Reply
- Wednesday_Elf Wednesday_Elf Sep 6, 2009 @ 10:33 am
- Loved your 50's lens. I never 'made' a poodle skirt, but 'wore' my share. I was a teenager in the 1950's and wore what BevsPaper described - big crinoline underneath, white anklets, saddle shoes when attending the "Sock Hops". Brings back memories.....!
-
Reply
- Sylvestermouse Sylvestermouse Sep 5, 2009 @ 12:13 am
- Fascinating history. I guess I have never heard the meaning of the leash.
-
Reply
- Heather426 Heather426 Sep 4, 2009 @ 9:00 pm
- I wore one as a costume in the 60's...but don't really remember them when they were the big fad...I thought they looked funny and the saddle shoes I thought were awful. My mom wanted me to get some when I was little but I got my Dad to get me some Mary Jane's instead. My little girl wore one as a costume too. they are easy to make.
- Load More
About the author
Lensmaster LindaBee has been a member since October 30 2007, has rated 42 lenses, favorited 12, and has created 13 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "1950's Poodle Skirt". See all my lenses
Love This Lens?
- Rate this lens:
- Email it
- Favorite it
- Lensroll it
Bookmark This Lens
This Lens Was Created by a RocketMom
In Project # 3 of RocketMoms Session 3 we were to create a lens that depicted a symbol or icon of a favorite decade.
Here are a few of those impressive creations that are sure to stir a few memories.
-
1940's Pin-Up Girls
-
These girls were more then just a poster tacked up on a wall - to eye amorously or provocatively - they are what kept our WWII GI's goin', they are what dreams were made of, they were discovered and shined! Long before Twitter, Facebook, or the frenzy...
-
1970s Theme Night
-
Do you have a big birthday coming up? Thinking of having a dinner party? Or just having friends around for a drink and some nibbles? Why not liven it up and have a 1970s Theme Party? Here are some suggestions to start you off. Thanks to Madeo for t...
-
1920's Style
-
One of my favorite eras is the 1920's. 1920s style saw women free from enormous skirts. One of the best examples of this was the flapper. It was a time of cutting loose and having fun. The flapper was an independent woman that knew ho...
-
The Titanic Memorial Cruise
-
THE TITANIC MEMORIAL CRUISE ~~ An exciting opportunity for Titanic and cruise enthusiasts to journey back in time to the early 1900s. On April 8 of 2012 Miles Morgan Travel is recreating the itinterary of the Titanic exactly as it was planned, 100 ye...
-
Make Do and Mend - From the 1940s
-
It's seventy years since Britain declared war on Germany after Hitler's troops invaded Poland in 1939. It quickly became apparent that Germany's u-boats were going to threaten Britain's ability to import enough vital supplies for its people, industri...
by LindaBee
Explore related pages
My Secret Love- When I was a very little girl, I discovered my secret love. My family took me on...
Top Ten Ways for Moms to Relax- Yes . . . moms need to relax, they can relax and they should relax! It might see...
A Visit to Pittsburgh, PA- October, 2008. A wedding in Charlotte, North Carolina took Jack and me on anothe...
My RocketMoms Projects Lensography- I've just finished up my last of the 8 lenses that were my assignments as a Rock...
The New Forest- I was lucky enough to grow up within a stone's throw from The New Forest. I reme...
Celebrating the Halloween Holiday in Style!- Are you a big kid at heart? Do you dress up in costume for Halloween? Adult Hall...
