Dig into Grammy’s attic and you might score the wedding dress she wore for her nuptials to Pop-pop. AND it could be vintage valuable for your own vows.

In the mid-1950s, tea length and ballerina gowns were the “it” length. This short-of-floor skirt length accentuated the bride’s ankle. Bridal dresses typically had a small waist and full skirt, a true classic silhouette often fabricated of Duchesse satin.

Hollywood was beginning to have an influence on the population and decisions being made. Sweetheart necklines were all the rage. Think Elizabeth Taylor staring in the first Father of the Bride with Spencer Tracy.

Jewelry was minimalist…a single strand of pearls. Remember, the ring was the only bling that counted!

Up until WWII, most wedding dresses were hand-sewn. In 1951, Kleinfeld Bridal opened in Brooklyn and nine years later David’s Bridal opened (and still exists today.) The 1950s also introduced the concept that a wedding gown was worn only one time…for the wedding. 

Photo: Wedding wear from 1957 Chicago nuptials.