The 1950s was a terrific point in time that produced many fascinating things like UFO-inspired furniture and architecture, classic cars, and fantastic music.
But what truly made the decade classic was its fashion. A trend that filled the clothing racks at the time was that cute, swinging skirt complete with tastefully done appliqués commonly known as poodle skirts. It was so ubiquitous that it became the quintessential look of any fashionable girl from the 1950s - and the iconic image we still associate with that era today.
The Poodle Skirt emerged from a trend that started in 1947. It was accidentally started by Juli Lynne Charlot when she received an invitation to a Christmas Party. She had nothing to wear, so she used felts from her mom's factory and started getting artsy with it.
As she was out of time, she folded the material and cut a circle from it. The result? A seamless skirt. Now, all she had to do was to add some appliqués that matched the Christmas holidays. Upon arrival, everyone talked about her dress; she was the darling of the crowd!
After that, the actress cum designer received orders for more poodle skirts. It was a sign for her to start her own fashion company, so she did. The business thrived through the 1980s, and today, Charlot is spending her days happily in Mexico.
The poodle skirt has cemented its place in the fashion world as an evergreen style inspiration, and tutorials on how to make them are rampant across the internet.
In the 1950s, cute dogs on leashes were a style staple. So Charlot thought that it would be fitting for her to incorporate them onto her signature skirt. The photo above shows a replica of her original poodle design!
The design was sold across the U.S, and Charlot eventually grew her company to a staff of close to 50. At the time, she pursued higher knowledge of fashion and was continuously expanding her skill set. Her designs evolved far beyond applying Poodle appliques.
The style became such a hit that other designers copied the idea and added their own twists to it. Different versions made their way to the market, but the original design and the inspiring (and funny) story behind it have cemented a spot in fashion history. To the mother of poodle skirts, our fashionable little hearts love you!