Boy, the fashion rules we grew up with in the 1950s and ’60s would make today’s teenagers roll their eyes so hard they might get stuck that way (as our mothers used to warn). From strict hemline measurements to the infamous white glove test, here’s a look back at some fashion rules that would sound absolutely crazy to modern teens.
Table of Contents
- 1 1. No White After Labor Day
- 2 2. Gloves for Every Occasion
- 3 3. The Below-the-Knee Rule
- 4 4. No Pants at School or Work
- 5 5. Matching Shoes and Purse
- 6 6. Stockings Required
- 7 7. Hat Etiquette
- 8 8. No Visible Slips
- 9 9. Age-Appropriate Colors
- 10 10. Girdle Requirements
- 11 11. No Mixing Patterns
- 12 12. Evening Dress Rules
- 13 13. Jewelry Rules
- 14 14. Makeup Restrictions
1. No White After Labor Day
This was practically carved in stone back in our day. You’d be considered a social outcast if you dared to wear white shoes, bags, or clothing after Labor Day. The rule held firm until Memorial Day, when white magically became acceptable again. Even the most fashionable women would rush to store their white wardrobe items away as September approached.
Save for later
Want to come back to this story? Save it with your email so it is easy to find again.
2. Gloves for Every Occasion
Ladies were expected to wear gloves for everything from shopping to church to afternoon tea. The length of your gloves had strict rules, too – the more formal the occasion, the longer the gloves. White gloves were considered essential for any respectable woman’s wardrobe, and they had to be immaculately clean.
3. The Below-the-Knee Rule
Schools and offices actually measured skirt lengths! The rule was simple: when kneeling, your skirt had to touch the floor. Any shorter and you’d be sent home to change. Some places even used rulers to measure the exact number of inches from the floor when kneeling.
4. No Pants at School or Work
Women wearing pants to work or school was considered scandalous until well into the 1970s. Even on the coldest winter days, girls and women were expected to wear skirts or dresses. Some women would wear pants under their skirts for the commute, then remove them at their destination.
5. Matching Shoes and Purse
Your shoes and handbag had to match – no exceptions. This meant many women had multiple sets of shoes and bags in different colors to coordinate with various outfits. Navy shoes required a navy bag, brown shoes needed a brown bag, and so on.
6. Stockings Required
Bare legs were considered absolutely scandalous. Even in summer heat, women were expected to wear stockings with their skirts and dresses. Many workplaces and schools had strict rules about this, and some even specified the acceptable denier (thickness) of stockings.
7. Hat Etiquette
Hats were mandatory for church and formal occasions, but they came with complex rules. You couldn’t wear a hat wider than your shoulders, and certain styles were only appropriate for specific times of day. Plus, you had to consider whether your hat might block someone’s view at events.
8. No Visible Slips
A slip showing beneath your dress was a major fashion faux pas. Women carried safety pins to ensure their slips stayed hidden, and mothers constantly reminded daughters to “check your slip” before leaving the house. The slip itself was a non-negotiable undergarment for any proper outfit.
9. Age-Appropriate Colors
Certain colors were considered inappropriate for women over a certain age. Bright colors were for the young, while older women were expected to wear more subdued shades. Pink after 40 was considered particularly gauche, and black was reserved for formal occasions or mourning.
10. Girdle Requirements
A proper lady never left the house without her girdle, no matter her size or age. This uncomfortable foundation garment was considered essential for achieving the proper silhouette. Even slim women were expected to wear them to ensure a “smooth line” under their clothing.
11. No Mixing Patterns
Mixing patterns was considered a serious fashion mistake. Plaids, florals, and stripes had to be worn separately. The only acceptable pattern mixing was in accessories, and even then, it had to be done very carefully. The rule was “one pattern per outfit.”
12. Evening Dress Rules
Long gowns were strictly for evening events after 6 PM. Wearing a floor-length dress during the day was considered highly inappropriate. Similarly, certain fabrics like satin and sequins were reserved exclusively for evening wear, regardless of the style of the garment.
13. Jewelry Rules
The old rule was “no more than 13 pieces of jewelry at once,” including your watch and wedding ring. Pearls were for daytime, diamonds for evening, and mixing gold and silver jewelry was absolutely forbidden. Young ladies weren’t supposed to wear precious gems until they were married.
14. Makeup Restrictions
Makeup had strict rules about what was appropriate for different times of day. Red lipstick was reserved for evenings, while pale pink was for daytime wear. Young girls weren’t supposed to wear any makeup until their late teens, and then only light powder and perhaps a touch of lipstick.
