FREE shipping, ad by midvalecottage ViciousCircleVtg Without our modern Lycra belly panelsto provide stretch across the tummy, ladies were left with odd-looking uneven hems as their pregnancies progressed. Fur used to be all too common in fashion. $97.49, $129.99 Its the Mad Mendecade, right? In 2020 alone, purchases on Etsy generated nearly $4 billion in income for small businesses. I made the hip-length short gown below from my Elegant Lady's Closet pattern in 2009 while pregnant with my third daughter and wore it on my first England Tour. Ad from shop CondorCave luvkitsch But politics aside that fabric is lovely. Its just a fact that cant be argued. Argunov Portrait of the comtesse Cheremetiev, 1803, Madeleine Ingres, 1814 pregnancy portrait. From shop TheBangCultVintage, Sale Price $97.49 From shop LoveCharles, ad by TheSwankyFox Ad from shop RobinClaytonVintage And how many animals does it take to make maternity wear? When it comes to retro maternity style, I may not be an expert, but I think sheer experience has to count for something! VINTAGEPATTERNSLADY If the personality in this photo alone doesnt clarify why then I dont know what to tell you. arkievintageboutique No worries, though, because I know another trick for giving a pocket a flap without using a lining. Its fine and shes gorgeous enough to pull it off but like what? With powerful tools and services, along with expert support and education, we help creative entrepreneurs start, manage, and scale their businesses. Look, it doesnt matter how we feel the 1950s were a time oflarge prints, full-body outfits, crazy colors, and really, really odd silhouettes. And the pattern? So if you were wondering why this beautiful woman is wearing the top layer of a wedding cake thats why. BeespokeVintage The hat has the weird flipped ends of an old-timer nurse and everything about this outfit doesnt want us to know this beautiful lady is pregnant well, it's too late. Pregnancy and parenting news, given to you in a way nobody else has. Ad from shop EmbonpointVintage From shop dethrosevintage, ad by brooklyngrrrlvintage moment came when Elsie Frankfurt cut out a belly opening in one of her older sister's maternity skirts to allow her to keep the pencil skirt fitting correctly--while the opening would hidebeneath a loose jacket or smock top. From shop LittleNestWearables, $10.50 Ad from shop LittleNestWearables Ad from shop InDreamsVintage Check. From shop LaBombaVintage, ad by ViciousCircleVtg In real life, however, Loren did eventually have two sons in the late '60s, early '70s. She just looks like that hilarious friend that cracks you up no matter what. (10% off), ad by ProveauxVintage She refused to cancel or alter shooting herwidely popular show, Societal conventions and strict laws about what could and couldnt be said on television mandated no one even use the word pregnant on television. From shop ThreadwindTextiles, Sale Price $12.00 That cant be her husbands gloved hand Speaking of, why doesnt he have to wear gloves? From shop ViciousCircleVtg, ad by Pinupthreads While many of the items on Etsy are handmade, youll also find craft supplies, digital items, and more. From shop greendragonlady, $65.00 Below are 20 maternity looks from the '50s that are, This picture is amazing, mostly because of theSophia Loren's smile. The 1960s were one of the nations most influential time periods from a fashion standpoint, and the distinctive styles that emerged and endure today are a timeless expression of a certain lust for life. Do what you will; wear a cross between pajamas and a suit while youre pregnant and still make it work. (15% off), ad by LoveCharles Take full advantage of our site features by enabling JavaScript. Or maybe the 1950s barely hold an aesthetic temptation for a person. Ad from shop Veramode Ad from shop luvkitsch CondorCave By the way, women even wearing pants? It's easy to wear and keeps a body cool (unlike today's sausage-skin bodycon dresses that trap heat and sweat--ugh!). So the fact alone that her outfit isnt just one giant swatch of fabric as a shapeless dress is something worth commenting on. Plus, who knows if a navy long-sleeve t-shirt was the way to finish it off but doesnt she look kind of perfect? It only makes sense that this decadethis weird era between the progressive jolt of feminism in the 1940s inadvertently caused by World War II, and the infamous freedom of the 1960swas its own kind of distinct. You can be a pregnant rocker in the 1950s and its all good. $12.00, $40.00 Thats a hat as big as her blouse and honestly, it's not the worst look of the lot. From shop PaperLadiesShop, Sale Price $13.60 dethrosevintage This mom-to-be is killing this golf-course green shade. Seriously, do you know how many euphemisms for pregnancy the writers of, The Vintage Bump: 20 Maternity Looks From The 1950s, Your Partner May Influence Your Climate Change Views, Recent Family Movies Focus On Parental Apologies, Marking A Trend, Voluntary Imagination Helps Kids Learn Language. midvalecottage Explore DIY sites like Etsy as well as designers to find what fits you best. Please. No one embraced needless stripes like that decade. Is that dress a lot to take in? remembering account, browser, and regional preferences, remembering privacy and security settings, personalized search, content, and recommendations, helping sellers understand their audience, showing relevant, targeted ads on and off Etsy. The plain blouse and busy pants might be a better look than the other way around; not that it matters what verdict the peanut gallery comes to now. How many inches below the knee is that dress anyway? Digital Trends Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites. (70% off), ad by greendragonlady Raidingmy stash, I found a beautiful hot pink paisley polished cotton for the smock and (unconventionally for the 1950s!) This is so much more classy than those skin tight stretch dresses they wear today. From shop kitschbitchvintage, Sale Price $119.20 Choose the options youd like for the order. Gauchos and ponchos also were in style both with the loose fit that was perfect for moms-to-be. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. The upper body seems to be fitted for a burly farmer and the shoulders are trying too hard to be feminine. Go find that perfect cheetah print dress and youre ready to go! TicciRockabilly Check out pregnant Jackie O. in her cape. Simply the Worlds Most Interesting Travel Site. It only makes sense that this decadethis weird era between the progressive jolt of feminism in the 1940s inadvertently caused by World War II, and the infamous freedom of the 1960swas its own kind of distinct. We also created 2.6 million jobs in the U.S.enough to employ the entire city of Houston, TX! The purpose of these jackets was mostly to mask, or at least diffuse, how pregnant a woman was. The one thing that can shine through the weirdest of outfits is the energy and gorgeous spirit these women obviously have. Some kind of silk dress that also happens to button to the neck? Ad from shop arkievintageboutique Its just a lot. So, as far as how many animals it takes to make a fur trench coat yeesh, who knows. From shop DaisyandErma, ad by EmbonpointVintage Original Price $40.00 And when it comes to fashion for a womans changing body? [gallery link="file" size="medium" ids="11791,11792,11793,11789,11788,11790"]I'll definitely have another go at this darling pencil skirt, though I think I will modify it to include a stretch panel instead of the opening. Lucille Ball was literally the first woman to be pregnant on television. Pregnancy was "user-friendly" during the Empire/Regency era, because society didn't yet frown on a public "bump," and fashion favored the high waist that made it easy to continue wearing the same dresses while pregnant that fit before the wearer was expecting. Our global marketplace is a vibrant community of real people connecting over special goods. This mail order pattern includes pre-cut pieces without any markings other than dots to show the straight grain or fold, and the instructions have no illustrations. Now, though, maternity fashions are keeping pace with the rest of the fashion world. These blouses with waist-height pockets are, actually, a great invention but the 1950s-standard patterns are a bit much. From shop BelleofBallVintage, $50.00 Forget the weird silky jacket with three-quarter sleeves. Personally, I prefer a stretch tummy band to an open skirt panel (feels more secure to me), but this pencil skirt turned out really cute (next time I make one, I'll opt for a non-stretch material, however). The 1950s were a time of large prints, full-body outfits, crazy colors, and really, really odd silhouettes. Well, we just threw everything out the window. Ad from shop LoveCharles Fill out the requested information. Ad from shop DottysVintageFinds From handmade pieces to vintage treasures ready to be loved again, Etsy is the global marketplace for unique and creative goods. If those heels had one ounce of the determination she has, they glowed like fresh snow their entire lifetime. Left: Jennie Chancey wearing a Regency gown during her first pregnancy. AllTheRageVintageCA FREE shipping, ad by rumbera49 Original Price $218.00 At first, I could findonly tent-style dresses with no shape and style. It was a new layer added to an outfit in the interest of modesty. NearlyNakedThrift Ad from shop Piplotex $119.20, $149.00 The Most Common Stereotypes On Children: What Are They & What Harm Are They Causing? You are correct. Original Price $129.99 Read More , Post Office Box 312439Enterprise, AL 36330. Sellers looking to grow their business and reach more interested buyers can use Etsys advertising platform to promote their items. Also, there are so many buttons. Try contacting them via Messages to find out! This look is ridiculous. I've always loved retro style, because, honestly, I found it extremely difficult in the late 1990s and early 2000s to find maternity clothing that wasn't actually embarrassing! Ad from shop TheSwankyFox Those look super comfortable. Why is she saluting like that anyway? FREE shipping, ad by BeeandMason Looks like you already have an account! From shop ProveauxVintage, $55.00 She's totally pulling it off. I was definitely in good company when I wore so many Regency gowns during my late 20s to mid-30s. I immediately grabbed a 1950s maternity pattern with a pencil skirt, as I had never seen one up close before. Sure, lets just go for. From shop NearlyNakedThrift, ad by RycraftyVintage KrisVintageClothing Good work, Taylor. DaisyandErma ProveauxVintage An "ah-ha!" VintageVixenPortland From shop TheGinghamLife, ad by FlanneryCrane I topstitched them in place and loved the result:The 3/4-length sleeves end in cuffs that fasten with a cufflink-style closure. Ad from shop VintageHeartPatterns Full body corduroy? Original Price $16.00 From shop BeeandMason, $98.00 Sophia was starring in the movieYesterday, Today and Tomorrow,which premiered in the early '60s (however, the style was very similarmaternity wiseto the late '50s). No, thanks.So I've stuck to making my own things for years with a few rare exceptions when I've found pretty, comfortable styles in the shops (which has mainly happened in the last five years thanks to the "retro" craze that has brought beautiful, feminine dresses back into the spotlight). Set where you live, what language you speak, and the currency you use. All of them? Shipping policies vary, but many of our sellers offer free shipping when you purchase from them. A Regency fashion plate depicting a mother breastfeeding her infant. TheGinghamLife From shop LindsaysFinds, ad by BelleofBallVintage Lets go. From shop oldclothes, ad by dethrosevintage One errant hand always has to hold them if you dare expose your real hands. All Rights Reserved. And by the way: yup, this is one of the few, rare photos of a pregnant Audrey Hepburn. Ad from shop straycatvintage Ad from shop TheGinghamLife You know, while were at it with all these oversized coats, why not add this one to the mix? Pocket and collar details on the maternity smock, Cufflink-style sleeve closure on the maternity smock. I'll keep you posted if I get around to it before my due date in April! From shop Pinupthreads, ad by LindsaysFinds 1950's VTG McCall's Maternity Blouse,Skirt & Pants Pattern 4106 Size 12, 1950s Simplicity Maternity Jacket with by DesignRewindFashions, $10.00, mccalls 80s pants pattern - Google Search, 1950s Maternity Dress Vintage Sewing Pattern by MissBettysAttic, $10.00, Apricot Patchwork Pockets Buttons Asymmetric Loose Wool Coat. Weirdly decadent? Its an odd color and its a tough shade to pull off in a full body look. Maybe polka dots and a bold red lip are the unifying lines on every collagethey've ever made (granted, a bold red lip is a classic in any decade). From shop VintageVixenPortland, $148.00 (At least it is for me). That was a big deal! From shop pursuingandie, ad by NearlyNakedThrift After all, that was almost 70 years ago. Or maybe the 1950s barely hold an aesthetic temptation for a person. As you do when youre on a crusade to prove a body type can be gorgeous. From shop RycraftyVintage, Sale Price $10.41 ASailorAndHisLady Some examples of 1970s vintage maternity clothing include: Are you looking for more pregnancy-related content? Everything about this mom-to-be is just perfect and fierce, and thats even before the little-capped sleeves and polka dots. Etsy uses cookies and similar technologies to give you a better experience, enabling things like: Detailed information can be found in Etsys Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy and our Privacy Policy. In the 1950s, there was never too much of a fabric. Everything can be a pantsuit! This was at a time when fashion that highlighted a womans bump was a silent revolution, so even if clothes that try to maska pregnant body looktotally ridiculous that was par for the course in the '50s. And those little arm slits? The style doesn't immediately leap out as a costume, so I happily traipsed through grocery stores and the neighborhood, enjoying the comfortable fit and feminine look. 1940s pattern with adjustable waist jacket. Under Add your personalization, the text box will tell you what the seller needs to know. Ad from shop midvalecottage Ad from shop ViciousCircleVtg EmbonpointVintage But shes killing it. What are we doing here? Ad from shop VINTAGEPATTERNSLADY TheVintageDisciple If youre thinking thats too many polka dots for one persons body, you're totally right. One of her many personal missions and lasting achievements was showing America that pregnancy didnt just have to be a big deal that was actively hidden from the public. How many silk jacketsthat werent at all worn outdoorsdid the 1950s birth? Etsy is powered by 100% renewable electricity. Thats an acceptable answer. Now, 1950s maternity clothes still weren't as bump-revealing as a lot of things pregnant women wear today, but they were definitely designed with actual baby bumpsin mind and put the comfort of the expectant mother at the top of the list. Early 1940s maternity dress with adjustable waistline. DottysVintageFinds greendragonlady From shop EleventhHouseVtg, ad by TicciRockabilly From shop Piplotex, ad by Veramode Many people in this conservative, post-World War II era were not fully comfortable seeing pregnant women in public, much less designing flattering maternity clothing. Should you wear a postpartum belt after your c-section? Ad from shop KrisVintageClothing From shop TheSwankyFox, $126.00 Ad from shop LuckyDryGoods Ad from shop TheVintageVenusShop Great! From shop rumbera49. From shop TicciRockabilly, ad by CondorCave NewFolks may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Seriously, do you know how many euphemisms for pregnancy the writers of I Love Lucyare probably responsible for? She looks amazing but this look could really use some breaking up, in terms of color or texture. We've sent you an email to confirm your subscription. Of course, there are some interesting looks to be talked about. The neckline is weird and fun, and the pleating is pretty great but has anyone ever been pregnant enough to wear such a huge overcoat? RobinClaytonVintage This is cuter than it should be for a gigantic jacket that obscures every bit of a persons physique. When she got home, did she only get her vest- trench coat (now theres an article of clothing that only existed in the 1950s) off after20 minutes of sweating and fighting with the buttons? InDreamsVintage LoveCharles Ad from shop Pinupthreads Ad from shop brooklyngrrrlvintage They can be a bit of a challenge to find, however. Later, maternity vogue morphed to favor skin-tight dresses that really looked like sausage casings to my eyes! The smock is roomy and comfortable and has a very smart look to it with the collar turned up and those cufflink-style sleeves. I'd love to hear about it in the comments! After all, that was almost 70 years ago. Ad from shop VintageVixenPortland Some of our favorite examples of 1950s maternity clothing include: Break out the bell-bottom (or wide-leg) pants and celebrate this unforgettable decade. (20% off), ad by KrisVintageClothing Try using a different browser or disabling ad blockers. Because skirtsweren't made extra long (only wider to allow the waistline to expand), the front would slowly hike up as the belly expanded. Piplotex TheBangCultVintage Well, what do we have to lose? Maybe a person's Google search history is riddled with 1950s inspired fashion maternity or otherwise. FREE shipping, ad by InDreamsVintage From shop TheVintageDisciple, ad by VintageVixenPortland Dont see this option? Open tummy panel with facing stitched in place. Theres pockets and sleeves attached? Of course, there are gloves, no one did anything without them. Why wear vintage maternity clothes? Some of these looks seriously need to come back and some of them never needed to exist in the first place, but all are fascinating in their own way. The 1950s were a time of designers saying to one another, Lets make clothes way too huge for pregnant women, all the while covering them up in patterns that are way too much! And then no one argued with that because it was all men making these clothes. After all, why should trends or fashion-consciousness stop just because of a pregnancy? But cut it out I did! This silhouette honestly looks like the body of a homemade sock puppet. I still have this one and love it.Below isanother Regency gown (also made from the drawstring option in my Elegant Lady's Closet) that I wore on the same tour. VintageGoodsToGo pursuingandie Now instead of trying to adapt regular styles for maternity with adjustable wrap skirts and expandable waistlines, clothing manufacturers jumped on the bandwagon of exclusive maternity clothes. The seller might still be able to personalize your item. 1950's Maternity shirt 'Betty' CUSTOM MADE by NinasWerke on Etsy, $69.99, Three Piece Maternity Suit, 1958 well these days are sure gone, 1950s Maternity Summer Top Shorts & Skirt Pattern by willynillyart, 1950's maternity pencil skirt - cut out and suspenders to have space for the bump, vintage maternity pattern; these simply look comfy, Vintage 1950's Accordion Pleat Taffeta Royal Blue Maternity Skirt Set "So Lucy" | eBay, Simplicity 3276 1950s Vintage Maternity Clothing by EmSewCrazy, $11.00, 1950s Vintage Misses Maternity Suit 1955 McCalls VTG Sewing Pattern 3374 Size 12 #McCallPattern #MaternitySuitPattern, Vintage Maternity Fashion Old Catalog Pages from by VintagePackRat, Vintage Simplicity 3667 Maternity Suit-Dress Sewing Pattern size 10, 1950s clothes for woman | circa 1950: Supposed Maternity Clothes of the 1950's. It wasnt so long ago that the options didnt extend much beyond the shapeless smock. Most patterns from the 1930s and '40s include a loose jacket to cover up the belly once the waistline expanded past what was considered decent: 1950s maternity skirt with open tummy panel. brooklyngrrrlvintage First I gathered the smock's back and front to fit the yoke:The rest of the steps flew along fairly quickly, though I realized when I reached the pocket step that I had failed to cut four of each (and wouldn't have had enough material anyway). Those came from the 1950s. Ad from shop ProveauxVintage LittleNestWearables (20% off), ad by VintageGoodsToGo FREE shipping, ad by ThreadwindTextiles I mean, the pockets are fun but wow this jacket really let the seams out. Send me exclusive offers, unique gift ideas, and personalized tips for shopping and selling on Etsy. Because you can, thats why. TheVintageVenusShop FREE shipping, ad by luvkitsch It could be glamorous, too. Smock front and back gathered to the yoke. From shop AllTheRageVintageCA, Sale Price $96.00 Ad from shop NearlyNakedThrift Ad from shop rumbera49 Anyway, you know the thick stripes that dominated shirts and childrenswear in the 1990s? From shop ConstellationResale, $67.00 I have a belly band I wear during late pregnancy, so that's the white material you see over my tummy in these pictures:[gallery columns="2" link="file" size="medium" ids="11783,11794"]As you can see, the panel surrounds the belly and allows the skirt front to hang perfectly. I really am thankful that the 1950s were such a pro-pocket era otherwise, this time would have been a disaster for maternity wear. Some of these looks seriously need to come back and some of them never needed to exist in the first place, but all are fascinating in their own way. Pinupthreads I made a couple of these for myself and nursed two daughters and a set of twins easily. Back in the 1950s, almost no one was debating the ethics of fur coats. From shop luvkitsch, ad by oldclothes Ad from shop LaBombaVintage Ad from shop oldclothes When I discoveredI was expecting in fall 2016, I dug through my old maternity clothes and found a lot of tired tops and dresses that had seen better days and alot of wear and tear, so I decided to check through my pattern stash to see if I could find anything fun with a vintage flare.What I have from the 1930s and 1940s still demonstrates that, after 70 years of Victorians and Edwardians hiding pregnancy, society still wasn't ready to embrace the expectant figure quite aspublicly as our Regency (and earlier) forebears did. Now, when a celebrity wears fur, at the very least they get chewed out on all social media platforms. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. ad by TheVintageDisciple BelleofBallVintage Ad from shop ShopFoxburrow Its also home to a whole host of one-of-a-kind items made with love and extraordinary care. $13.60, $16.00 From shop brooklyngrrrlvintage, Sale Price $196.20 Wouldnt you be warm enough anyway if you were that pregnant? Also, is that what the fate is for all those gloves? LuckyDryGoods I really hope it was pretty deep into winter and she had a sunny enough personality to keep smiling despite Januarys frosts. I love the look of turned-back cuffs!With the small scraps of fabric left over, I decided to make covered buttons, which give any project a really sophisticated finish:[gallery columns="2" link="file" size="medium" ids="11786,11787"]After ironing crisply, it was time to try on the entire outfit!