25 Vintage 1950s Bridesmaid Dresses & Retro Bridal Styles
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1950s bridesmaid dresses, popular dress styles in the 1950s and what bridesmaid wore in the 1950s–with lots of photos!
“Bridesmaids: Because every princess needs her royal entourage!”
The 50s vintage wedding dresses and bridesmaids dresses are some of the most iconic, feminine, and romantic styles ever designed.
Looking for vintage bridesmaids dresses inspiration? How about some sizzling style inspiration from 1950s style icons and the best of Old Hollywood Glamour?
Get the inside scoop on what Jackie Kennedy’s bridesmaids wore in THE society wedding of the year (!).
And get ready to fall in love with Marilyn Monroe and Bette Garble’s stunning mis-matched bridesmaids styles they wear onscreen in the hilarious 1950s romantic comedy How to Marry a Millionaire.
Grab your bubbly and get ready some fabulous retro bridesmaids style inspiration!
Other posts you might like:
Marilyn Monroe How to Marry a Millionaire – Your Guide to 1950s Glam
“Will you be my bridesmaid? (I promise the bridesmaid’s dress won’t be ugly!)”
What dress styles were popular in the 1950s?
In 1950s fashion, two stunning feminine dress silhouette styles were popular.
The first style (and most popular!) was the iconic flowy swing-style dress. (Think Audrey Hepburn!)
This style dress had a fitted bodice, defined waist, and a full skirt.
The second popular 1950s dress style was the pencil dress or a wiggle dress. It was opposite style of flouncy. Instead it was slender and fitted. (Think Marilyn Monroe… and her iconic wiggle walk!)
Similar to the popular 1950s dress styles, bridesmaid dresses fell into these two categories too!
What did 1950s bridesmaids wear?
1950s bridesmaids wore either the iconic swing style dresses with a fitted bodice, cinched waist and full skirt, or the classy fitted figure skimming styles.
Both styles mirrored popular dress silhouettes dresses of the 50s.
These beautiful bridesmaids dresses were typically tea length (with the skirts falling between the knee and the ankle), but sometimes the bridesmaids hem was floor length, a more formal style.
Jackie Kennedy chose floor length styles for her bridal party in her glamorous society wedding of the century to John F Kennedy.
1950s brides had lots of gorgeous dress styling elements and to die for retro accessories. This meant each bridal party was truly unique… and fit for a queen and her princesses!
Ready for truly sigh worthy 1950s bridesmaids inspo, as these bridesmaids helped their bride tie the knot?
As the saying goes, “A woman is only a happy bride if she’s got her besties by her side!”
1950s Bridesmaid Dresses: Tea Length Swing Style
By far the most popular 1950s bridesmaid style was the feminine swing style dresses.
The fitted bodice, defined waist and wide flared him, with lots of swirl, was oh so gorgeous!
Bridesmaids played up or down the skirt flounce. The flattering and dainty tea length was the bridesmaids’ best friend, and was flattering to the figure.
Don’t you just adore these 50s bridesmaids baby blue dresses?
Notice the quaint vintage details… Matchy-matchy white veil fascinators… oversized bows on the bodices… and gigantic blue ribbons attached to bouquets.
And don’t miss the white gloves! What a perfect color contrast to make the yellow bouquet pop.
“Life is better with your bridesmaids by your side!”
50s Bridesmaid Dresses: Tea Length Swing Style (Wide Sashes & Rockabilly Colors!)
Looking for more inspiration for unique tea length swing style dresses?
Check out these stunning variations. Maybe opt for an ultra wide sash in a contrasting color and say yes to the super petticoat.
1950s Bridesmaid Vintage Dresses: Tea Length Swing Style (Button Up!)
Check out these stunning 50s bridesmaids in their button up full skirt styes.
This favorite 1950s “housedress” style makes for an unexpected, yet adorable bridesmaids dress.
Do you prefer the sharp ‘preppy’ sleeveless styles, or the softer one with the chic bolero jacket?
Or perhaps romantic puffed sleeves to complement the pearl buttons and lace bodice pleating?
To learn more about the 1950s Housewife dresses:
Women’s 50s Fashion: Vintage 1950s Housewife Dresses
1950s Bridesmaid Dresses: V-Shaped Cinderella Dress with Sheer Sleeves
“Once in awhile, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale.”
Love the sexy dropped v waist and want to show off a bit more skin? Simply add sheer sleeves and voilà say hello to 50s class!
50s Bridesmaid Dresses: Strapless Tea Length Dresses
Want to show off even more skin than the sheer style and feeling just a bit risqué for the 1950s?
How about a sleeveless bridesmaid style with a sweetheart neckline?
Again notice the iconic 50s style elements. Sleek fitted bodice. Perfectly defined waist. Full flouncy skirt.
Although strapless evening dresses were in for the 1950s, yet for bridesmaids these appear to have been very rare.
Even though these lovely bridesmaids are showing off their shoulders, there is no hint of cleavage. And the hemlines of their tea length dresses are so long, they are almost floor length.
Talk about a stunning bridesmaid dress that would also turn heads for special occasions!
1950s Bridesmaid Vintage Dresses: Peplum Tea Length Dresses
“Peplum dresses – because life’s too short to wear boring clothes.” — Unknown
The ultra feminine peplum dress style was favorite 1940s and 1950s dress style. It’s no surprise that they also loved this as a bridesmaids style too!
Notice the adorable skirt-like frill that falls below the waistline.
Why did 50s ladies love this style so much? The extra folds at the hips made their waists look smaller.
1950s Bridesmaid Dresses: Princess Seams – Tea Length Dresses
Sigh. Don’t you just love this gorgeous variation of the fitted bodice, defined waist, and full skirt silhouette?
The princess seams travel from the arm and curve gently down over the bust.
The result? The bridesmaid dress follows the 3D shape of a woman’s curves, resulting in a tailored fit. No need to add a waistband here.
Princess seams are delightfully flattering for curvy figures.
Which vintage color do you like best? The teal blue, autumn orange or bright red?!
1950s Bridesmaid Vintage Style Clothing: Princess Seams & Empire Waist – Tea Length Dresses
Love the iconic fitted bodice, nipped waist, and full skirt 1950s style… but want to add a bit more drama?
How about adding an empire waist and princess seams?
50s Bridesmaid Dresses: Bride Matchy “Matchy” Ballgown Styles
What do you think of these stunning 1950s bridesmaids dresses… that are almost identical to the brides?
Where’s Waldo (I mean the bride)? Can you spot which is the bride vs her gorgeous bridesmaids in these awesome 1950s weddings?
Tea length or floor length…the sky is the limit with fabulous 50s style bridesmaid dresses.
Who’s ready for drinking bubbly in pretty dresses?
1950s Bridesmaid Vintage Dresses: Floor Length Styles
Adore the 50s fitted bodice, nipped waist, and full skirt 1950s style… but want to make it more formal?
Long bridesmaids dresses that are sweep the floor were also a big hit for 1950s bridesmaids.
Check out the fun color pairings for the bridesmaids — forest green and bright pink, teal blue green and cranberry pink, and pastel pink and even yellow!
Jacqueline Kennedy’s Real Life 50s Style Wedding & Bridesmaids Dresses
Jackie’s romance with John F Kennedy whisked her far away from her small hometown in Connecticut and into glittering society and political intrigue.
The setting for their romantic fall wedding in 1953 was on the East Coast in the United States.
In this society event of the season, more than 900 guests came to cheer on the newlyweds at Hammersmith Farm.
So what bridesmaids dresses did Jackie choose to compliment her stunning ivory silk taffeta wedding dress?
Jackie chose the classic 50s silhouette. A fitted bodice and floor length full skirts. And a stunning contrasting sash defined the nipped waists.
Don’t you just love the bridesmaids accessories? Classy pearl jewelry and vintage half hats in white.
Don’t miss their adorable poodle, who is oh so regal, and hoping there is meat for the main course!
(Poodles were very popular in the 1950s, as they had both looks and brains. Read more at The Ultimate Guide to Poodle Skirts in the 1950s.)
And now, drumroll, let’s move onto the second favorite 1950s bridesmaid silhouette. Yep, you guessed it, the slender figure skimming fitted style.
1950s Bridesmaid Vintage Dresses: Fitted and Flouncy!
Can’t decide between the full skirts or the fitted silhouette, why not combine both into a single dress?
What’s not to love about this hot pink bridesmaids dress with it’s stunning feminine silhouette that is oh so unique and oozes retro vibes?
Don’t forgot the key accessories for this perfect dress. A single strand of pearls, white gloves, and a matching hot pink 50s hat, pumps, and a single carnation!
1950s Bridesmaid Vintage Style Clothing: Fitted Silhouette
The second popular 1950s bridesmaids silhouette was the gorgeous figure skimming fitted style.
Fitted bodice, defined waist, and a pencil skirt that hit tea length.
Ohh, aren’t these bridsemaids’ pearl fascinators just oh so perfect to offset their dramatic bouquets and pointy heels?
Don’t miss their white gloves that are the finishing touches for this stunning romantic summer wedding.
1950s “Informal” Bridesmaid Style — Fitted Mis Matched Bridesmaids
Lauren Bacall Wedding with Her Iconic Bridesmaids: Marilyn Monroe & Bette Gable
Lauren Bacall and her bridesmaids ooze sophistication and Old Hollywood glam in their gorgeous bridal outfits in the 1953 film How to Marry a Millionaire.
This is a must-watch for the laugh out loud one-liners and to die for 50’s fashion, as Lauren Bacall, sets out with her besties, Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable, to land millionaire husbands.
For her house wedding, Lauren Bacall’s wedding dress is a stunning off the shoulder lace fit and flare style.
Her bridesmaids, Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable, wear mis matched figure skimming 1950s style dresses.
Don’t you love how these fitted 1950s day dresses simply ooze femininity?!
Secrets to channel the sleek mis matched 50s look?
Select an iconic figure skimming fitted style dress. A perfect fit is key here! And pick complimentary color palettes for your bridesmaids.
For more on Lauren Bacall’s fashion in the movie:
Lauren Bacall How to Marry a Millionaire – Plot and all her 1950s Fashion
Fun fact!
In the 1950s it was common to opt for a small church wedding or house wedding, where the bride or bridesmaids could simply wear their favorite formal dresses. Given how romantic and elegant the 1950s dresses were, this was a romantic and chic option.
This post was all about 1950s Bridesmaid Dresses
To have and to hold, and to make sure the bubbly always stays cold!
Which of the feminine retro styles for these brides’ fab day is your favorite?
