1950s Fashion: Vintage Coats and Jackets for Women
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1950s coats for women, including the 1950s trench coat, 1950s fur coat, and 1950s swing coat.
This post is all about the 1950s coat
In the 1950s, the vintage coat was not only a statement piece in a woman’s outfits, but it was an essential wardrobe garment.
Some of the most iconic 1950s looks of Hollywood Glamour are of Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, and Lana Turner in their glamorous furs, or Grace Kelly in her enchanting tailored coats.
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“Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury.”
1950s Vintage Coats
What coat styles were popular in the 1950s?
There were three popular styles of 1950s coats, which ranged from very fitted, to slightly fitted, to full and swingy.
The length?
Long coats were popular in the 50s, with the length often hitting the mid-calf or ankle.
There was also mid-length (that cascaded right below the knee) or shorter styles (that skimmed the hip).
There were lots of fabulous retro names for huge variety of vintage coats that fell into these categories, like Toppers, Pea Coat, Swing Coat, Trench Coat, Princess Coat, winter jackets, and the list goes on…
Strategic buttons or a touch of fur added glam to simple tailored lines.
Cozy wool velour, wool fleece, fun tweeds, and camel hair were popular fabric options.
Luxurious fur or cashmere were the look for society ladies as they oozed sophistication and Old Hollywood Glamour.
Now we’ll look at vintage coats across two categories.
The first is formal and dressy (think Old Hollywood Glamour) and the second is practical everyday wear (think fall gardening).
Vintage fashion 1950s
In the 1950s the general fashion was influence by Christian Dior and his new look.
The full swing skirt was popular as it helped achieve the hourglass silhouette.
This also influenced coat design as well, because you didn’t want to mess up your silhouette with a wrong coat!
Above, Christian Diors New Look influenced womens 1950s fashion.
Related post:
Vintage Coats: Formal, Dressy, & Old Hollywood Glamour
Vintage Coats Princess Coat
A popular dressy 1950s coat style was the stunning princess coat.
This beautiful vintage coat had a form fitting silhouette at the bodice, an accentuated waist, and a flared hemline, perfect for wearing over your full skirts.
Statement buttons or a wrap over style were popular choices for the princess coat.
Another bonus for the Princess Coat?
It often mirrored the lines of the dress underneath.
You know that gorgeous New Look style from Christian Dior with softy rounded shoulders, a nipped waist, and a full flared skirts.
To complete the look, ladies reached for their color coordinated gloves, chic winter stocking, matching hat, and the perfect purse.
The result?
A stunning ultra-feminine style.
It’s an easy look to recreate, since it’s one of the most common styles available in retro and 1950s inspired clothing.
1950s Swing Coat
Grace Kelly wears a swing coat complete with gloves and pearls.
The chic swing style coat is another classic vintage coat.
This gorgeous coat has an unexpected style is fitted at the shoulders and gets looser as it progresses towards the hem.
At the bottom is full on 50s flare.
How did it get its name?
Why that’s simply from the sexy swing motion that occurs as a lady walks.
Notice again the sleek color coordination of the hats, gloves, and heels with these fabulous vintage coats!
50s Swing Coats: A Vintage Maternity Fashion Must-Have
The swing coat was a popular and chic 1950s coat style for expecting mothers.
After World War II, there was a huge baby boom, and this roomy coat style was comfy and fashionable.
Plus women could now go out in public without “showing” too much.
Notice how elegant the glowing Princess Grace Kelly looks in her embroidered swing coat, (right) with matching pumps and white gloves, at a society function with her husband, the Prince of Monaco.
We also love the fur details (on the collar and cuff) of our favorite expecting redhead, Lucille Ball. (left)
Related post:
Chic Vintage Maternity Clothes, from Retro Dresses to 50s Fashion
Vintage Coats: Box Coat
Remember how we mentioned that 1950s coat styles, ranged from very fitted, to semi-fitted, to full and swingy?
Well, the iconic formal 1950s style box coat falls directly into the full category.
Why is it called a box coat?
It’s wide and straight–just like a box.
Lengths range from short (hip), to medium (mid-thigh), to long (mid-calf).
Grace Kelly looks supremely cozy and chic in her chic vintage wool coats. (right)
To offset the boxiness of their coats, notice how these are layered on top of a figure skimming dress underneath.
For some more stunning 1950s coat inspiration you might like:
She Played with Fire – Movie Recap and Arlene Dahl’s 1950s Fashion
Spring & Fall Lightweight Vintage Coats
Looking for the perfect lightweight coat to pair with your spring dress for shopping or fall evening gown for the weekend gala?
Say hello to the 1950s chic lightweight coats who were known by all kinds of adorable names, like the clutch coat or the tuxedo coat.
Lightweight wools, new synthetics and cotton blends, were just a few of the popular fabrics for these elegant coats that kept the chill at bay and maximized the glam.
These mirrored the popular 50s jacket silhouettes, and from sleeker more figure hugging styles with (see the sharp blue coat with military inspired buttons) to the more swing inspired styles (see the white and blue evening gown coats).
The silhouette for these coats was more of a straight slim style vs the exaggerated hourglass silhouette.
1950s Trench Coat
Another timeless style that was a carry over style from the 1940s was the trench coat.
Double-breasted and more masculine inspired or single breasted and figure hugging were both iconic “in” looks.
Anita Ekberg rocks a trenchcoat in the ‘50s film noir Screaming Mimi. (left)
Elizabeth Taylor stuns in a more feminine style. (middle)
Sophia Lauren pairs a delicate and flowy headscarf with her structured trenchcoat in the 1958 romantic drama The Key. (right)
Vintage Rain Coats & Jackets
Why have a “Plain Jane” rain jacket when you could have a chic colorful rain coat, with a matching hat, gloves and AND a matching umbrella?
Fun eye catching plaids and bright colors (turquoise, deep blues, vibrant reds, cozy gray) were all wonderful options with light water proofing.
Weatherman predicting bigger showers ahead?
Maybe reach for a adorable plastic one.
We love the fun and chic options for all of these looks!
Debbie Reynolds and Gene Kelly 1950s fashion is so on point, as they sing and dance in style under the raindrops in their bright yellow plastic rain coats, hats, and boots in the musical Singing in the Rain. (left)
1950s Fur Coats
To round out the dressy styles of 1950s coats is the one and only fur coat style, which oozes Old Hollywood vintage glam, and was one of the most iconic styles of the era.
For those who could afford it, of course.
The starlets, royalty, and affluent stepped out in their furs, and the world took note.
Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Queen Elizabeth, Rita Hayworth, and Sophia Lauren, are just a few of the incredible 50s icons who bedazzled in their winter coats.
Maureen O’Hara looks extra warm in her fluffy fur coat. (top image)
Elizabeth Taylor “borrows” a fur coat in Butterfield 8. (bottom image)
Notice again the fabulous 50s coat styles fashioned as furs–from the boxcoat to the swing style!
For the savvy 50s housewife who couldn’t afford a real fur, she could achieve this prestigious look on a budget with a faux fur or an inexpensive squirrel that was dyed to look like sable.
Related posts:
1950s Fur Stoles, Muffs, and Vintage Shawls
Is a full fur coat a bit too pricey?
Another way to a touch of seductive real fur to your outfit is with a fur collar, stole, muff, or shawl.
Marilyn Monroe glams up the 50s fur shawl look in the 1953 movie How to Marry a Millionaire.
Related posts:
Marilyn Monroe How to Marry a Millionaire – Your Guide to 50s Glam
Vintage Jackets: Practical Everyday Wear: “Surcoat Jacket”
And now onto the 50s practical jacket styles, which were often called Surcoat Jackets.
These everyday wardrobe pieces were usually shorter and came in a large variety of styles, depending again, on whether a lady was looking for more fitted, to slightly fitted, to a full and swingy style.
The retro feminine surcoat jackets were easily paired with pants or a skirt, and would perfect for any active or busy 50s lifestyle.
Notice how many fun and colorful options there are.
1950s Winter Casual Jackets
With the drop in temperature in the winter months also came a slew of cute practical surcoat options that would be perfect for very snowy or rainy days.
We love the fun bright colors, sensible tailoring, and fabrics options for these jackets.
This post was all about the 1950s coat for women, including the 1950s trench coat, 1950s swing coat, and 1950s princess coat.
Which 1950s coat look if your favorite?
Do you prefer the flouncy swing coat, practical plaid surcoat, or a glamorous fur coat?
Other posts you might like:
50s Wedding Dress – Inspiring Vintage Dresses from the 1950s
Originally published Feb 2024, updated Jun 2024
