We Found All the Best '50s-Inspired Fall Outfits
We love looking to the past for fashion inspiration, and though right now the dominance of the 1990s is still one that can be seen in the clothing on and of the runways, there's another decade that street stylers and fashion girls have been drawing inspiration from as of late. It was the time when sleek pencil skirts (and the complete opposite of them—puffy poodle skirts), high-waisted denim, cat-eye frames, gingham, and polka dots were pieces/prints most prominent in a woman's wardrobe. Any guesses as to which era we're referring to? If you said the 1950s, congrats: You nailed it!
There's a reason many of the aforementioned '50s staples—simple pencil skirts (or sleek silhouettes, in general), cat-eye sunnies, and fun, bold prints—are still being worn today. They are classics that don't go out of style that quickly and can always be styled fresh and new to make them feel more "with the time." The proof is in the pictures below, and once you see these perfect '50s fall outfits, you'll be inspired to rock the staples that defined fashion 60-plus years in the past (if you aren't yet already, of course). Read on to see the best '50s-inspired outfits and then shop the pieces with which to emulate them.
Next up, check out the coolest '90s outfits if you're feeling nostalgic.

Eva Thomas is a senior editor at InStyle, with nearly 10 years of experience as a fashion journalist. She has worked in fast-paced newsrooms, covering everything from the latest fashion trends to notable beauty launches. When she's not experimenting with bold fashion trends, trying on clothes for her Nordstrom fitting room series, sharing style hacks, or testing new skin care devices, she’s busy tracking down the best celebrity looks, interviewing trend and beauty experts, or texting her mom about her favorite new products. Eva’s conversational writing style makes her a go-to for fun, informative advice—think of her as your in-the-know BFF who’s always ready to share her expertise on all things fashion, beauty, and celebrity.