--- title: LIFE Magazine's Fashion Photography of the 1950s description: Nina Leen’s photographs captured American fashion at its finest—and most fabulous canonical: https://time.com/3878998/life-revisiting-american-elegance-in-1950s-fashion/ author: Ben Cosgrove article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2012-10-22T10:00:42.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T05:03:46.604Z og:title: LIFE Magazine's Fashion Photography of the 1950s og:description: Nina Leen’s photographs captured American fashion at its finest—and most fabulous og:url: https://time.com/3878998/life-revisiting-american-elegance-in-1950s-fashion/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt16e2886dce399ca0/69884b475f570f2d8db1aff7/140206-nina-leen-fashion-1950-03.jpg?branch=production&width=1014&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1014 og:image:height: 570 og:image:alt: American Elegance 1950 by Nina Leen og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: LIFE Magazine's Fashion Photography of the 1950s twitter:description: Nina Leen’s photographs captured American fashion at its finest—and most fabulous twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt16e2886dce399ca0/69884b475f570f2d8db1aff7/140206-nina-leen-fashion-1950-03.jpg?branch=production&width=1014&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # LIFE: Revisiting 'American Elegance' in 1950s Fashion > Sponsored content. 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They are at time.com/newsletters and are separate from a paid subscription. by [Ben Cosgrove](https://time.com/author/ben-cosgrove/) ## Ben Cosgrove Oct 22, 2012 10:00 AM UTC  Not published in LIFE. Expensive Elegance is acheived by combining a tailored tweed town suit (Omar Kiam, $235) with soft black fox circle ($125), pearl broach (Trifari, $20). Not published in LIFE. Expensive Elegance is acheived by combining a tailored tweed town suit (Omar Kiam, $235) with soft black fox circle ($125), pearl broach (Trifari, $20). Nina Leen—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images by [Ben Cosgrove](https://time.com/author/ben-cosgrove/) ## Ben Cosgrove Oct 22, 2012 10:00 AM UTC America lacks the couture history of European nations, and, as a result, its fashion output has often been seen as more casual and less decadent, compared to collections from French and Italian design houses. That distinction was challenged in the fall of 1950, though, when designers unveiled clothing that had “taken on a quality of unmistakable elegance” which was also “unmistakably American,” according to the Sept. 11, 1950 issue of LIFE. In a photo essay that featured mink-trimmed satin coats, tweed suits and rhinestone buttons, Nina Leen’s photographs captured American fashion at its finest—and most fabulous.  Caption from LIFE. "Ermine Collar, rhinestone buttons add formal note to tweed suit (Capri, $135). White plush hat (Sally Victor, $50) goes with street or theater suits." Nina Leen—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Caption from LIFE. "Velveteen and fleece are combine in a bright red greatcoat with woolly lining that can worn inside out (Raelson, $110). Velvet in high shades is popular streetwear fabric." Nina Leen—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Not published in LIFE. Expensive Elegance is acheived by combining a tailored tweed town suit (Omar Kiam, $235) with soft black fox circle ($125), pearl broach (Trifari, $20). Nina Leen—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Not published in LIFE. Outtake not published. Nina Leen—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Not published in LIFE. Outtake not published. Nina Leen—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Not published in LIFE. Outtake not published. Nina Leen—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Caption from LIFE. "Inexpensive elegance is achieved by dressing up gray flannel sheath (Carolyn Schnurer, $20) with mink scarf (Annis, $30), velvet hat (Madcaps, $5)." Nina Leen—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Not published in LIFE. Taffeta and wool costume has dress in plaid to match coat. (Herbert Sondheim, $235). Usually custom-made, evening ensembles like this are now made in all price ranges. Nina Leen—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Not published in LIFE. Outtake, not published. Nina Leen—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Not published in LIFE. Outtake, not published Nina Leen—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Sept. 11, 1950 cover of LIFE magazine. 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