The Freedom of the Spring and Summer Fashions of 1957

The fashions of this season are marked by liberation from constraints, says Christian Dior. The hats that used to plunge down onto the head in a straight line have turned to tilting toward the side or the back; the dresses that used to have high collars now, for the most part, bare the neck; and skirts, in all their forms, are worn according to the lady's taste — except for pleated skirts, which still cling to the body. As for dresses, their length or shortness goes along with the occasion for which they are worn, and likewise harmonizes with the style of the dress.

Suits: The suits of this season are neither wide nor narrow; rather they follow the natural lines of the body, and the skirt, as it falls downward, tends toward a slight fullness, which lends the lady's figure an air of freedom. Nearly all the suits are worn with mousseline blouses, their collars wound tastefully about the neck...

Dresses: The day dress is what the lady wears in town; it is mostly made up of two pieces, a blouse and a skirt, and most of these blouses are graced with sleeves that are short or reach the elbow.

Afternoon dresses, for their part, reach down to the ankle, which suits all the circumstances and occasions for which they are worn: a cocktail, a dinner, or a tea... These dresses may also be worn for the evening — though the preference is for dresses long to the floor.

Colors: The master of fashion, Christian Dior, still believes that "navy blue," together with gray, white, and sky blue, is for daytime; for the afternoon there remain black and red, with the preference going to the veined in all colors; while the evening colors are confined almost entirely to white and pale blue.

Hats: Two of the greatest fashion designers are joining forces today, Jacques Heim and Svend: the first specializes in dress fashions and the second in hats. Svend has drawn the inspiration for this season's hats from Latin America: all are round in shape, and made of transparent, light materials such as organza, mousseline, and varieties of straw. The colors are vivid and strange: blue, violet, orange, white and black and white. Hats this season are worn tilted slightly back, so that the new coiffure shows from beneath them.