Mid 20th Century
Focused on the 1940s to the 1960s, learn more about the mid-20th century garments housed in the Fashion Research Collection.
![1940s](/content/dam/fashionresearchcollection/DecadeThumbnails/1940.png)
![A Ceremonial Cap Gold thread emblem on the front of a cherry red men's ceremonial cap](/content/dam/fashionresearchcollection/Thumbnails/CherryRedCap1.jpg)
(PDF file) A Ceremonial Cap (opens in new window)
Kate O'Reilly examines the details of a 1940s ceremonial cap and its original owner.
![A Study of a 1940s Cocktail Dress by Jack Liebman Waist of black and pink printed Jack Liebman cocktail dress](/content/dam/fashionresearchcollection/Thumbnails/CocktailDressJackLeibman1.jpg)
(PDF file) A Study of a 1940s Cocktail Dress by Jack Liebman (opens in new window)
Hannah Dobbie discusses how a 1940s Jack Liebman dress blurs the perception of typical dresses from this time period.
(PDF file) An Ode to Claire McCardell (opens in new window)
Jenn Bilczuk discusses how the changing social landscape of the 1940s elevated Claire McCardell's simple yet style designs into fashion discourse.
![Assembling the Puzzle of Jack Liebman's Career Close up of rosette detail on blue Jack Liebman dress](/content/dam/fashionresearchcollection/Thumbnails/Assembling_the_Puzzle_of_Jack_Liebmans_Career.jpg)
(PDF file) Assembling the Puzzle of Jack Liebman’s Career (opens in new window)
Hannah Dobbie conducts archival research to learn more about the life and career of Canadian fashion designer, Jack Liebman, who made an impact on the industry that few know about.
![1950s](/content/dam/fashionresearchcollection/DecadeThumbnails/1950.png)
![A Close Look at a 1950s Wool Jacket by Dior Label on Christian Dior wool jacket](/content/dam/fashionresearchcollection/Thumbnails/A_Close_Look_at_a_1950s_Wool_Jacket_by_Dior.jpg)
(PDF file) A Close Look at a 1950s Wool Jacket by Dior (opens in new window)
Enticed by the subtle complexity, Millie Yates studies the construction of a Dior boucle jacket.
![Clasp of Lucite Purse](/content/dam/fashionresearchcollection/Thumbnails/Plight_of_the_Ryerson_Copycat_Lucite_Bag.jpg)
(PDF file) Plight of the Ryerson Copycat Lucite Bag (opens in new window)
Laura Dionne performs object-based research on a replica Lucite purse to learn about the decade-long trend of the 1950s.
![Button and closure detail on Christian Dior wool jacket Button and closure detail on Christian Dior wool jacket](/content/dam/fashionresearchcollection/Thumbnails/A_Dissection_of_a_Wool_Jacket_by_Christian_Dior.jpg)
(PDF file) A Dissection of a Wool Jacket by Christian Dior (opens in new window)
Author Millie Yates performs object-based research on a Christian Dior jacket from the 1950s.
![Julian Rose, the Forgotten Dressmaker Close up of red floral detail on Julian Rose dress](/content/dam/fashionresearchcollection/Thumbnails/Julian_Rose_the_Forgotten_Dressmaker.jpg)
(PDF file) Julian Rose, the Forgotten Dressmaker (opens in new window)
Anya Georgijevic questions why designer Julian Rose seemed to have disappeared from the British fashion scene despite the important role he played in shaping it.
![Assembling the Puzzle of Jack Liebman's Career Close up of rosette detail on blue Jack Liebman dress](/content/dam/fashionresearchcollection/Thumbnails/Assembling_the_Puzzle_of_Jack_Liebmans_Career.jpg)
(PDF file) Assembling the Puzzle of Jack Liebman’s Career (opens in new window)
Hannah Dobbie conducts archival research to learn more about the life and career of Canadian fashion designer, Jack Liebman, who made an impact on the industry that few know about.
![1960s](/content/dam/fashionresearchcollection/DecadeThumbnails/1960.png)
![Did Mary Quant’s designs conform to or defy the gender roles of the 1960’s? Label of a Mary Quant mini dress which reads "Mary Quant's Ginger Group, Made in England"](/content/dam/fashionresearchcollection/Thumbnails/Did_Mary_Quant’s_designs_conform_to_or_defy_the_gender_roles_of_the_1960’s.jpg)
(PDF file) Did Mary Quant’s designs conform to or defy the gender roles of the 1960’s? (opens in new window)
Mariam Mansour and Samika Chadha question if the Ginger Group line was size friendly and its influence on Western women's fashion in the 21st century.
![Sustainability and the Jumpsuit Close up of belt detail of pink, orange, yellow and green swirly patterned paper jumpsuit](/content/dam/fashionresearchcollection/Thumbnails/Sustainability_and_a_Paper_Jumpsuit.jpg)
(PDF file) Sustainability and the Jumpsuit (opens in new window)
Emilie Chan and Zoe Yin question the sustainability of paper as a textile by considering elements of sustainable design and the current fashion landscape.
(PDF file) Peacock Revolution
By examining a 1960s velveteen paisley blazer, Kaleigh Morris studies a period of change in men's fashion known as the peacock revolution.
![Labels in the FRC Label of an orange Courreges jumpsuit. Label reads Creeds Toronto, Hyperbole Courreges, Paris Made in France](/content/dam/fashionresearchcollection/Thumbnails/Labels_in_the_FRC.jpg)
(PDF file) Labels in the FRC (opens in new window)
Dr. Ingrid Mida examines designer labels from the Designer Archive and highlights the history of labels in fashion.
![Thinking of Spring Flowers Neckline and scarf of a bold coloured printed dress](/content/dam/fashionresearchcollection/Thumbnails/ThinkingSpringFlowers1.jpg)
(PDF file) Thinking of Spring Flowers (opens in new window)
Inspired by the hopefulness of Spring, Dr. Ingrid Mida highlights floral patterned dresses in the FRC.
(PDF file) Making History: Inspired by Courréges (opens in new window)
Shira Yavor recreates a 1960s raincoat designed by André Courrèges.
![Elite Syncopations Leotards Sketch of Elite Syncopations Leotards](/content/dam/fashionresearchcollection/Thumbnails/EliteSyncopationsLeotards.jpg)
(PDF file) Elite Syncopations Leotards (opens in new window)
Teresa Adamo studies the construction and role of two seemingly identical ballet costumes.
(PDF file) Imagining a Future of Disposability: Paper Fashion (opens in new window)
Bianca Garcia eflects on the relationship between the marketing of the paper dress as new technology and the futuristic thinking around outer space in the late 1960s.
![Floral beading on back of Cree round dance cape Cree Round Dance Cape](/content/dam/fashionresearchcollection/Thumbnails/CreeRoundDanceCape.jpg)
(PDF file) Cree Round Dance Cape (opens in new window)
This article highlights the importance of a 1960s round dance cape from the Cree region in Western Saskatchewan.
![Assembling the Puzzle of Jack Liebman's Career Close up of rosette detail on blue Jack Liebman dress](/content/dam/fashionresearchcollection/Thumbnails/Assembling_the_Puzzle_of_Jack_Liebmans_Career.jpg)
(PDF file) Assembling the Puzzle of Jack Liebman’s Career (opens in new window)
Hannah Dobbie conducts archival research to learn more about the life and career of Canadian fashion designer, Jack Liebman, who made an impact on the industry that few know about.
![Collar of blue and purple patterned Pucci Dress](/content/dam/fashionresearchcollection/Thumbnails/Taking_Flight_Emilio_Pucci_and_His_Influence_on_Class_and_Jet_Age.jpg)
(PDF file) Taking Flight Emilio Pucci and His Influence on Class and Jet Age (opens in new window)
Using a material culture approach, Bianca Zanotti analyses an Emilio Pucci dress to consider how the designer's work represented a new class and culture of women in the 1960s.