Chas. A. Stevens

In reaction to wartime austerity and standardized military uniforms, French designer Christian Dior launched a collection in the late 1940s which would dominate female fashion for the next decade. His feminine "New Look" emphasized the bust and hip, cinched the waist and featured full, calf-length skirts over stiff petticoats. This Chicago Chas A. Stevens storefront alongside the Howard Street subway line (now known as the "Red Line") entices female shoppers with elegant, feminine creations perfect for a 1950s spring and summer season.