From Senator Eugene McCarthy’s hearings to North Korea’s invasion of the south-and from the discovery of James Dean to Russia’s Sputnik launch in 1957—-U. S. society went into a tailspin on the heels of World War II.

Your nostalgia sensibilities may kick in when you look back at homes that could be bought for around $10,000 and gas (you may wish to sit down) that ran around 18-cents per gallon.

During the 1950s, men who earned in excess of $5,000 a year were considered top earners and in keeping with the times, a cardboard Diner’s Club Card debuted in 1950 so for the first time ever, cash took a back seat to credit.

Finance was evolving. Social behaviors were changing. It stands to reason that men’s fashion underwent a meteoric revolution as well—and what a revolution it proved to be!

An era to see and be seen

Before one can begin to delve into 1950s trends and styles, it’s important to understand the nation’s sensibilities between 1950 to 1959. The biggest impact on fashion during the war years was textile rationing that limited not just new ideas but the priorities of a nation fighting on two fronts. But 1950s fashion reflected a new sense of freedom.

Designers were free to think “out of the suit.” These six legends represent six of the most innovative:

Nudie Cohn launched his business in 1947 as textile availability swung from the scarce end of the continuum to presenting men’s designers with myriad choices. The Ukrainian-born tailor got his start making garments for Hollywood country and western stars like Tex Williams, but his designs were eagerly sought by everyone. By 1959, he had single-handedly turned western-wear into a mainstream men’s clothing niche.

Bill Blass. While Nudie Cohn was churning out cowboy-inspired duds, Bill Blass burst onto the men’s fashion scene by creating one-of-a-kind designs and then wearing them to high-profile events, often stopping men and women in their tracks. His aim was to break with European styling and showcase the “suave persona” of the American man eager to take chances on his wardrobe. His strategy worked! His brand is still around.