Before I get started on my review of design and fashion in the 1950s let me state categorically that I am far too young to remember that era. My only fleeting memory is my mother in purple hot-pants – no wonder I wiped the whole decade from memory!

Last week I had great fun remembering the crazy 1970s with it’s sometimes overzealous use of colour and bold patterns and the fixation with all things new, shiny and futuristic. (Sounds a bit like my wardrobe at that time). However, many of the fashions we all slavishly followed in the 70s started in the two decades before and some momentous events in human history.

So this week is all about the styles, fashions and influences of the 1950s and 60s.

When looking at how we decorated and furnished our homes in times past, it is amazing how the major events of an era influenced nearly everything that we did – including our clothes, hairstyles and furniture.

The 1950s began as an austere decade, with memories of the second world war still weighing heavily on the national conscience and right up until 1954 rationing was a daily part of everyone’s lives. However, this was a decade of change, and peoples aspirations were for a better life – more money and new “luxuries” (like a TV). So in the latter part of the decade Britain and the rest of the world began a spending spree on themselves and their homes that continues to this day.

New materials like Formica were an absolute must in fashionable kitchens and G-Plan (launched in 1952) offered modern, simple furniture with European styling. The concept of “room kits” of matching furniture was revolutionary in the 50s but became the norm for the next 50 years and was the inspiration for both Habitat and Ikea.

The atom bombs of 1945 had also given rise to a morbid fascination with the new science of atomics. Many home products of the 50s use the coloured round plastic balls (called the Cherry Cocktail) that were used to show molecular structure as part of their design – magazine racks, coat hooks and LP racks – they are everywhere when you begin to look.

And then in 1957 a new word entered the English language “Sputnik” – and the space race had began with the launch of this small Soviet satellite. Over the next few years homes were full of clocks, mirrors and electrical products that were influenced by rockets, stars and satellites.

The emergence of bold new colours and patterns in the late 50s gained pace in the early 60s, but just as new wealth and freedoms were the engine behind the aspirations of the previous decade, the designs of 1960s were fuelled by a desire to rebel. Wherever you looked in the world, the motto seemed to be free love and copious amounts of illegal drugs. Most people living in this era probably played almost no part in the demonstrations against war and the free sex and drugs were for the most liberated  elite. However, the effects on design were everywhere and far from discrete.

Patterns and colours were psychedelic, spaced-out and “groovy” and the under 30s believed they were changing the world. In reality a lot of older and more astute business people probably made a small fortune from selling the masses a pre-packed, homogenised and very profitable version of a hippie lifestyle. Did it matter if you were not getting “free love” and cider was still your drug of choice – at least you had floral wallpaper and love beads.

Homes and furniture reflected some of the trends of this dynamic, controversial and exciting decade – but most of us still lived in a 1950’s home with dreary decorating but “featuring” some extravagant and slightly out-of-place futuristic objects. Hi-Fis were taking pride of place (or even a whole wall) in many living rooms and the TV had replaced the fire as the focus of nearly every room.

And then in 1969 another momentous human adventure that influenced the following decade. When Neil Armstrong said “that’s one small step for man” from the moon he kicked off another wave of fascination with space travel, rockets and all things “futuristic”.

Standard lamps looked ready for launch, ceiling lights resembled UFOs and TVs copied the styling of a spaceman’s helmet. Television was full of programmes like UFO and Space 1999 and the charts were dominated by a man (or was it a woman) called Ziggy Stardust who was proud to be a Space Oddity.

And then at the end of the 1960s another icon of design (perhaps not one of man’s greatest moments – but I know our house was excited to get one) the Trimphone (it stands for Tone Ringer Illuminated Model). Just another small step in our growing love of all things electric, new and futuristic.

The 1970s were obviously going to be a decade of great design and stylish fashions.

But if you read our last issue (or lived through the 1970s) you will know that things did not quite work out that way.

Next time we go back in time again to the 1920s and 30s – a fascinating period for design and fashion.