Fifties Style

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Horn, a journalist who writes about design and architecture, here presents the novel argument that 1950s stylein product, graphic and interior design, crafts, furniture, architecture and fashionhas in certain ways influenced that of the 1980s. Describing the fads and fashions of the '50s as if his audience had no knowledge of them, he points out similarities between the two decades (pump toothpaste as the packaging equivalent of roll-on deodorant) and the ``fascination of today's under-30s with 1950s teen culture'' (the film Grease, the current popularity of Mr. Potatohead toys). Several more expert writers (Tom Wolfe, From Bauhaus to our House; Thomas Hine, Populuxe) have covered the subjects touched upon in this book, which asserts that dressing like Ricky Nelson is nowadays considered ``cool,'' and that '50s fabrics were imbued with a ``wry humor.'' The design of the book is intrusive, the photography poor, and the few points made are incidental. (June)

Library Journal

With post-World War II Americans ready to spend, post-World War II designers and manufacturers did their best to provide stylish merchandise. Prompted by recent interest in Fifties-style collectibles and revivals, Horn aims to give us ``some idea of the amazingly rich, varied, and often beautiful and highly original designs of those years.'' In individual chapters he focuses on furniture, architecture, fashion, crafts, and interior, graphic, and product design; he also looks at how Fifties design has influenced design of the Eighties. The witty and readable text fits the book's graphic design as well as its subject. Readers, especially collectors, will enjoy this nostalgic, picture-filled jaunt through another decade.Douglas G. Campbell, Warner Pacific Coll., Portland, Ore.