In 1953 twenty-nine-year-old Pierre Cardin showed his first couture collection in Paris. He was an instant sensation in Europe and America.

American designer Bonnie Cashin in 1953 opened her own studio in New York. Her distinctively avantgarde sportswear and layered coordinates, often made of leather, were prophetic of future decades.

In 1951 American designer James Galanos began his own business in Los Angeles with two hundred dollars and two assistants. His ready-to-wear clothes became a symbol of luxury.

French designer Hubert de Givenchy in 1952 launched his first fashion collection in his Paris boutique. The collection consisted of mix-and-match blouses, skirts, and trousers — mostly in casual, inexpensive cotton. The look quickly spread across the Atlantic.

Architect Douglas Honnold in 1950 designed a prototype built in several California cities for Biff's Drivein with neon tubing and metallic reflections. This look spread throughout the country.

In 1955 architect Philip...