A 1950s State of Mind

By Kate Betts

It's one thing when a raft of 1950s-style pencil skirts and twinsets marches down fashion runways, but nowadays it seems that mid-century design is invading every room of the house. Who would have envisioned a future that looks so much like the past? Fashion trends come and go, but the cultural appetite for great design, specifically 1950s style, doesn't seem to wane. Companies as diverse as KitchenAid and Balenciaga are delving into their archives and revisiting mid-century colors and curves. And a host of famous furniture companies are reintroducing classics--from Prouve to Parzinger.

This special issue of TIME is devoted to design, particularly the influence of the past. Of course one need look no further than iMacs and Ikea furniture to see that good design has been widely available for many years (the March 20, 2000, cover of TIME called the rebirth of design "commodity chic"). But why are creators of fashion, home and industrial design suddenly looking back for inspiration? Maybe the '50s era appeals to Americans because it was the last time we felt truly optimistic. As design guru Murray Moss says, it's the values of that decade that draw us back; we want products that are more emotional. Perhaps we also live in a time when we want security in every detail. --Kate Betts