How do you explore deeper into Chanel and the 1950's era?

I've got a huge photography task coming up where I must pick an interest of mine and expand into it. By that I mean exploring ideas and concepts about the topic. Making sure they aren't corny. I was thinking Chanel in the 1950's with the photos being black and white, or the 1950's era (women in the 1950's in particular) with their fashion, beauty and way of life. But how can I explore deeper into these topics so they aren't corny and they actually reflect something meaningful?


Thanks for your ideas in advance!|||I don't agree at all with the previous answerer that fashion can't be meaningful, especially not for the reason that it isn't constant (but constantly evolving in stead). Especially in the post-war era, fashion was important to people in placing creativity, beauty and positivity back into their lives, taking a step towards the future, away from the horrible memories of the war time. Fashion has always been an important interest of people, a reflection of tastes, moods, societies and histories. I don't see why so little meaning should be attributed to it. Anyway, just to defend the discipline :)





As to the lifestyle aspect, this is also quite an interesting period when it comes to the role of women. From working in factories etc. during the wartime, after the war (when the men returned), women found their way back to the domestic/traditionally female scene. This is also signified by fashions, that become more 'feminine'. Women sometimes had a double feeling about their new position in society, some being happy to be the centre of family life again, others being somewhat of the opposite of losing 'power', having had the experience of being more independent and able to work and make their own money. This is quite an interesting area related to Chanel, who didn't cast women back into their traditional (first hooped, now petticoated) feminine silhouette, but created them more business-like 'power suits' in stead, thus encouraging women's position in the 'masculine' world of working.





To find more inspiration on the era, it might be a good idea to read for example women's magazines of the time, sometimes available in libraries or at universities. There are quite some photobooks on the era, its fashions and its women, which might prove inspirational. On fashion, I personally like 'The Golden Age of Couture - Paris and London 1947-57' edited by Claire Wilcox.|||Look at archives of publications like Vogue - you should find heaps of material. Fashion is a bit ephemeral so it is unlikely to be terribly meaningful however you cut it - I suppose the way fashion reflected the rise from post war austerity in Europe might make is sound a bit more worthy.