Tag-Along Toppings and Teen Style in 1959: Fashion, Freedom, and the New Short Hair
When teenage girls opened the June 1959 issue of Seventeen magazine, they discovered more than just pretty clothes and beauty tips. They were stepping into a world carefully designed to guide them through the transition from girlhood to young womanhood. For many readers, Seventeen wasn’t simply a magazine—it was a handbook for life. It told them what to wear to school, how to style their hair for a date, how to host a record party, and even how to carry themselves with grace in the new world of teen culture.
Among the memorable features in this issue was an illustrated fashion spread on “tag-along toppings”—lightweight summer jackets designed to pair with short hairstyles and streamlined looks. The article wasn’t only about clothes; it was about how girls could stay stylish and comfortable in the newly air-conditioned spaces of the late 1950s, from movie theaters to restaurants. Paired with small inset photos of real teens modeling the looks, the spread captured exactly how Seventeen served as both an aspirational guide and a practical friend.
The year 1959 was a turning point for American youth. The “teenager” as a cultural identity had fully emerged, powered by rock ’n’ roll, Hollywood films, and a growing youth economy.
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Youth as consumers – For the first time, teens were recognized as a powerful buying group. Clothing companies, cosmetic brands, and record labels marketed directly to high school and college-age girls. Seventeen was the bridge between advertisers and readers, showing young women how to interpret and purchase the latest styles.
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The rise of air-conditioning and leisure culture – By the late 1950s, air-conditioning had spread from movie theaters into restaurants, homes, and schools. This everyday change reshaped fashion advice. Girls needed lightweight jackets and “toppers” to slip on when stepping inside from the summer heat. Seventeen’s article on “tag-along toppings” was both timely and practical, rooting fashion in real-life needs.
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Shorter hair, fresher looks – Postwar fashion emphasized longer, carefully set hairstyles, but by 1959 shorter cuts were rising in popularity. Cropped bobs, pixies, and bouffants gave teens a more modern, manageable style. The “new short hair” referenced in this issue marked a generational shift away from adult, matronly looks toward youthful ease.
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Pop culture on every page – Elsewhere in this June 1959 issue, readers could find film reviews (Don’t Give Up the Ship), music recommendations, fiction, and advice columns on dating, friendship, and college prep. Together, these features reflected the late 1950s as a vibrant mix of tradition and change—where girls still learned etiquette, but also listened to Elvis, dreamed of European travel, and debated how to balance friendships with boys.
The cover of the June 1959 issue featured a stylish young model posed in classic summer attire. Like many Seventeen covers of the decade, it projected health, freshness, and optimism—the hallmarks of late 1950s teen fashion. Unlike the high-fashion gloss of Vogue or Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen positioned itself as relatable and accessible.
Inside, the “tag-along toppings” spread demonstrated the magazine’s unique blend of editorial storytelling and fashion advice:
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Illustrated fashion art – Before color photography dominated magazines, Seventeen often used stylized drawings to show clothing trends. In this article, sketches of teen girls wearing cropped jackets and capelets appeared in cheerful blue-and-white palettes, signaling both modernity and innocence.
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Inset photography – Alongside the drawings were small black-and-white photographs of real young women in the outfits. This combination of aspirational art and real-life examples reassured readers: the clothes weren’t just fantasy; girls like them really wore these looks.
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Lifestyle storytelling – The text explained not just what the toppers were, but how to use them. Girls were encouraged to wear them to the movies, restaurants, and summer parties. The jackets were practical—lightweight enough to carry, stylish enough to finish an outfit, and essential for chilly air-conditioned rooms.
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Brand connection – At the bottom of the pages, labels like Van Raalte, Junior House of Milwaukee, Korell, Marjorie Montgomery, and Briggs of Boston were credited. For many teens, seeing these names in print was a first introduction to fashion branding.
What made Seventeen unique was its ability to weave all of this into a friendly, conversational tone. It wasn’t lecturing. It was more like an older sister offering advice on how to feel confident, polished, and ready for any occasion.
Today, vintage issues of Seventeen like the June 1959 number are more than old magazines. They are time capsules of youth culture.
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Nostalgia factor – For women who grew up with Seventeen, revisiting these pages brings back memories of adolescence—shopping for first dresses, going on first dates, or planning for college.
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Cultural history – For collectors and historians, these issues show how American society viewed teen girls: what was expected of them, what choices they had, and how media shaped their aspirations.
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Iconic fashion spreads – Features like “tag-along toppings” show not only what girls wore, but also how they were encouraged to carry themselves. From hairstyles to fabrics, every detail tells a story about mid-century life.
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Educational for designers – Vintage Seventeen remains a resource for fashion designers looking to understand authentic teen style of the 1940s through 1970s. These magazines provide visual references for silhouettes, textiles, and styling language.
Because of this, collectors seek out issues not only for personal enjoyment but also for research, teaching, and creative inspiration. Like holding a vintage record or an old yearbook, flipping through Seventeen is a way to step back into the world of American teenagers as it really was.
Here are ten takeaways from this memorable spread in the June 1959 issue:
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Fashion with function – Jackets were presented as chic but also protective against chilly indoor air.
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Illustration meets reality – Drawings idealized the looks, while small photographs grounded them in real life.
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Blue-and-white palette – The artwork leaned into fresh summer tones, symbolizing youth and clarity.
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Short hair synergy – The styles were paired with the “new short hair,” reflecting changing beauty standards.
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Cultural detail – The focus on air-conditioning reflects technological and social change in daily life.
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Teen activities – Outfits were described in terms of movies, parties, and dates—scenes central to teen identity.
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Fabric focus – Cotton, linen, and seersucker were praised as the practical summer textiles of the time.
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Brand exposure – Readers were introduced to names like Van Raalte and Briggs of Boston.
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Accessible elegance – The jackets added polish without costliness or heaviness.
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Coming-of-age tone – The article helped girls bridge the gap between childhood play clothes and adult wardrobes.
Unlike glossy high-fashion titles, Seventeen was created for an age group in transition. It spoke to the anxieties, hopes, and dreams of girls navigating first crushes, first jobs, and first glimpses of independence. That is why vintage Seventeen magazines remain so powerful today. They remind us that youth culture has always been about both conformity and experimentation—about testing identities through clothes, music, and social rituals.
When we look back at the June 1959 issue, we don’t just see pretty jackets. We see an entire culture in motion: the rise of teenage spending power, the influence of modern conveniences like A/C, and the ways young women were encouraged to embrace both style and practicality.
If you love the history of fashion, pop culture, or teen life, vintage Seventeen magazines are a treasure trove. Each issue offers a snapshot of an era—what mattered to young women, what they dreamed of, and how they expressed themselves.
👉 Explore our collection of original Seventeen magazines here:
Original Seventeen Magazines Collection
Whether you’re a collector, a designer, or simply someone who grew up with Seventeen on your nightstand, these magazines are more than glossy pages. They are artifacts of coming-of-age, brimming with the voices and visions of youth across decades.
The June 1959 issue of Seventeen captured the essence of its time: teenage girls eager for style, guidance, and independence. The “tag-along toppings” spread, with its cheerful illustrations and practical fashion advice, showed how even something as simple as a summer jacket could carry cultural meaning. It was about staying comfortable in new modern spaces, looking polished at social outings, and matching fresh clothes with fresh short hairstyles.
Sixty years later, this issue remains a collectible artifact of American youth. It tells us how teens saw themselves in 1959, how they were shaped by fashion and culture, and how a magazine became their guide to navigating both. Like all vintage Seventeen issues, it’s not just a magazine—it’s a piece of living history.