Pert 1950s moms squeezed themselves into wasp-waisted fashion conformity. Unless, that is, they were - can we say it in public? - with child. Then it was Mabel, get out the tent!

And why did she need a tent? Because she had to wear a cut-out skirt!

Note that the "catalog of advance styles" came in a plain brown envelope. It was probably the fact that another plain brown envelope was empty that she got into this state in the first place.