My first job after high school was at a big corporate law firm on Wall St. in NYC. Yes, back in the 50's we wore dresses, skirts and blouses, heels and stockings to work. If we worked on Saturday I usually wore a casual outfit of slacks with a matching sweater or sweater set. I didn't like wearing hats but wore gloves all the time as accents to my outfits or coats. I had lovely slips trimmed with lots of lace and ribbons. Most gals wore girdles with snaps attached to hold up their stockings. Back in those days I didn't need a girdle so I wore a garter belt to hold up my stockings.
Late 60's- early 70's changed everything, you wore panty hose with your dresses and in some work places could even wear pant suits so out the window went slips, girdles, hats and gloves. Can't say I missed them much but miss buying the lacey slips.
Yes, $1.00 per hour was considered good pay for a beginning position in early 1950's. $37.50 a week, 15 to Mom for the house, another 5 that she put in the bank for me (banks closed at 3pm daily and don't remember if they were open on Sat.) and the rest was for me for lunch, carfare, movies, clothes, etc. May in Jersey