The following list is far from exhaustive, but lists a few institutions that regularly display historic dress and/or have dedicated fashion galleries. Many museums and institutions have at least a few examples of 1950s clothing, although these may not always be on display. It is often possible to arrange for a study appointment or private viewing of this material, if you give enough notice.
The Bowes Museum, Newgate, Barnard Castle, County Durham DL12 8NP. Website: www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk
Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, Royal Pavilion Gardens, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 1EE. Website: www.brightonmuseums.org.uk/brighton/
Chertsey Museum, The Cedars, 33 Windsor Street, Chertsey, Surrey KT16 8AT. Website: www.chertseymuseum.org/fashion
Fashion Museum, Assembly Rooms, Bennett Street, Bath BA1 2QH. Website: www.fashionmuseum.co.uk
The Gallery of Costume, Platt Hall, Rusholme, Manchester M14 5LL. Website: www.manchesterartgallery.org/visit/gallery-of-costume
Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Market Street, Preston, Lancashire PR1 2PP. Website: www.harrismuseum.org.uk
Killerton House, Broadclyst, Exeter, Devon EX5 3LE. Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/killerton/
Museum of London, 150 London Wall, London EC2Y 5HN. Website: www.museumoflondon.org.uk
National Museum of Ireland: Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin. Website: www.museum.ie/en/exhibition/the-way-we-wore.aspx
National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1JF. Website: www.nms.ac.uk
Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast, County Antrim BT9 5AB. Website: www.nmni.com/um
Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL. Website: www.vam.ac.uk
Bata Shoe Museum, 327 Bloor Street West, Toronto ON M5S 1W7. Website: www.batashoemuseum.ca
Chicago History Museum, 1601 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614. Website: www.chicagohistory.org/research/aboutcollection/costumes
The Fashion History Museum, 74 Queen Street East, Cambridge, ON. Website: www.fashionhistorymuseum.com
FIDM Museum & Galleries, 919 South Grand Avenue, Suite 250, Los Angeles, CA 90015. Website: www.fidmmuseum.org
Kent State University Museum, 515 Hilltop Drive, Kent, OH 44242-0001. Website: www.kent.edu/museum/gallery-costume
McCord Museum, 690 Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal, QC H3A 1E9. Website: www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/en/
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10028. Website: www.metmuseum.org
The Mint Museum of Art, 2730 Randolph Road, Charlotte, NC 28207. Website: www.mintmuseum.org
The Museum at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology), Seventh Avenue at 27 Street, New York City 10001-5992. Website: www.fitnyc.edu/museum/
The Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10029. Website: www.mcny.org
Musée de la mode, 363, rue de la Commune Est, Montréal, Québec H2Y1J3. Website: www.mctq.org/en/
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Avenue of the Arts, 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115. Website: www.mfa.org/collections/textiles-and-fashion-arts
The Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queens Park, Toronto ON M5S 2C6. Website: www.rom.on.ca/en/collections-research/centres-discovery/textiles-fashions