Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A futuristic design style of the late 1950s and early 1960s often using pastel colors, synthetic materials, and stainless steel and evoking a sense of luxury.
- adjective Of or relating to this design style.
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word Populuxe.
Examples
-
The Sub T is a classic Chicago bar space, meaning long, narrow, dark, and architecturally mongrel: I was especially taken by the tiling behind the bar, a Populuxe pattern that wouldn't be out of place in Betty Draper's kitchen, but which in this context looks like a prom queen seated uncomfortably amidst a clutch of Dickensian reprobates.
Robert Rodi: Four Horns, One Siren: Black Bear Combo and the Rebecca Sullivan Quintet Robert Rodi 2010
-
For instance, the Nippon NEAC 2203 from 1960 (pictured in the spread below) has the same clean and angular “Populuxe” look shared by cars from the same era.
-
A decade that had to invent all that surely can be forgiven its gauche tail fins and ducktails, its Hula Hoops and Contact-papered Populuxe kitchens.
The '50S 2008
-
In particular, Populuxe (which looks at design history and consumer psychology after WWII) and The Total Package: The Total Package: The Secret History and Hidden Meanings of Boxes, Bottles, Cans, and Other Persuasive Container (kinda self explanatory).
Loophole Response; Hitchens on Gibson; How to Make Working Gorilla Masks KaneCitizen 2006
-
The Sub T is a classic Chicago bar space, meaning long, narrow, dark, and architecturally mongrel: I was especially taken by the tiling behind the bar, a Populuxe pattern that wouldn't be out of place in Betty Draper's kitchen, but which in this context looks like a prom queen seated uncomfortably amidst a clutch of Dickensian reprobates.
The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com Robert Rodi 2010
-
A sequel of sorts to the successful Populuxe (which smartly considered cultural curlicues of the 1950s and ’60s), Hine’s latest social history is half as satisfying.
Cover to Cover 2007
-
A sequel of sorts to the successful Populuxe (which smartly considered cultural curlicues of the 1950s and ’60s), Hine’s latest social history is half as satisfying.
Cover to Cover 2007
Comments
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.