The laundering of doll clothes from the 1950s can be tricky.  Here is the best method I have come across:

Vinegar Rinse:  The main problem with clothing from the fifties is that they are not "colorfast." In other words, if you wash an outfit with more than one color, the colors will run together. Red is especially difficult.  The best way to stop this from happening, is to soak them in white vinegar first. Use a generous portion of vinegar, about l/2 cup to one cup to a gallon or so of water.  Let the outfit set in the vinegar-water for at least an hour. If you leave it in longer, it won't hurt it.  The vinegar is also helpful in removing such unwanted matters such as nicotine, and soot. 

Hand Wash/Soak:  After a light rinse (by hand) of the vinegar, soak the outfit in a tub of gentle soap such as woolite, or even a denture cleaner such as "Efferdent".  The denture cleaner has a mild bleach in it, and will brighten up the clothing and whiten the white.  You can also use a liquid laundry soap, or a liquid laundry soap with a little bit of bleach (little).  There is also a bleach for colors which works well.  Leave the outfit in the tub for an hour, and then check on it.  If it still looks dirty, leave it in another hour.  Keep checking on it until you reach the clean-level that you are looking for.

Rinse: Lightly rinse the garment and lay it on a flat towel to dry.  If you have used bleach and the smell is offensive, you can soak the garment for 30 minutes or so with a liquid fabric softener.  Re-rinse afterward and towel dry.

This should work very well, and you'll be amazed at the result! Try different methods that work best for you - never forget the vinegar rinse.  Good luck!