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The 1940s fashion was shaped by World War II. It showed a mix of serious times and a wish for elegance. The first part of the decade focused on useful and smart styles. The second half saw a return of glamour and a celebration of femininity. This time created some famous looks that still inspire fashion today.
1940s fashion was a good mix of comfort & glamour. Research 1940s clothing styles, trends & history with our year-by-year timeline & 50+ pictures.
Jun 13, 2024 · With resources in short supply, Lucien Lelong, then president of the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, banded together 40 couturiers (Balenciaga, Schiaparelli, Paquin, Jean Patou, Hermès, Madame Grès, and Nina Ricci among them) for a collaborative fashion show of dolls (smaller bodies meant less fabric!) that would travel the world.
- 1940s Women’s Dresses
- 1940s Women’s Suits
- 1940s Blouses
- 1940s Pants
- 1940s Coats
- 1940s Fashion: Shoes
- 1940s Swimsuits and Beachwear
- 1940s Hats
- 1940s Gloves
- 1940s Jewelry
With the start of the war and strict rationing on fabric, dresses in the 1940s became shorter. Whereas the 1930s featured dressesthat went down to mid-calf, the 1940s brought them up to knee length. The war also affected the top of the dress. Women’s clothes took on a masculine militant look with the invention of shoulder pads. Every dress, blouse ...
The shortage of fabric also caused the popularity of the two-piece suit known as a Victory or Utility suit. Women could mix and match skirts, blouses, and jackets for a new outfit every day. Even after the war, the suit remained popular due to its comfort and practicality. Suit skirtswere A-line, not pencil. This means they flared out gradually fro...
Blouses were the next part of a suit. They could also be worn plain or with a light cardigan sweaterover them. Blouses were either a solid color or a fun striped pattern. They could be short sleeved like dresses, or long sleeved with puffy gathers and tight wide cuffs at the wrist. They usually buttoned down all the way and had a small V-neck or ro...
Pants or trousers were primarily a menswear item up until the 1940s. Women working in factories needed safe clothing that wouldn’t snag in machinery. At first, women just wore men’s pants. Later manufactures made pants for women, although they still looked very masculine. They were very high waisted,button or zippered down the side and had full leg...
Early 1940s coats were very square and usually plain. They had a few large buttons down the front, plain or cuffed narrow sleeves, and a variety of necklines. They were long, often down to the knee, to keep a woman warm and covered up. Shorter box coats hung to the hip in a wide cape like fashion with big bell sleeves. Fur trims were still very pop...
Shoes of the 1940s lacked the elaborate detailing of the ’30s and were mostly plain, sturdy and “chunky.” What makes them special is not the style but the material. Leather was needed for the war, so shoes came in velvet, mesh, reptile skins, and even all wood (clogs). Heels were short and thickin the early ’40s and slightly thinner in the late 194...
Swimsuits came in one piece and, for the first time, two pieces. One-piece suits were tighter fitting than in the ’30s, and had padded bras for support and thin shoulder straps. The neckline was a V but revealed little cleavage. A halter top style was very popular as well. The suit bottom came to the top of the thigh in either a skirt shape or slig...
Headwear of the 1940swas very diverse. There were only a few new styles that became trademarks of the 1940s. The first was the beret– a one-piece round, flat, French inspired hat that sat directly on top or angled off to the side. The next hat was the turban– a piece of fabric wrapped around the head and decorated with flowers, feathers or jewels. ...
Gloves in the 1940s continue to have the gauntlet mid-arm length and shape during the war years. The elaborate trim was removed and the overall fussiness of the 1930s was replaced by plain gloves once again. Gloves were usually only worn for semi-formal occasions such as an afternoon gathering, shopping, visiting friends, or going to lunch. Colors ...
1940s women’s jewelry played an important role during the somber wartime. Colorful bold bead necklaces, large floral brooches, and chunky earrings added cheerfulness to otherwise plain clothing. Patriotic themes such as a V for victory, flags, and red, white, and blue gems kept women focusing on their duty. Jewelry became affordable with new plasti...
Jan 6, 2021 · How did ladies dress in the 40s? Despite the hardships of WWII, the 1940s were still a milestone decade for style, despite 1930s fashion being a hard act to follow. It was a decade of trailblazing ...
Clothes rationing began on 1 June 1941. Handmade and hand-repaired clothing became an essential part of wartime life. The Second World War had a profound influence on fashion. See how women dressed during the 1940s and follow our tutorials to achieve a 1940s look.
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1940s Men’s Swimwear – Swim shorts of the 1940s. 1940s Pajamas – Women’s and men’s sleepwear, robes and slippers. 1940s Teenage Boys’ Fashion – Boys’ and young men’s styles. 1940s Dance Shoes for Men – Shop men’s swing and ballroom dance shoes with 1940s style. 1940s Hats – Learn about 1940s men’s hat styles.
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