1930’s in fashion for women. What did women really wear in the 1930’s? The trends, dresses, hairstyles and makeup and where to buy them.
The influence of Hollywood and Art Deco modernism on women’s fashion was never greater than in the 1930’s.
Costume designers names were almost as well known as the Paris couture designers. The crash of 1929 and the Depression which followed, only slowed the inevitable rise in consumerism and ready to wear clothing. Makeup and stockings sales steadily rose through the decade. Women’s day-wear became more tailored with single buttoned jackets and matching gored skirts.
Hems dropped to just above the ankle in 1930 and rose to below the knee by the mid 1930’s.
The gored skirt ( made from several triangular gores) created a more feminine flare at the hem.
Curves returned and newer synthetic foundation girdles were worn by women of all ages. Brassieres now came in cup sizes and 1930 saw the seamless bra go on sale.
In hairstyles, the Marcel wave replaced the 1920’s crop and bobbed hair look. Good for the hairdressers but hard on the pocket for a young woman of limited means. Makeup was now commonly worn in day time and the sale of swivel lipsticks and mascara pots soured.
These are just some highlights of the fashion trends in the 1930’s. Jump in to our time machine archive of posts on 1930’s fashion history.
More Free Patterns and more sweaters – Free to download – a classic 1939 sailor jumper pattern; a must-have for the summer !The pattern is called Chic Ahoy – a jumper with a nautical air .Just click on image or link to download the pdf to your device.This one comes via Vintage Pattern Files, originally …
Quality Vintage Shoes for Women By Alexandria Cannito for Glamourdaze Find quality vintage shoes from your favorite fashion era. Victorian, Edwardian to the 1920’s, 1930’s and 1940’s. Introduction Vintage shoes not only turns heads, but are unique in their own right. So whether you’re hunting for 1920’s flapper shoes, or 1930’s style shoes or 1940’s …
Profile of an American Fashion Icon 1945 – With a “look”, a little suit and a knowledge of all the angles, Hattie Carnegie has risen from poverty to be absolute boss of a $6,500,000 dress business. Nobody has ever been able to define style to the satisfaction of anybody else. It might be called a means …
Coolly and Colorfully yours – June-July 1936 – June-July Evening Dresses 1936 We thought of Saturday night dances and twilight roof-garden dining when we chose these deliciously simple summer evening dresses. Haven’t they the Vogue look about them – in their clear cut lines, and their new fashion points? First we must tell you about …
Hollywood by the Sea July 1934 – 1930’s fashion report Left:Alice Faye,managed to get a nice suntan and the contrast of her skin with her white beach outfit is striking. Her rubber suit and terry-cloth cape are trimmed in green to match her straw hat. Right:Apparently Carole Lombard teases Old Man Sun to do his …
The Nylon hosiery sensation of 1940 The story of how Nylon stockings shook the fashion world. Who created Nylons and the seismic impact they had on women. Up to 1940, the most a woman could expect of a three threaded silk stocking was about 150 hours of wear. A glamorous two-thread stocking might, with luck, …
June styles in Hollywood heels – Firstly, no summer season pair of heels is complete without a pair of extra fine gauge stockings. Try these silk stockings from Sears Roebuck. With fashionable seams and French heels, they look good in any pair of shoes. Heels, this season are news ! Spike heels are out. A …
Style Advice for the vintage enthusiast – The Mode in Dress and Home, by Dulcie Godlove Donovan ( I love that name !) was published in 1935 and can be found on the Prelinger Library at Archive.org. It was a textbook for secondary schools with the aim of giving young women an understanding of aesthetic …
New York Worlds Fair 1939 predicts 1940s look – Continuing our look at the collection of 1940’s fashion photographs ( albeit a precursor of the 1940’s held from April 1939 to October 1939) from the New York World’s Fair of 1939, digitized by The New York Public Library.This post features coats – fur coats mostly …
The 1939 New York Worlds Fair predicts 1940’s fashion – Collection of 1940’s fashion photographs digitized by The New York Public Library.The models featured are unknown.The styles however herald the look of the 1940’s, with some boxy shoulders and hairdos full of waves and hair rolls. In this post we feature some pretty frocks and …