1940’s in fashion for women in WW2. Trends, utility dresses, seamed stockings, peplum’s, shoulder pads, and the post war New Look.
Women in World War 2 left us an iconic and beguiling style which is forever celebrated in movies, books and magazines. Rationing encouraged women to “make do and mend”. With all resources going to the war effort, Fabric shortage meant longer skirts and less revealing evening dresses. Austerity was reflected by a more austere fashion in the early 1940’s. Makeup and hairstyles however never looked better.
Browse the 1940’s fashion trends as worn by women in that troubled decade. Find inspiration for your next 1940’s style dress, victory rolls hairstyle.
Now you know the highlights, dive in to our archive of 1940’s fashion history. Find out how women in WW2 lived, worked, served in the forces and of course dressed.
Some early post war summer styles- To the left – actress Diana Lynn sports Henry Rosenfield‘s superbly cut “sun dress” of Shire cotton poplin. It has a tiny separate jacket to cover its one bare shoulder ! To the right – a lustrous melon colored tropical worsted by Junior Deb. Gracefully ballooned sleeves with the …
Cotton is as welcome as V-Day – Lollipop colours and soft, blurred shades; lean-making stripes and certified checks. Slick office going cottons, trousseau stuff, school-house glamour. We’re awfully proud of ourselves for finding them! You’ll be just a sproud to wear them. Just look at lovely June Allyson, our actress model. She looks proud too …
Brief History of Sunglasses in Fashion – By the 1930’s, basking in the sun had become such a norm, that the wearing of sunglasses naturally became a real fashion accessory. We explore the history of sunglasses through the 20th century. The classic tortoise shell framed and tinted sunglasses of the 1930’s were worn by many …
War Restrictions returns the laced corset – 1940s Fashion report – 1942 Women have been wearing them for about 4000 years but it’s less than 30 since they have had the painless variety. To most women, in recent times, wearing a corset meant nothing more that wiggling into a firm girdle, which kindly expanded and contracted …
New Leg makeup replaces nylon hosiery – 1940s fashion report for Glamourdaze The Girl in this picture has solved a problem. She has just completed a perfect make-up job on her bare legs. If she watches her step, keeps out of dirt and puddles, takes lukewarm showers ( but no baths ), these “liquid stockings …
Looming War impacts 1940s Swimsuits – Just months before the US entry into war, it appeared that patriotism was already taking a hold in the imaginations of American designers. From hats to sandals to swimsuits, the girls love it in the same way they love a parade. Swimwear is red, white and blue this year. By good …
Photographer revisits femme fatale styles of the 1940s – Just what is it about the allure of those female stars of the 1940s film noir era? Lauren Bacall in To Have and Have Not, Rita Hayworth in Gilda, Barbara Stanwyck in Double Indemnity, Veronica Lake in Blue Dahlia, Joan Bennett in The Woman in the …
Daily Wardrobes of Four working women in 1940 – In the early months of 1940 – Photoplay takes a look at the daily dress codes of four typical working girls in the tinsel city of Hollywood land 1.The Fashion Publicist – Daily Wardrobe in 1940 Subject: Eleanore Roberts At Work- During office hours, Eleanore, the perfect …
Tilted hats create side-swept hairdos – 1940s hairstyles bend to suit the new hat designs of the mid 1940s Off-to-one-side! It’s the most talked of fashion silhouette for the winter season! here are some of the new side-angled hats and their companion fashions in sideswept hairdos. The hats swing down on one side, and your …
Evolution of Women’s Style in the 1940s and 1950s – A Vintage Fashion Exhibition curated by the Museum of Vancouver features stunning haute couture clothing garments by some of the great fashion designers from Paris, London, Berlin and New York, which pretty much covers the pole points of couture during that era. The exhibition is comprised from …