Those that did stay didn’t see their styles leave the country. Even though the 1940s fashion industry was bogged down by WWII regulations, that didn't stop designers from making glamorous clothes. It was a time of great transition, which was reflected in fashion. A casual, feminine type of dress, made in coarse colorful cottons from Mexico and Guatemala, that threatened to supplant the shirtwaist dress, to banish the ubiquitous slacks from the beach forever. There was much beige and grey. Tailors became skilled at repairing or repurposing double breasted suit jackets from the 1930s into single breasted jackets or sport coats. This gave a broad shouldered look. While not overly feminine, they still had a distinct look from man-tailored suits, and were exactly what women were looking for. Colors were delicate, pale blues and pinks, pale yellows and violet, were common color combinations. With so much military surplus available after the war, civilians would buy and wear military clothing for several more years. The floor-length crinoline skirts, were kept for debutante and ball dresses. Court shoes and naked sandals (with covered toes and heels) divided the honors. He also loved his ulster, complete with wombat fur lined collar and the sleeves are leather lined. The improvement in machinery, textiles, and manufacturing of military clothing made post war ready to wear civilian clothing a booming industry. Before World War II, Paris was the epicenter of fashion. Skirts were straight in the front and sides, with all fullness drawn to the back. After Germany took over Paris in 1940, many of the designers closed their fashion houses, some fleeing the country. Collarless knit tee shirts, open collar dress shirts, ascot ties, slip on loafers, and sandals in summer became the everyday man’s dress code. This original method of achieving a slim look combined with becoming movement made such an impression that the Paris spring collections were full of developments of this flying panel theme. The Zoot Suit with its bright colors, baggy legs and long jackets was a complete deviation from the norm. War time clothing influenced men’s fashion design after the war by coping or modifying uniforms into civilian clothes. Research for the 1940s Style Guide series involved years of gathering information from books, magazines, catalogs and online sources. The style held over into the 1950s, but the 1940s skirts were not as full. Preferably a pair that matches your outfit. var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; Stoles became popular again, made of tweed, wool, jersey, and fur. In Britain the clothing restrictions were harsher. Hats were trimmed with fantastic feathers. As such, 1948 fashions are markedly more embellished in the back than 1947 designs. Lanvin, Molyneux, Mainbocher, Patou and Maggy Rouff all had active fashion houses as … Long evening skirts swayed to one side. “Drape” was a style which originated in England at the end of the 19th century and gave an illusion of broader shoulders and deeper chest. This website is supported by advertising in the form of product links, banners, and sponsored articles. The younger generation made almost a uniform of the pinafore or jumper dress, perfect in cottons for summer; and in gray flannel, checked tweed, or bright wool jersey a wonderful campus costume worn with any of many shirts and blouses. The biggest influence war time restrictions had on men was the further introduction of casualness. Trench coats, bomber jackets, knit undershirts, pea coats, chino pants, and aviator glasses all have roots in WWII military clothing. And that look was often quite masculine, even militaristic. Complete with a knapsack muff in safari or beaver brown mouton lamb. These new serious looks were not about an idealized life, but about supporting the war effort through fashion. The latter half was luxurious, with a clear focus on elegance. And speaking of keeping things up, he needed black trimmed rayon moire suspenders complete with monogram. Longer, looser jackets, double pleated pants, big hats, and even wide ties made their way into late ’40s men’s fashions. The heels on shoes could only be 1 ½ inches high. He favorite bracelet is a rhinestone bracelet in a sunburst-and-knot design. Another thing women ALWAYS wore: gloves. One that is black suede or claf, gathered on a frame and for extra dash — she’ll want her name in golden script. Shoes were designed with grace. An asymmetrical look was important in 1946. Dresses and gowns began to be bias cut, meaning the fabric was cut diagonally, allowing it to cling to curves. New York took over, creating a look that was dominated by the war going on across the ocean. fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); In the evening they rose to shoulder level; were smartest in black glace kid. She wears socks instead. Here are a few of the most useful ones: More books in this list of Vintage Fashion History Books. Sep 22, 2019 - Women's fashions of the 1940s. The restrictions were not as dramatic as they were for women. These new shoulders were still sloped and unpadded but half-way between shoulder and elbow Dior attached a gathered flounce, often buttoned, sometimes lined with fur, so that it stood out. Three-piece suits gradually went out of fashion in the early 1980s and lapels … One rever would be longer than the other; a peplum would spring from the hip at one side only; a line of buttons (and buttons were everywhere) would march down one side of a bodice or skirt; necklines were cut to one side; evening dresses had one shoulder strap. (function(d, s, id) { ‘Vinylite’ could be used instead of leather, and other forms of plastic were used for all kinds of applications. Patent leather made a comeback in 1948 as well, especially in bags and belts. Simply put: It was tacky to look rich, but crucial to look respectable. Pamphlets with titles like ‘Make and Mend,’ and ‘Make It Do Until Victory’ showed women how to fix and care for their clothes to make them last, and to make them from other household items like blankets and curtains. Fashion in 1943 began to show momentum of its own, an honest freedom from the great tradition of Paris on which it had leaned so heavily, for so long. Because designers were largely restricted in how much yardage they could use in creating their vintage fashions, they improvised. The new look, which had blossomed, billowed and exploded the point of near absurdity, finally collapsed. Christian Dior showed the first short-and-long evening dress, spiraling from above the knee to train length. 1940s Timeline Timeline Description: War and recovery are the themes for the 1940s. This was the everyday shape for clothing, from suits to dresses. points. The cholo was hugely popular on beaches in 1945. The curves that were so popular in 1945 were replaced by a more natural look. The tricorne, bicorne and tiny pillbox were popular hat shapes. Ask us anytime. For her easy hours she wanted a really beautiful gown — one that made her feel like Lynn Fontanne. Jackets, blouses, sweaters, and skirts were short and close-fitting, all unadorned and with the requisite sharp shoulder … Brief Timeline of Events 1950 – 1960 Timeline By Pauline Weston Thomas for Fashion-Era.com 1950s Timeline The scientific and mass production advances made during the second World War, meant that the fifties changed forever the way people lived, for example, technological changes in fibres, communication and medicine. « History of Men’s Watches – 1900s to 1960s, Forties Fashion: From Siren Suits to the New Look, Esquire’s Encyclopedia of 20th Century Men’s Fashions Hardcover, Vintage Fashion: Collecting and Wearing Designer Classics, Everyday Fashions of the Forties As Pictured in Sears Catalogs, http://www.centuryinshoes.com/decades/1940/1940.html, http://www.headoverheelshistory.com/1940.html, Privacy Policy, Disclosure, Terms and Conditions. Most men’s kept their clothing from the 1930s and wore them through the early ’40s war years. At his feet his wore “Freelancers” — bootmaker finish moccasins. Men were eager to put the war behind them and embrace the clothing they were previously forbidden to wear. The government enacted a bill – CC41 – that provided strict guidelines around how 1940s fashion trends evolved. Timeless 40s fashion trends make a memorable comeback October 12, 2017. The clothing reflected this practical and conservative time where materials were limited, even after the war ended in 1945. New Orleans, Louisiana. Clothes were pared down to create a tight fitting, spare look. By winter, 1943, the covered-up, short-skirted dinner dress of 1942 had become a full-fledged, decollete evening dress: short black slipper satin dresses with ribbons of satin over bare shoulders; halter tops of white satin and sequins barbarically strapping naked backs above simple short black crepe skirts; short black crepe dresses with deep oval decolletage and tiny cap sleeves dangerously edged in black lace. Two very distinct silhouettes emerged over the year. Civilian clothing had to resort to using new materials. The suit jacket grew shorter and niftier. First, for women (click here to jump to men): The 1940s were defined by a clean and slim silhouette with a somewhat military feel. Simply put, it was the definition of elegance. Crocodile purses, wombat collars, lambskin lining, and leather sleeves — no animal was off limits. Shoulders were covered by tiny boleros. You must be the essence of romance at evening’ Vogue March 1938 your own Pins on Pinterest The straight, spare skirt was broken across the front by soft trouser pleats, and a new hike-back skirt appeared still straight in front, but hiked up slightly in back to make it swing out gracefully behind. Three jackets in particular marked a development: 1.) Men’s L-85 restrictions and rationing book as pictured in Forties Fashion by Walford. }(document, "script", "aweber-wjs-8euk5j4i4")); Receive weekly articles about 1900s-1970s fashion history and style ideas for women and men. Simple, practical, 1940s shirtwaist dresses. In the previous autumn Balenciaga had shown a fitted suit with narrow skirt, and a wide separate back panel. It was a very flattering look to the female figure. It was a sign of support for the war to be seen in your pre-war suits. See more ideas about 40s fashion, 1940s fashion, fashion. Dressing in vintage style clothing for a themed event or personal fashion is our passion. He needs a waterproofed cotton gabardine coat, lined and collared in lamb. Here is a book on Make-overs from Coats and Suits. Urchin hair cut and petulant earrings a distinctive fashion style in 1949. The style was of a newly empowered but still feminine woman. It's impossible to explain the importance of a fur coats in a woman's wardrobe in the 1940s. Women were particularly fond of ballet slippers in 1945. Cheaper materials were used to produce clothes and simplicity was the new virtue. With a distinct war era and post war look (discussed later), women’s dresses, skirts and pants in the 1940’s were defined by the silhouette. At the office, suits were becoming sleeker, more thinly cut and more expensive. Although eveningwear was still made and worn, people began to dress more casually in restaurants and theaters. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. It was intended for late afternoon and evening wear. After the war, the need for suits to be worn at all times was replaced by more causal sporting attire. The 1940s style can be divided into two categories. The lampshade dress was perfected in 1948. This came to be known as the ‘no fabric on fabric’ rule. Late-day dresses were apt to have immensely wide deep necklines. The tent coat disappeared, replaced by the belted greatcoat or the fitted coat with small shoulder capes. Citizens were encouraged to mend old clothes, recycle old fabrics into new garments, and combine dresses to make new ones. By day the general level had risen again to 14 or 15 inches from the ground, sometimes rising further at a wrap-around point, or slit for walking freedom. She will also need some Edelweiss doe-skin gloves, a smart umbrella and a handbag — soft one. VintageDancer.com links to clothing for sale online to make finding vintage inspired clothing easier. Aside from breakthroughs in man-made materials, fashions of the day were most affected by the governmental clothing restrictions put in place for the duration of the war. Due to the absolute necessity of belts in the wardrobe, manufactures began producing more inventive belt styles than had even been seen before. Clothes in the 1940s were very bright and colorful. 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