1940's {femme fatale}
WWII. Swing. Jive. Rosie the Riveter. Film Noir. New Look.
We can't talk about 40's unless we talk about the impact of WWII on
women's lives, which heavily influenced the fabrics used and look
of the fashion in the early part of the decade. Women were
depended upon to not only run the homes while men were off to
war, but also to take on the role of working factory and labor jobs to
produce the equipment and supplies needed to run the war. Let's
take a look back at the fashions that defined this decade.
WWII. Swing. Jive. Rosie the Riveter. Film Noir. New Look.
We can't talk about 40's unless we talk about the impact of WWII on
women's lives, which heavily influenced the fabrics used and look
of the fashion in the early part of the decade. Women were
depended upon to not only run the homes while men were off to
war, but also to take on the role of working factory and labor jobs to
produce the equipment and supplies needed to run the war. Let's
take a look back at the fashions that defined this decade.
 | shoulder pads began to make an appearance as a more | |
| simplistic, military inspired look took hold | ||
| high waisted trousers for women were a big hit, and made | |
| even more popular by Hollywood royalty including Katharine Hepburn | ||
| war rationing of certain fabrics and textiles by the War | |
| Production Board; WPB also issued garment guidelines for clothing production {picture below of measurement guidelines} | ||
| leather and rubber shortages caused shoe makers to start | |
| experimenting with wood and cork soles | ||
| "Make do and Mend" wartime advice centered on sewing old | |
| clothes into new ones; men's suits were re-fashioned into women's chic town suits, complete with finely detailed tailoring | ||
| a thin body type was fashionable as were small waists with | |
| slightly shorter knee length skirts, double breasted bodices, and squared shoulders |
1940's
40's
| {available now} click to get |
Did you know?
Christian Dior's "New Look" or "Corelle" line of fashions was presented in 1947. The French
designer tossed aside the austere fashions of wartime for a more feminine and sensuous
look. He gave women back their curves, cinched in their waists, and swathed them in yards
of beautiful, flowing fabric that had vanished during the war. Let's take a look at the fashion
influence of Dior:
A softer, more feminine "New Look" influenced style carried itself well into the 50's.
designer tossed aside the austere fashions of wartime for a more feminine and sensuous
look. He gave women back their curves, cinched in their waists, and swathed them in yards
of beautiful, flowing fabric that had vanished during the war. Let's take a look at the fashion
influence of Dior:
| voluptuous, hourglass silhouette | |
| soft shoulders | |
| waspy waists | |
| full flowing skirts | |
| boned, bustier-style bodices | |
| hip padding |
A softer, more feminine "New Look" influenced style carried itself well into the 50's.
In the forties, only 55% of
American households had
indoor plumbing
American households had
indoor plumbing
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