1940s fashion

1940s fashion for the everyday lady

Because of rationing, dresses and suits became slimmer with just enough fabric to be able to sit or walk. Skirts and dresses were knee-length. The most common color was "Air Force blue" and clothes had a sharp, almost military-like look. 

Many dresses hugged the waist, buttoned down the front, and were belted at the waist. Darts or gathers at the waist and shoulder were used, shaping full busts and keeping the waistline trim.

Because of the need to reduce the number of clothes items that people owned, and the need to use those clothes items throughout the year, American designers introduced the idea of separates and coordinating components. By mixing and matching different items, this gave the illusion of having more outfits than actually existed.

Evening dresses were often simple short dresses without too much decoration, but frilly short dresses were not uncommon. Funnily enough beads and sequins were never rationed so many ladies brightened up their outfits with abit of razzle dazzle.


                                            1940's fashion for the lady of means 

Rich socialite Tracy Lord(Katherine Hepburn) is not an everyday run of the mill kind of gal.  The rest of the world may have been rationing material but The Philadelphia Story see's Tracy runinng amuck with Dexter(Cary Grant) and Mick (James Stewart) in the finest clothing while drinking the finest champagne.  A lady of means wore full length dresses, leaving no material to spare and topped it off with some satin gloves and diamonds.

 

1940s Summer Dresses

Rich and poor, come summer time all ladies were wearing bright florals or light coloured dresses with bare arms and ankles.