40’s Hardship But Attractive Fashion

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40s Hardship But Attractive Fashion
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(No Transcript)
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• The 1940s was taken up partly by World War 2 when
  people were on rations and clothing must have
  been scarce. So how did households make do as
  far as clothing is concerned?
• So what were 40s style dresses like? During the
  war years all women between the ages of 18 up to
  60 were required to register for work and they
  could choose which jobs they wanted to do. The
  only exception was that they did not have to bear
  arms.
• It is for this reason that many of them were in
  uniform supporting the army in some capacity.
  They could have been telephonists, decoders or
  working in factories where munitions were
  produced. This prevented a shortage of workers,
  because most young men were away fighting the
  enemy.

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• Womens fashion became more uniform outside work
  too. Much was made of creating a trim
  silhouette. For young ladies trying to attract
  men who were either in the army or a foreign
  force such as from America, this style was ideal.
• Shoulder pads and cinched waistlines were
  introduced as were A-line skirts. Even if women
  were trousers they had a similar look with narrow
  waist bands and trouser legs that tapered out
  into an A-line shape.
• This fashion was all about showing off the shape
  of women and giving them an hourglass figure. You
  can picture it now they had broad shoulders a
  tiny waist and full hips in this kind of style.

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• You should know that at this time in the 20th
  century there was fabric rationing and women made
  dresses that were slightly shorter in order to
  save material. A variety of different necklines
  also appeared and they could be anything from V
  style to sweetheart.
• In the latter half of the decade, a variety of
  fabrics became more widely available, giving
  women the choice of wearing something more
  cheerful. This also the era when synthetic
  fabrics came into fashion.
• I vividly remember seeing a photograph of my
  grandmother dressed in a starchy pure nylon
  dress. This fabric was then uncomfortable to
  wear, unlike the improved materials of today.
• Mainly light materials were used, but for
  business and formal occasions suits were made of
  heavier materials such as wool.

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• Women were not all trim and the larger sizes were
  also catered for. Unfortunately for middle aged
  women with la larger midriff the clothing was
  very matriarchal, as can be seen from old snaps
  of the time. Women in their middle age in those
  times looked very much older than the ones of the
  same age range now.
• Most clothing such as this eventually perished,
  but in the past you could still find true 40s
  clothing in vintage shops. You should not
  despair, however, as manufacturers are now
  replicating the style and they are sold in
  specialist shops or on-line.

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