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.
Summer Dresses from 1940. A peek at the top 1940’s fashion picks for women in the United States on the eve of WW2 Some Fashionable Summer Dresses to Wear Go to the Zoo looking cute as a cricket in blue-and-white chambray, striped to beat the band, with a starched pique collar. Saks – 34th St, …
1940s bathing suits 1948. Hollywood stars Cyd Charisse, Barbara Stanwyck and Jane Greer model the latest in 1940s swimsuits by top brands Jantzen and Mabs of Hollywood Beautiful 1940s Bathing Suit Styles to Inspire Marie McDonald has measurements which Hollywood producers, artists and at least one professor of anatomy and physical anthropology rate ideal. Here …
1940s summer coiffures to look cool in 1940s summer hairstyles to look and feel cool in, despite the thermometer’s evident ambition to take off for Mars. Designed by Joan Clair of Clairol Inc Don’t smother under a shoulder length mop just because you’re used to it. Snip it off, or do it up, or just …
Mary Stuyvesant – American Beauty Guru of the 1940’s Mary Stuyvesant, now famous for her How to be Pretty and 1940’s makeup tutorial films on the Glamour Daze YouTube channel. Yet, until recently, she was all but forgotten and so little is known about her. Mary Stuyvesant hailed from England. She was seen regularly during …
Hair Bangs. From the bobbed hair of the 1920’s, the bumper bangs of the 1940’s, to the pin up bangs and rockabilly hairstyles of today. What are Bangs? The term bangs originated from horse grooming, “Bangs”, coming from “bang tail”. In the USA, the description of hair being cut “bang off”, in to a fringe, …
How to do Victory Rolls Victory rolls – one of the most copied pinup hair dos of the 1940’s. Waves, pin curls, bumper bangs, pompadours, the 1940’s was all about up dos ! Who Invented Victory Rolls ? No one. Hair rolls of all kinds were a la mode in 1940. With the advent of …
Iconic Glasses and the Stars who Wore them – There is nothing like a trusty pair of glasses for an actor to assume a character. Oddly there have not been too many iconic performances by glasses on screen, and most of these are by men. For women, the total lack of vogue for eye wear …
Wear the Correct Eye Frames to match your fashion era – Whether you’re a vintage clothing fan or just love retro styles, it’s always fun to take a bit from the past and incorporate it into your wardrobe. Each decade had iconic styles from the well-tailored looks of the 30s all the way to flamboyant …
How to become a model in the 1940s. A rarely seen movie short called The Perfect Powers Girl by Minoco Productions. 1940’s Modelling Agencies – The Big Three Three names in the 1940’s dominated the fashion business. John Robert Powers, Harry Conover, and after the war, former Powers girl and Conover model Eileen Ford. The …
Hairstyles for Face Shapes – Six Actresses Follow these easy 1940’s hairstyles for face shapes. 1940’s hairdos applied by famous 1940’s actresses. Simple face contouring secrets to follow. R.K.O studio’s Loretta Francel shows you how to get those Hollywood curls. 1940’s Hairstyles for Round Faces – Lynn Bari Even if you’re the round-faced type like …