1940's fashion - Womens Dress Code in the War Years

1940's Fashion - Womens Dress Code in the War Years.

Download Vintage Pin Up Calendars

See also 1940's Fashion - Womens Dress Code after the War

The following links are also packed with delicious and beautifully illustrated articles on all aspects of womens fashion and beauty in the 1940's. They also feature archive fashion films from our YouTube Channel.

Vintage Swimwear of the 1940's.
1940's womens hairstyles.
New York Womens Fashion n the late 1940's.
1940's fashion - How to wear Fully Fashioned Stockings.
A Young Womans Wardrobe Plan 1947.
Bettys Winter Wardrobe Plan 1948.
1940's Wedding Dress Fashions.
1940's Vintage Makeup Guide.
What Makeup did women really wear in the 1940's?
The Complete 1940's Makeup Guide and History.
  
Silhouette.
Broad padded square shoulders, trim waist and hips, with shoulder length curled hair.
See The 1940's Silhouette

The 1940's silhouette above from a 1940 issue of Woman, suggests that women take into account their 'real' body shapes. Some of the descriptions like " Matrons Bulge" are hilarious.
below a page from John Peacocks 20th Century Fashion, gives a clear guide to how the silhouette developed in the first half of the 1940's.

Bodice.
Fitted with drapery, ruching or gathers; padded shoulder.

Neckline.
High round, sweetheart, small collars.

Shoes.
Oxfords, Pumps and Sandals were the order of the day. Visit the Complete guide to 1940's womens shoes

Sleeves.
Inset, short or long, puff.

Skirt.
Knee-length, flared, straight, single pleat plaid skirts.

Image courtesy Life Magazine Archive

Fabric
Wool, cotton, linen, easy-care synthetics.

Trimmings
Limited buttons, contrast color collars and cuffs, patch pockets

Color
Subdued, blue grey, bottle green, donkey brown.

Accessories
Tiny hats, large bags, shoes with high thick heels and some wooden soles.

For more popular posts on the style and fashions of the glamourous 1940's visit the following:

1940's fashion - A Womans Guide to Posture.
 1940's Fashion - A Vintage Guide to being Glamourous.



These quotes come from John Peacocks 20th Century fashion.