What was 40s fashion like?

The 1940s were defined by a clean and slim silhouette with a somewhat military feel. Jackets, blouses, sweaters, and skirts were short and close-fitting, all unadorned and with the requisite sharp shoulder pads. Long sleeves were out, dresses were casual, and pants and ‘playsuits’ became everyday attire.

What influenced 40s fashion?

Women’s clothes of the 1940s were typically modeled after the utility clothes produced during war rationing. Squared shoulders, narrow hips, and skirts that ended just below the knee were the height of fashion. Tailored suits were the dominant form of utility fashion. …

Why was fashion so important in the 1940s?

As soldiers came back, women stopped working and returned to new homes and cars in the suburbs. The economy prospered, and clothing manufacture became cheaper and easier thanks to new methods devised for the war. New York and California remained in the fashion game, and American designers started to be known by name.

What did women look like in the 1940’s?

Deborah Kerr as the plucky MTC driver in The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp 1943. These image shave helped the 1940’s woman as well as 1940s fashion. The 1940’s saw a major shift in style. Perhaps not as seismic as that which followed WW1, but a significant change nonetheless.

Why was Utility clothing important in the 1940s?

Fashion historian Jayne Shrimpton writes in Fashion in the 1940s, “The [Utility Clothing] initiative might never have succeeded had the government not taken the inspired decision to involve leading London couturiers in the design of Utility clothing” (31).

What kind of clothes did people wear in the 40’S?

The later ’40s had some pleats and a wide “A” shape and even included some pockets. Teenagers were the biggest fans of skirts. They loved plaids and stripes and full skirts making the latest fad– swing dancing– easier to move in. Learn more about 1940s skirt history and s hop 1940s skirts. Finally, the suit jacket topped the outfit.