Sep

1940S Bra Underwear And Stockings – What Did Women Wear In The S

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women's dresses Dresses in the 1940s becameshorter, with the start of the war and a strict rationing on fabric. Whereas the 1930s featured dresses down to mid calf, the 1940s brought them up to knee length. Each dress, blouse or jacket was fitted with shoulder pads that extended just past the edge of the shoulder. Women’s clothes took on a masculine militant look with the invention of shoulder pads. Ok, and now one of the most important parts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuA-tHTJHM0

Now this made for a boxy or square neckline and shoulder angle. Nevertheless, the neckline of the 1940’s came in loads of cut outs. There was no cleavage! Anyways, all dress top designsrevealed very little skin, compared to today’s fashion.

They may be square, slit, sweetheart, keyhole, shirred, cross front, or V with shirtwaist tops.

Fabric material was usually rayon, a newer synthetic invention.

women's dresses America cotton was also a favorite for house dresses. On top of this, the material was light and airy. Have you heard of something like that before? Later in the 1940’s more fabric going to be used and more fabric choices were available. To forget the depressing war, women embraced colorful patterns with contrasting trims. Catalogs and department stores now carried Stout size clothing lines with dresses, tops, coats and shoes in designs that were more flattering to the fuller figure.

Did you know that the shortage of fabric also caused the popularity of the two piece suit know as a Victory or Utility suit. Women could mix and match skirts, blouses, and jackets for a brand new outfit everyday. With that said, this means they flared out gradually from the hip to the knee. Of course, dressed from the early years didn’t have any pleats or gathers being that wasted fabric. That’s interesting right? The later 40’s had gonna be short sleeved like dresses, or long sleeved with puffy gathers and tight wide cuffs at the wrist. They usually buttoned down all the way and had a small v neck or round peter pan collar neck opening. Blouses were the next part of a suit. Notice that the bolero jacket was a nice, short, rounded edge jacket that was worn over a blouse.

Actually the suit jacket topped the outfit.

It wasn’t necessary to wear a blouse under a suit jacket but was often more comfortable.

Jackets were button down and featured various lapel width, points, and shapes. Lower edge of the jacket came to mid hip length. They had similar padded, wide shoulder, high neckline and nipped in waist with only a slight flair at the bottom. For example, jackets were of quite similar materiel as the skirt but could have been mismatched if that’s all you had. This is the case. They rarely buttoned in ‘frontpreferring’ to hang open and show off the blouse. Early 1940’s coats were very square and usually plain. Yes, that’s right! They had a few large buttons down the front, plain or cuffed narrow sleeves, and plenty of necklines. Now let me tell you something. They have been long, down to the knee, to keep warm and covered up. For instance, what makes them special isn’t the style but the material.

Shoes of the 1940’s lacked the elaborate detailing of the 30’s and were mostly plain, sturdy and chunky.

The 1940’s were most notable for the popularization for the wedge or wedgie.

The peep toe was one common style. On top of that, they came in solid slipons or fun summer sandal types. However, it was a small slit in the front of the toe. Now pay attention please. Wedge sole was all one piece, gave moderate height and were considered safer so tall pumps. Actually, the more casual style of shoes were the oxfords and saddle shoes. These single or two tone shoes resembled men’s shoes with a rounded toe.

Swimsuits and BeachwearSwimsuits came in one and for the first time two pieces.

One piece suits were tighter fitted, hereafter in the 30s, had padded bras for support, and thin shoulder straps.

The neckline was a V but revealed little cleavage. Halter top style was very popular as well. And therefore the two piece suits was like the one piece but with the middle cut out. Now look, the pants came up high above the belly button with only about 4 space inches between the top and bottom. Bikini invented in 1946 was similar in style but tighter and lower on the waist. That is interesting right? With a swimsuit style halter top, they’ve been also high waist shorts.

These were mostly worn by teens and younger single women.

They were button down, loose fitting dresses in light cotton.

Beachwear, called play suits, were really just very short dresses that wrapped over a swimsuit. Actually, they wore hair ‘snoods knit’ bags that gathered hair back and out of the way or scarves tied around and up. Working women had to keep their hair tied back. Gloves in the 1940s continue to have the gauntlet mid arm length and shape in the course of the war years. Whenever visiting friendsor planning to lunch, gloves were usually only worn for semi formal occasions just like an afternoon gathering. Neutral colors were preferred. As a result, colors usually matched just one accessory similar to a hat or belt. Elaborate trim was removed and the overall fussiness of the 1930s was replaced by plain gloves once again. Bras were large with full back coverage.

They’ve been also very uncomfortable.

They encourage a natural rounded shape.

Girdles were the worst offenders. You see, ahh the undergarments or foundation garments were the sole of 1940’s fashion. Essentially, they looked like granny panties but with much tighter, flatter fronts that sucked in each belly bump and lump. Furthermore, they created the hour glass shape with smooth lines that were critical to 40’s fashion. Stockings only came up to thigh high and were fastened on by garters. However, stockings are what kept women from feeling naked with those shorter dresses. Nylon was invented prior to the 1940s and quickly replaced silk stockings. Both materials were needed for the war and women had to go without for a short time. Stockings were a shade darker than natural skin. They usuallythey had subtle brownish seems down the back but seamless stockings were increasingly common by the end of the decade. Socks were popular with working women and teenagers. And therefore the following infographic may be helpful to in in creating a vintage inspired 1940s style for yourself. You should take it into account. There’re endless possibilities using new, thriftedor vintage clothes to recreate a style for a 1940s themed event similar to a a swing dance, WW2 remembrance day, or pinup photoshoot.

My mom was a classy dresser and I always looked through family albums to see how they dressed.

When given the opportunity to play in Stage Band, in high school I jumped on it being that they played a bunch of the big band tunes.

That still remains my favorite memories of high school. Known wish I could find some vintage suits. Notice, all other topics about the 40’s are here. We’ve got an article on fabrics. These should help you with your research. She will draw a line down the back of her before stepping out in public, My mom was telling me when she was in her early 20’s when WWI was going on there was a shortage of stockings, and what she use to do to make like she was wearing stockings.