Ladies Fashion Dresses – 1940S Women’s Dresses

admin    ladies fashion dresses    

Gloves in the 1940s continue to have the gauntlet mid arm length and shape throughout the war years.

While visiting friendsor preparing to lunch, gloves were usually only worn for semi formal occasions like an afternoon gathering.

Elaborate trim was removed and the overall fussiness of the 1930s was replaced by plain gloves once again. Nevertheless, neutral colors were preferred. Colors usually matched just one accessory similar to a hat or belt. Remember, the two piece suits was like the one piece but with the middle cut out. Pants came up high above the belly button with only about 4 space inches between the top and bottom. Accordingly the Bikini invented in 1946 was similar in style but tighter and lower on the waist. Evening dresses were the exception.

They’ve been spaghetti strapped or halter topped that revealed shoulders and chests but only mild cleavage.

Plus size fashion in the 1940s was not something overlooked like it had been in previous decades.

Most women were not the ideal curvy hour glass shape. 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. Swimsuits and Beachwear Ahh the undergarments or foundation garments were the sole of 1940’s fashion. They have been also very uncomfortable. They encourage a natural rounded shape. They looked like granny panties but with much tighter, flatter fronts that sucked in every belly bump and lump. They created the hour glass shape with smooth lines that were critical to 40’s fashion. Some information can be found easily online. Bras were large with full back coverage.

Girdles were the worst offenders.

These were mostly worn by teens and younger single women.

With a swimsuit style halter top, they have been also high waist shorts. Beachwear, called play suits, were really just very short dresses that wrapped over a swimsuit. They’ve been button down, loose fitting dresses in light cotton. Small hats with veils were another trademark style. Needless to say, head wear of the 1940s was very diverse. Make sure you leave a few comments about it in the comment box. There were only a few new styles that became trademarks of the 1940s The first was the bereta one piece round, flat, french inspired hat that sat directly on top or angled off to the side. Oftentimes the next hat was the turbana piece of fabric wrapped around the head and decorated with flowers, feathers or jewels. That said, later in the 1940’s more fabric gonna be used and more fabric choices were available. Fact, fabric material was usually rayon, a newer synthetic invention.

America cotton was also a favorite for house dresses.

The material was light and airy.

In order to forget the depressing war, women embraced colorful patterns with contrasting trims. Nylon was invented prior to the 1940s and quickly replaced silk stockings. That’s right! They usuallythey had subtle dark brown seems down the back but seamless stockings were increasingly common by the end of the decade. Both materials were needed for the war and women had to go without for a short time. You can find a lot more info about this stuff here. Stockings only came up to thigh high and were fastened on by garters. Stockings are what kept women from feeling naked with those shorter dresses. For example, stockings were a shade darker than natural skin. It’s a well working women had to keep their hair tied back.

They wore hair snoodsknit bags that gathered hair back and out of the way or scarves tied around and up.

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

The neckline was a V but revealed little cleavage. One piece suits were tighter fitted, after that, in the 30s, had padded bras for support, and thin shoulder straps. Halter top style was very popular as well. Socks were popular with working women and teenagers. Lots of us are aware that there are endless possibilities using new, thriftedor vintage clothes to recreate a style for a 1940s themed event similar to a swing dance, WW2 remembrance day, or pinup photoshoot. Actually the following infographic gonna be helpful to in in creating a vintage inspired 1940s style for yourself. 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.

Here goes an article on fabrics.

These should help you with your research.

All other topics about the 40’s are here. Wish I could find some vintage suits. Normally, 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 loads of the big band tunes. That still remains my favorite memories of high school. Of course whereas the 1930s featured dresses down to mid calf, the 1940s brought them up to knee length. Of course, dresses in the 1940s becameshorter, with the start of the war and a strict rationing on fabric.

Neckline of the 1940’s came in lots of cut outs.

If you enjoyed this article please consider sharing it!