1940s Costumes | Fashion on the 1940s Home Front
Ranked #1,677 in Fashion & Beauty, #26,678 overall
Putting Together a 1940s Costume
Are you looking to put together a wartime 1940s costume for Halloween, a theatre production, a historical reenactment, or just for fun? Would you like to put together your own outfit, without resorting to a pre-made costume?
If you are, it helps to know a few things about fashion in the early 1940s. The social pressures of rationing, work, and family had an impact on what women wore. Certain items of clothing were simply unavailable to women on the American Home Front in WWII. Certain other items that had once been rare became commonplace. Moreover, the war had an impact not only on the actual outfits that women wore, but on the way fashion houses designed clothing.
Putting together an outfit from the 1940s is easy, once you know a few simple things. The article that follows provides a visual reference from the 1940s. You'll learn about the basic trends in 1940s war time fashion - the colors that were popular, the hats people wore, the styles that were influential, and the shoes and make up you will need to complete the look. In fact, with so many contemporary styles having retro roots, you may already have some of what you need to create a perfect 1940s outfit. Read on to learn more!
If you are, it helps to know a few things about fashion in the early 1940s. The social pressures of rationing, work, and family had an impact on what women wore. Certain items of clothing were simply unavailable to women on the American Home Front in WWII. Certain other items that had once been rare became commonplace. Moreover, the war had an impact not only on the actual outfits that women wore, but on the way fashion houses designed clothing.
Putting together an outfit from the 1940s is easy, once you know a few simple things. The article that follows provides a visual reference from the 1940s. You'll learn about the basic trends in 1940s war time fashion - the colors that were popular, the hats people wore, the styles that were influential, and the shoes and make up you will need to complete the look. In fact, with so many contemporary styles having retro roots, you may already have some of what you need to create a perfect 1940s outfit. Read on to learn more!
Farm, Office, or Factory, Women Work for Victory
And put on practical clothing to do it.
As more and more women joined the war effort, the need for practical clothing led many of them to wear trousers and overalls. Office workers still wore skirts, but these were narrower and shorter than they had been, coming down to below the knee. Fabric was rationed, so clothing was styled and constructed to avoid using excess material. Shoes were chosen for practicality. A woman might need to spend all day on her feet at an assembly line. Flats, wedges, clogs, oxfords became commonplace for their durability and practicality..
Trousers
Straight leg, high waist.
Jane Frazee and Helen Parrish Wearing Trousers, 1941
Giclee Print
Buy at AllPosters.com
Trousers were a more practical alternative to skirts for women who worked on the farm or in the factory. The leg fell straight to the ankle or might be cut a little wide. The waist tended to be high -- much higher than todays low-rise jeans! However, in certain dress slacks, the higher waist is coming back into style. You may be able to find a pair of modern trousers that fits the 1940's look.
If you have trousers like this in your wardrobe already, pair them with a short sleeve blouse, a pair of clogs, and a kerchief or turban. Just like that, you have your 1940s costume!
Overalls
From Farm to Factory
Sperry Gyroscope Woman Worker wearing Overalls with Shirt, Hat and Low Heeled Sturdy Shoes
Photographic Print
Hansen, Marie
Buy at AllPosters.com
To do their bit for the war effort, women took over work that had previously been left to men. They did heavier work on the farm, they joined assembly lines, they worked as mechanics. Overalls were ideal clothing for this. They were sturdy, comfortable, and had plenty of pockets to stow their work tools. If you can find a pair with a nice straight leg, you're in business!
Short Sleeve Blouse
As worn by Miss Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Hepburn, 1940s
Photographic Print
Buy at AllPosters.com
OK, I'm going to take a minute here to gush about Kate Hepburn. Wasn't she awesome? Didn't she always look so elegant and so comfortable in her practical blouse-with-trousers outfits? And wasn't it great the way she played female characters who demanded respect, and got it? *sigh*
OK, I'm done now. Gushing aside, Katharine Hepburn is a wonderful visual resource for anyone putting together a 1940s look. With her no-nonsense attitude and classic style, she epitomizes the pragmatic elegance of wartime fashion.
A simple short sleeve blouse, like the one in this photo, can be paired with trousers, overalls, or a skirt to complete your 1940s look. Short sleeve blouses were very popular, as they could keep a woman cool on a hot factory floor, and then be worn with a cardigan in the evening for a dressier look. As in all 1940s fashion, women's blouses emphasized the shoulders, and were often padded to make them look more square.
Rosie the Riveter Costume
If you're hoping to dress as a 1940s factory worker this Halloween, read my lens about Rosie the Riveter Costumes. You'll learn how to dress like Rosie, do your make up like Rosie, and how to put your hair up in that kerchief she wears.
1940s House Dress
A woman's work is never done, whatever the era.
Mopping Linoleum 1940s
Photographic Print
Buy at AllPosters.com
Like modern their modern sisters, women who joined the war effort still had housekeeping chores at home. This woman is wearing a simple house dress with short sleeves and an A-line skirt. Her hair is held back in a snood.
1940s Suit Styles: The Menswear Look
Menswear was influential because a lot of women's suits were ... well, menswear.
Garcia, Cuca
Buy at AllPosters.com
This suit typifies the "hard chic" look of the 1940s. The jacket shoulders are exaggerated and squared of with padding. The skirt is a simple A-line. Depending on the fabric, this suit could go from daytime to evening wear with style.
Another thing about this suit is that it wastes very little fabric. The skirt comes to just below the knee. There are no ruffles, pleats, or ornaments. The sleeves are straight and tailored, instead of puffed or flowing.
This look was convenient, because it allowed a lot of women to remake their husbands suits into clothing for themselves. The men were off fighting, so they didn't need business attire anyway. Additionally, many fabrics were rationed, and those that weren't were expensive. Making an old suit into a new one was a way saving money, conserving supplies, and supporting the war effort.
Nylons on the 1940s Home Front?
Nope!
Nylon by DuPont, Nylons Stockings Hosiery, USA, 1940
Giclee Print
Buy at AllPosters.com
DuPont introduced the nylon stocking to American consumers in 1940. Women fell in love with them instantly. But by 1942, most available nylon was going to make parachutes for the war effort. Nylon stockings were strictly rationed, and even then they were hard to come by - to get her hands on a pair, a woman usually had to resort to the black market. Nylons remained in short supply through 1947.
Rations on clothing and materials did not apply to "historical costumes for theatrical productions", which enabled Hollywood to get around the laws. Most women, however, had to simplify and make do. Many resorted to bare legs and tan-colored "leg make-up", and had a friend draw the back seam on their legs with eyeliner. Many more wore cotton stockings, or simply decided to wear pants with ankle socks instead.
1940s Shoes: Clogs, Wedges, Oxfords, and Espadrilles
Practical shoes that avoid rationing guidelines.
Catalog for French Shoes
Art Print
Buy at AllPosters.com
Women who were on their feet all day needed a pair of good, sturdy shoes. Leather and rubber were rationed in the United States, which meant that shoes were rationed too. If your job was deemed "essential to the war effort", for instance, if you were a Woman Ordinance Worker, the restrictions might be eased somewhat. You could get yourself a good pair of oxfords or loafers to work in.
Joyce Shoes
Masterprint
Buy at AllPosters.com
The "wedge" style became popular in the 1940s, because the wedge was often made of stacked pieces of wood, which was not subject to rationing. The upper part of the shoe could be made with non-rationed fabrics. The wedge also gave enough support that a woman could be on her feet all day, or walk long distances, while wearing them.
Carefree Shoes
Giclee Print
Buy at AllPosters.com
Espadrilles were another way to circumvent the limitations of rationing. With fabric uppers and soles made of jute, the materials used in their construction were unrestricted in the United States. The jute also made for a sturdy platform for the shoe, making it a practical choice for day wear.
1940s Military Women's Costumes
While most women served on the Home Front in WWII, some women served in the military. To learn more about these women, and the uniforms they wore, check out my lens about them.
1940's Turbans
For Work and Play
WWII Posters
Giclee Print
Johnson, Everett
Buy at AllPosters.com
The turban or kerchief was a practical choice for women in the Home Front factories. They kept hair clean, and out of the way of the factory machinery.
The turban could go high-fashion too, as in this turban and scarf from 1943.
Snoods
What's a snood?
Eisenstaedt,...
Buy at AllPosters.com
A snood is a net or fabric sack that keeps hair back and off the face. Snoods were already fashionable before women joined the war effort in large numbers.
Hand-Knotted Net for a Snood
Photographic Print
Buy at AllPosters.com
In simpler form, the snood was a very practical option that could be dressed up or down.
1940s Hats:
Tilt Hats and "Toy" Hats
Little Black Hats by Schiaparelli to be Worn Perched on the Front of the Head
Giclee Print
, Baldrich
Buy at AllPosters.com
Dress hats of the 1940's were often tiny and meant to be worn either at an angle, or perched toward the front of the head. Their small size earned them the nick name "toy hats". Women on the home front might have worn hats in this style to church or to a special evening out.
Gene Tierney, 1940s
Photographic Print
Buy at AllPosters.com
This photo shows actress Gene Tierney in a luxurious fur tilt hat. Most women would not have been able to afford to dress like this!
1940s Hair Styles
Check out my "Pin Up Costumes" lens!
If you want a sexy 1940's costume, check out my lens about pin-up girls. It also includes some great tutorials on different 1940s women's hair styles.
Color Pallette and Patterns
Loud and proud!
This illustration shows some of the colors and patterns that were popular during the early 1940s.
Patterned Frock 1940s
Photographic Print
Buy at AllPosters.com
Textile patterns from the 1940's were ... shall we say ... less than subtle. Imagine this print in some of the colors you'll see in the following images, and you'll know what I mean.
Actress Lana Turner
Green, Pink, and Purple all at once.
Ida Lupino
Ida Lupino, c.1940s
Photographic Print
Buy at AllPosters.com
Actress Ida Lupino in a rather loud blouse from the 1940s.
Rita Hayworth in Orange and Turquoise
Not at once, thank the gods.
Rita Hayworth, c.1940s
Photographic Print
Buy at AllPosters.com
Rita Hayworth in a classic 1940's dress. Note the broad, square shoulders, emphasized with shoulder pads. Gotta love that color!
Rita Hayworth, c.1940s
Photographic Print
Buy at AllPosters.com
Rita Hayworth again, in a much more restrained teal color.
Maria Montez in Pink and Teal
and black and white, but really, the pink and teal kind of dwown them out.
Maria Montez, c.1940s
Photographic Print
Buy at AllPosters.com
You can put together your 1940s look with color combinations you would never wear in contemporary styles. Got a pair of bright pink gloves left over from last year's bubble gum costume? Put them to work for your 1940s costume.
Angela Lansbury in Wasabi Green
Angela Lansbury, 1940s
Photographic Print
Buy at AllPosters.com
Remember that color called "wasabi"? It came in around 2003, and was the worst thing to EVER happen to the color green in the complete history of ever? I worked in outdoor clothing retail during that time. We had jackets in this color. We referred to the color as "stomach acid green".
Well, if you have an old blouse or jacket in that color, you may be able to put it to work for your 1940s look.
Lucille Ball in a Black and Cream Suit
and looking restrained compared to everyone else.
>
Lucille Ball, 1940s
Photographic Print
Buy at AllPosters.com
Lucy here knows that you don't have to be garish in order to look like you're from the 1940s. Her suit, in black and cream (or ecru or light beige or whatever you want to call it) shows the menswear influence in the squared off shoulders. Her hat shows that the tilt hat wasn't always shown tilted forward; sometimes it was tilted back, and framed the face.
1940s Make Up
Check out my "Starlets" lens!
For their make up, women of the 1940s took inspiration from Hollywood stars like Lana Turner, Gene Tierney, and Ingrid Bergman. My lens about Hollywood starlet costumes includes make-up tutorials to get your look just right.
Stop and take my poll!
You kow ... for the war!
Take this poll to share your favorite 1940s color. Then see how others voted.
Loading poll. Please Wait...
Like this lens?
Give it a thumbs up!
This module only appears with actual data when viewed on a live lens. The favorite and lensroll options will appear on a live lens if the viewer is a member of Squidoo and logged in.
Did I help you with your Halloween costume?
Or did I just teach you what a "snood" is?
-
-
Tipi
Mar 30, 2011 @ 9:36 am | delete
- Excellent lens and beautiful display of some very lovely posters.
-
-
-
MeliciouslyYours Mar 7, 2011 @ 7:26 pm | delete
- Love your lens! I really enjoyed the glam photos of 40's. I have a friend in Nashville who specializes in pin up portraits and this reminds me of images out of some of her photo books. Keep up the great lens!
-
-
-
sandralynnsparks
Feb 14, 2011 @ 1:48 pm | delete
- Though it's shown for Halloween costumes, I know so many theater plays that this lens would fit - and I love this era of clothes! You might want to switch to the Celebrations and Holidays/Halloween/adult costumes section - or not! ;) Love it... Big kiss...
-
-
-
outsource123
Jan 28, 2011 @ 5:01 am | delete
- cool Article.
-
-
-
kimmanleyort
Oct 14, 2010 @ 11:41 am | delete
- This is an excellent lens on 40's fashion. By looking at all the different stars, you see a definite style for this era. Great research!
-
- Load More
by AddaptAbilities
Addy Bell has a love-hate relationship with clothing. Like many women with ADHD, she finds shopping for clothes to be utterly overwhelming. She genera... more »
- 67 featured lenses
- Winner of 24 trophies!
- Top lens » The Best Jobs for Introverts
Feeling creative?
Create a Lens!
Explore related pages
- 1940s Starlet Costume | Elegant Looks of the 1940s 1940s Starlet Costume | Elegant Looks of the 1940s
- Rosie the Riveter Costume | Women and the War Effort WWII Rosie the Riveter Costume | Women and the War Effort WWII
- 1940s Military Women's Costume | 1940s Fashion 1940s Military Women's Costume | 1940s Fashion
- Rationing Fashion: Women's Clothing of WWII Rationing Fashion: Women's Clothing of WWII
- Suzy Homemaker vintage 1950s housewife costume ideas Suzy Homemaker vintage 1950s housewife costume ideas
- I Love Lucy Costumes I Love Lucy Costumes
1940s Fashion: From Suits to the New Look
Forties Fashion: From Siren Suits to the New Look
Amazon Price: $29.01 (as of 05/23/2012)
Fashion Sourcebooks: the 1940s
The 1940s (Fashion Sourcebooks)
Amazon Price: $49.88 (as of 05/23/2012)
Knitting Fashions of the 1940s
Knitting Fashions of the 1940s
Amazon Price: (as of 05/23/2012)
