Fashion in the Forties: Wartime Women Make Do
In the 1940s, especially during WWII, women’s fashion was simpler and more utilitarian than in previous years. Common fashion pieces included a shirtdress, which featured wide shoulders, tight waist, and slim skirt that fell just below the knees. Hemlines on dresses and skirts rose a few inches during the war, and swimsuits lost their midsections, all in an effort to preserve fabric for military use.
American fashion changes in 1940s
Fabric restrictions governed fashion in the early half of this decade. In the U.S, each garment had limitations on how much fabric could be used, so fashion statements had many limitations. Women also had to wear clothing suitable for the working world, since women filled many of the jobs men left behind when they left to fight in the war. In the late 1940s, the shape of most outfits became more feminine as a return to traditional ideals popularized the hourglass figure.
Fashion in the Fifties: Feminine Fashion back in Full Swing
As in the late forties, the 1950s fashion trends reflected traditional feminine ideals. Narrow shoulders and even narrower waists graced dresses with full skirts, and women could once again lower the hemline without fear of wasting fabric. This iconic “New Look” was introduced by Christian Dior in the late forties.
Not all skirts were billowing, though. Some dresses hugged the hips and slimmed near the knees and upper calves, forming a classic “pencil skirt.” More and more women decided to forego their skirts altogether, favoring capri pants and beach shorts in the summer.
Magazine covers in the 50s
Fashion in the Sixties: Modern Miniskirts and Figure Feuds
Fashion in the 1960s was more diverse than previous decades, thanks in part to the brand new miniskirt. The miniskirt gave women permission to fully show their legs, and many did. Short skirts and dresses lined the racks in clothing stores and women sported them proudly in the streets.
Magazine cover in the 60s
Fashion culture, snobs’]elitists didn’t follow the trend as quickly, though, and the more formal suits with prim jackets and pencil skirts were still popular for adult women. Young ladies also wore turtlenecks and jeans, pinafore dresses, and traditional fifties-style dresses. In the late sixties, the Hippies began a movement of fashion that brought loud prints, wide pants, and Bohemian accessories.
Fashion in the Seventies: Youthful and Diverse
As the fashion trends of the sixties continued to be popular, such as the miniskirt, Hippie style, and wide leg pants, other styles climbed their way up the fashion ladder. Gender-neutral trends like jeans, jumpsuits, and tank tops gave women more freedom to stray from the skirt. Fads included hot pants, which were tight mini-shorts, platform shoes, and lip gloss galore.
Dresses came in many styles this decade: maxi dresses for the modest, mini for the daring, jersey wrap dresses for the comfort-loving, and kaftan dresses for the beachgoers.
Discussion Questions:
Can you summarize how did American fashion change from 1940s to the 70s?
Can you predict the trends of American fashion in the next decade?
All photos are from glamourdaze.com
