The Fashion of the 1940’s

Evening Wear
 History of the Decade
• * 1941 – The United States was forced to
enter into World War II by
Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
• * 1943 – ‘Vogue’ introduced a ‘Portfolio of
Wartime Economics’ starting
with your One and Only Dress
• * 1945 – WWII ended due to collapse of
Germany and Japan
• * 1946 – Paris had re-established herself as
the fashion center of the world
* United States (New York) became
temporary center for fashion
* “Baby Boom” began due to length of
time husbands were away from wives
*“ Make Do and Mend”
Technological Advances
• Necessity was the innovator to
many new technological
developments
• Flying suit developed from
experimentations of materials
during war (made from sun
back rayon developed during
the war)
• ‘Clothing from Chemicals’
• * Nylon
• * Acetate
• * Rayon
 Silhouette – Early 1940’s
• *Outline demanded by
Wartime Deprivation

• *Unadorned

• *Plain rectangle of
clothing
Silhouette – Late 1940’s
• Hour-glass
• X silhouette returned from 1830
• Swishing petticoat of the late Victorian
period returned
• Fashions from Empire period copied
• Balenciaga
• Beautiful and distinctive silhouettes
• Tunic tops over long straight skirts
• Major influence on fashion of 20th
century
• Elegant clothing
• Not afraid to create extreme silhouettes
• 1947 – New Look
 The New Look
• *Introduced in February 12, 1947
• 1. Wide hats
• 2. Voluptuously curved torso
• 3. Nipped – in waist (wasp waist)
• 4. Small narrow shoulders
• 5. Round padded hips
• 6. Round bust
• 7. Crinoline –swirling skirts
dating back to the 19th century
• 8. Long, full skirts
• 9. 30 – 40 yards required for f
fashion
• 10. Luxury corsets (hipettes)
• “Sculpted” into the required shape with a
hot iron and use of “Top Secret Substance”
– paper – stiff nylon
 • Tulle
Fabrics •
•
Nylon
Satin
• Muslin
• Velvet
• Laces
• Crepe
• Alligator Skin
• Lurex - used to enhance
curtain materials and
decorative furnishings
• Mink
• Cotton
• Leather
• Wool
• Sheer Organza
• Very fine Silk
• Shirred Jersey
 Shades of Color
• Dark colors
• Neutral Shades
• _*Gray
• _*Brown
• _*Black
• Dye in short supply
• During war time –
encouraged to mix and
match colors to make best
use of scare materials
• *Colors = dull and practical
• Jacques Faith introduced a
new color pallet
 Style of the Night
• Neckline – deep • Gathers in front
décolletage for • Asymmetrical seams
evening
• Waist defined • Beads
• Occasionally • Embroidery
extremely tight • Details of dress –
• Wide waistband suitable for occasion
• Fairly high-waisted • Sleeveless for the most
princess dress part, some had jackets
 1947 – 1949 Fashion Emerges
• a. The New Look Silhouette
• b. Basque bodice
• c. Many frills
• d. High or extremely low neckline
• e. Skirts extremely long - 1948
• f. Full pleated skirt - 1947
• g. Draping in front shows Egyptian influences - 1949
• h. Narrow silhouette spring - 1949
• i. Back fullness - 1949
• j. Panels of all kinds – 1949
• k. Ballerina Skirt – 1948
• l. American short black dinner dress
Accessories

• Pearls
• Gloves
• Colored slippers
• Hats
 1940’s
Evening Wear