Oh dear, back in the 1940s, women didn’t have all them fancy clothes like we do now. No sir, things were simple, and folks had to make do with what they had. You see, during the war, there wasn’t much fabric to go around, so the clothes women wore were real plain. But you know what? They still managed to look right nice, even though times were tough.
First off, them jackets they had were square on the shoulders. Big ol’ shoulder pads, I tell ya. Them women looked strong, but they still had a way of making it look proper, with skirts that matched the jackets. The skirts didn’t go up high like today. Oh no, they were below the knee, sometimes even down to the calves. Modest, that’s what they were, but still stylish. The blouses they wore underneath were real simple too, but that’s all they needed back then.
Now, them shirtwaist dresses, they were real popular. You’d see ladies wearing ‘em with long sleeves or short sleeves, depending on the season. Those dresses fit at the waist and flowed down, just enough to move around but not too loose, if you know what I mean. They weren’t wearing no mini skirts, that’s for sure. And if they wanted to get all dressed up, they’d put on one of them Kitty Foyle dresses. Dark dresses, with white or light collars and cuffs. Looked real fancy, like they were going to church or something special.
Speaking of skirts, you couldn’t go wrong with a good ol’ A-line or pencil skirt. That A-line would flare out a bit, so it wasn’t too tight, but the pencil skirt, now that was snug around the legs. Women wore these skirts with peplum tops, giving them that nipped-in waist look. I’ll tell you what, they sure knew how to dress back then to make the waist look tiny, with them wide shoulders and cinched waists. And they loved their high-waisted trousers too. Yes, trousers! Women started wearing more pants in them days, and I reckon it made things easier when they were out working.
- Earthy colors like brown, tan, and green.
- Navy blue and red were favorites too.
- Classic black always had a place in the closet.
Now, the neckline on them dresses and blouses, it came up high over the collarbone. They wasn’t showing much skin, no sir. But if you were lucky enough to go out at night, well, you might see a dress that had a high neckline in the front but was backless. Oh my, that must’ve turned some heads, huh? But even then, the skirts stayed long. Right at knee length or down to the mid-calf, like I said. It wasn’t like the short skirts you see today. No ma’am.
Most of the clothes had a standard look. Squared shoulders, longer skirts, nothing too fancy or different from what everyone else was wearing. It was wartime, after all, so folks couldn’t afford to be too flashy. But even with rationing and all, them women knew how to dress nice, using what little they had.
And the colors, well, you wouldn’t see no neon pink or bright yellow back then. Nope, they kept things earthy. Browns, greens, navy blues, and reds were what you’d find most often. And of course, black was a favorite. Can’t go wrong with black, now can you?
So, if you’re looking to dress like the ladies did in the 1940s, keep it simple. Think strong shoulders, longer skirts, and clothes that fit at the waist. Get you some earthy colors, and don’t forget a nice pair of high-waisted trousers if you can find ‘em. You’ll be looking like you just stepped out of the 1940s in no time!
Tags：[1940s fashion, vintage clothing, women’s 1940s clothes, retro style, wartime fashion, 1940s dresses]
