Fashion in the 1940s
This slim volume provides a fascinating overview of fashion in the 1940s, primarily in Great Britain. The focus here is the war’s impact on fashion in England, which created a unique situation — from rationing to Utility clothing, austerity reigned and the influence of Paris couture was rendered non-existent. Other parts of the world outside the UK are not considered.
While the war may have been over by the mid-40s, this work makes clear that its effect on fashion far outlasted the duration, as shortages persisted into the early 1950s. The “Make Do and Mend” campaign is highlighted, along with the influence of war-time jobs on women’s fashion and the innovative ways women “made do.” Men’s fashion receives short shrift, ostensibly as most men were in uniform. The text is clear and concise, flows logically, and there are an appropriate number of illustrations, both color and black and white. Definitely worth the small price tag for those interested in Great Britain’s war-era fashions.