1940s Evening Dress Accessories

The 1940s were a time when evening events were infrequent during and shortly after the war years. Cocktail attire was acceptable to dinner, dancing and house parties. For those that did attend fancy affairs, the slinky bias cut gown was replaced by either the modest column gown or full-skirted ballgown like these:

1940s Evening Accessories

Accessories worn in the 1930s were still used well into the 1940s. New jewelry styles were bigger and bolder. Coats and capes were replaced by fur wraps and long gloves returned in jewel tone colors. Other accessories were:

Hairstyles: Small Victory rolls or waving on top with a gathered chignon effect in the center back. The hair was kept away from the face with minimal height. Long hair could be gathered all back or half back and hung down in big dramatic curls/waves.

1945 braided updo and drawstring bag

Hair Accessories: None were needed. Hair combs under a chignon, big bows on top, or hair flowers clipped to one side were pretty embellishments. Consider gardenia, roses, and orchid flowers or a poinsettia at Christmas. Shop hair accessories. 

Gloves: Optional. Black, white or a bold color that matches another accessory. They should be long and ruched (gathers). Fingerless gloves made it possible to keep them on all night. Shop gloves. 

1946 purple evening gloves standout against a black velvet gown

Shoes: Evening sandals, peep toe heels, ankle strap heels, or slingback heels in black. Lighter color gowns could also have matching shoes. Shop shoes. 

1949 cross wrap heels with peep toe made for dancing!

Stockings: Black back seam stockings were worn with most colors of dresses. Nude for lighter dress colors and light shoes. Shop stockings. 

1942 fine stockings, nude with heel

Wraps: Wealthy women had a long fur wrap hung across the arms or shoulders. Grey, brown and natural fur colors were preferred over white or black dyed furs. Shop wraps. 

1947 fur coat

Bags: A rectangle flat envelope clutch remained a classic although bigger than the dainty 30s styles. The round pouch bag with short drawstring or fabric handle returned as well (see image at top of the page). Shop bags.

1943 dressy handbags

Jewelry: Sparkle was still in and it was bigger, bolder, more dramatic and cheaper. Fake jewelry made it affordable to wear big bib necklaces, multi-strand pearl chokers (with a big brooch in the center) or large pendant necklaces.

Colored gems were in style as well as classic clear/white stones. Gold settings became the preferred jewelry in the later years. Earrings were large clip-on that coordinated with the necklace.

Big bracelets gradually were replaced by simple, single, tennis bracelets in gold. Big brooches could be clipped to dress straps or a large flower corsage instead. Shop 1940s Jewelry. 

1942 jewelry

1940s bib jewelry. Woman with long ruched gloves and fur wrap.

Learn more about 1940s formal dresses and mens tuxedos.

From my collection, I would put these accessories together for a 1940s evening outfit:

Natural fur wrap, black peep toe ankle strap heels, black stockings, black ruched gloves, black clutch bag, pearl choker with pendant and matching earrings, pearl bracelets, and green gem brooch. This could work for the 50s too.