1940s Fashion History & 1940s Costume Guides

Home 1940s Fashion History

1940s Fashion History

Learn all about 1940s fashion history and how to dress in 1940s style clothing. Our articles are her to help you create an authentic or vintage inspired 1940s costume for both women and men. The 40s decade was a time of WW2 and restriction where clothing had to become economical but not with out fashion. The pin up girl kept men entertained overseas while Rosie the Riveter was an inspiration for women on the home front. Whether dressing up for a 1940s themed event, finding a costume for a play, or doing research for a book these articles should help you create the forties fashion look. If not contact us for help!

New Vintage Reproduction Shoes for Fall 2017

It is almost August yet fall shoes and clothing is entering stores already. I always love to see what's new before I am ready to shop for a warmer wardrobe. This is especially true for shoes. This past week I received a double surprise. The Hotter loafers ...

1
July 27, 2017

1940s Men’s Hairstyles & Facial Hair

1940s Men's Hairstyles The 1940s man had perfectly groomed hair, with frequent visits to the barber. The look is fairly simple to pull off today (unlike those time-consuming women’s styles!) If you want to achieve most men's 1940s hairstyle you will nee...

1
June 14, 2017

1940s Hairstyles- History of Women’s Hairstyles

In the ‘40s women were encouraged to use their hair to ‘fix’ any flaws in their face. If she had perfect, shiny hair with a good color, she should use it to frame her face. If she had a full face, she should use a 1940s hairstyle that piled hair on top of ...

4
June 8, 2017

1940s Accessories: Belts, Gloves, Head Scarf

The purse and hat were the two biggest 1940s accessories a woman wore but they were not the only way to dress up an outfit. Most women wore a belt with their dress, suit or skirt. They were necessary but not emphasized until the late 1940s. Gloves had more sty...

1
May 30, 2017

1940s Jewelry Styles and History

Following on from vintage jewelry styles of the 1930s, this article shall examine popular 1940s jewelry styles and trends. In order to add that finishing touch to a 1940s inspired outfit, highlighted are some vintage reproduction jewelry styles available to b...

85
May 30, 2017

1940s Men’s Underwear: Briefs, Boxers, Unions, & Socks

Men’s underwear (very unlike women’s) hasn’t changed much throughout the years, although it did look a little bit different during the ‘40s. Men wore either briefs, shorts or union suits. White knit briefs were made from ribbed cotton with an elasti...

1
May 11, 2017

1940s Wedding Dresses & Groom Attire

Although the world was in turmoil during the ‘40s, people did still get married! In fact, so many people did that the Baby Boom exploded after the war. However, 1940s weddings were not as formal as they were before or after the decade. Most weddings we...

2
May 4, 2017

1940s Men’s Formalwear

Dressing up in black tuxedos, tails or dinner jackets was a regular affair even in the depression of the 1930s. For city folks and those wealthy enough to afford a night of dinner and dancing, gentlemen always wore formalwear, as did the wait sta...

1
April 27, 2017

1940s Men’s Work Clothes & Uniforms

Starting at the turn of the century and into the 1960s, there was little change in men's workwear styles. Materials, colors and fit changed, but the overall style of workwear for common occupations remained the same. Overalls, coveralls, uniforms, and workwea...

1
April 6, 2017

1940s Men’s Casual Clothing- Shirts, Trousers, Pullover Vests

While men's 1940s business attire moved toward formality, casual style went the opposite way. Ease and comfort blended the lighter business suit style with sports wear established in the previous decades. This merging resulted in sports coats instead of busin...

1
April 3, 2017

1940s Zoot Suit Girls

Although the man's suit is more well known, young women also participated in the rebellious 1940s Zoot and Zazou style. Some called their clothing "defense drapes." Their version was a short pleated skirt that showed plenty of leg – it was an inch o...

1
March 20, 2017

Women’s 1940s Victory Suits and Utility Suits

The most iconic look of war-time was the two-piece women's 1940s suit. In the United States, it was patriotically called the victory suit. In Britain it was the utility suit. The suit was practical and versatile, worn as often as dresses. The jacket and sk...

84
March 15, 2017

1940s Dress Styles

My first love of all the vintage retro decades was with the 1940s. Perhaps because clothing was similar to that in the 1980s, the decade I grew up in, and I subconsciously wanted to relive those times? Hmm maybe. The reason doesn't matter but the love for ...

76
March 9, 2017

1940s Fashion History for Women and Men

Since the stock market crash of 1929 and the severe economic depression that followed for most of the 1930s, fashion had been an escape. Looking to the movies, women and men, escaped their difficult daily lives and imagined a care free and very glamorous l...

2
February 28, 2017

Vintage Overalls 1910s -1950s Pictures and History

I a have thing for overalls. In the mid '90s I was a teenager and the trend for overalls came back in style. I wore mine everywhere paired with a striped shirt and heavy boots. Oh and a plaid flannel shirt. I called it the lumberjack look. Eventually it we...

95
February 14, 2017

Vintage Socks | 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s History

Socks are often overlooked or disregarded as items of little importance. Indeed, socks are hardly perceived as garments of glamour. Despite this, however unimportant they appear; attitudes towards socks has shifted throughout the twentieth century. In part...

94
January 31, 2017

1940s Handbags and Purses History

While the 1930s provided scope for exploration of the aesthetics of bags and purses, the 1940s focused on functionality and practicality. The 1940s was the decade of make-do-and-mend, innovation and functionality. This approach has resulted in perhaps t...

66
January 20, 2017

A History of Belts 1920-1960

This article will explore a history of belts 1920-1960. Here I will showcase popular styles, materials, and the way in which belts were generally utilized and included as a fashion accessory. A History of Belts 1920-1960 Whilst belts can be an ...

88
November 23, 2016

10+ Websites with 1940s Dresses for Sale

I spend a lot of time online looking for great vintage inspired clothing. There are many fabulous vintage reproduction clothing designers online now that make our choices more plentiful than ever! While I prefer the classic 1940s dress- simple, a-line, boxy sh...

61
November 5, 2016

1940s Day Dress Styles

There are two 1940s silhouettes: the wartime dress was knee-length, shoulder-padded, and tightest at the waist, while the post-war dress was longer, fuller in the skirts, and more feminine.

90
October 29, 2016

1940s Men’s Suit History and Styling Tips

During the ‘40s, suits were still everyday wear for men, whether they were going to an office job, to church or out to dinner. They were also probably the hardest hit piece of a man’s wardrobe. It didn’t matter if he were relaxing at home after a hard week...

66
September 29, 2016

1940s Men’s Fashion & Costume Ideas

Learning about men's 1940s fashion history is a big help in creating vintage looks for a swing dance or WW2 history event yet questions still come up about how to put an entire look together. The hardest part about finding 1940s men's clothing besides vintage ...

78
September 14, 2016

Vintage Scarf Styles -1920s to 1960s

Today we take a look at vintage scarf styles in spring and summer weights and how they were worn through each decade 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. Later this year we will learn about winter weight scarves and accessories. Vintage scarves have be...

77
September 6, 2016

1930-1950s Western Wear for Women and Men

Western wear. Denim jeans, plaid shirts, cowboy boots and hats. The look hasn't changed much in the last 100 years but there was a time in the mid century where practical western wear met mainstream fashion and created new styles. It is a part of fashion histo...

68
August 17, 2016

1940s Fashion History

Follow me here: