For women during the 1940s, the importance of personal presentation and looking one’s best was of high priority. Frivolous as…
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Learn all about 1940s fashion history and how to dress in 1940s style clothing. Our articles are here to help you create an authentic or vintage inspired 1940s outfit for both women and men.
The '40s decade started out during WW2 where clothing had to economical but not without 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.
1940s Fashion History
1940s Women's Fashion History
An intro to 1940s fashion history
- 1940s Womens Fashion- Start here and learn all about 1940s Fashion for Women.
- 1940s Fabrics and Colors- Learn what colors and types of fabric were common in the 1940s
- What women and men spent on clothing, the typical wardrobe
- 1940s Dresses- 10 common styles worn in the 1940s
- 1940s House Dresses- What style of dresses women wore at home
- 1940s Day Dresses- Learn about the different styles of 1940s day dresses.
- 1940s Shirtwaist Dresses- Learn and shop for this popular '40s dress.
- 1940s Suits- Women's Victory Suits
- 1940s Tops and Blouses - All the styles of 1940s women's tops and blouses
- 1940s Sweaters & Cardigans- Staying warm with knits
- 1940s Women's Coats & Jackets
- 1940s Skirts- From simple A-line skirts to fun dirndl skirts
- 1940s Formal Dresses- Learn about formal dresses, prom dress, and cocktail dresses
- 1940s Women's Pants - Learn and shop for 1940s and 1950s style pants & overalls for women.
- 1940s Rompers and Shorts - Summer playsuits, shorts and pedal pushers
- 1940s Swimsuits history - Learn all about fabulous swimwear in the 1940s
- 1940s Shoes- Learn about and shop for 1940s style ladies shoes.
- 1940s Stockings- Seamed stockings and socks history
- 1940s Working Women's Clothes- Rosies, shop girls and nurses
- 1940s Zoot Girls - History of the urban Zoot Suit style
- 1940s Teenage Girls clothing- Trends and styles worn by teens
- 1940s Fashion Advice for Plus Sizes, Tall Women and Short/Petite Women.
- 1940s Lingerie History- A look at the types of bras, girdles, and slips
- 1940s Sleepwear- Nightgowns, pajamas, robes, red jackets
- 1940s Hairstyles for Women- Variety of classic hairstyles through the decade
- 1940s Hairstyles for long hair- Tips on creating a 1940s hairstyle for long hair.
- 1940s Hair Snoods- Make or buy a 1940s hair snood and keep your hair in place.
- 1940s Hat Styles - Over 20 popular hat history with pictures. Hair Accessories too.
- 1940s Jewelry Styles- Popular jewelry styles and trends
- 1940s Sunglasses- Women's sunglasses and eyeglasses
- 1940s Handbags- Purses, day bags and evenings bags
- 1940s Women's Accessories- Belts, gloves, head scarf
- 1940s Wedding Dresses - History of the bride's wedding gown
- 1940s Makeup History and Tutorial - Plus buy 1940s makeup
- Plus Size 1940s Fashions - History of full figure clothing in the 1940s. Fashion advice for plus sizes.
- Vintage Workout Clothes | Retro Gym Clothes
- Fashion advice for the petite woman and the tall woman.
- Where to shop for repro and vintage inspired 1940s clothing
- 1940s Outfit Ideas- 16 looks you can create
- 1940s Casual Outfit ideas- Casual, sporty looks for summer
- 1940s Fall and Winter outfits and How to Keep Warm
- 1940s Black Fashion, African American Clothing Photos
1940s Men's Fashion History
- 1940s Men's Fashion- A detailed overview of all areas of men's fashion in the 1940s.
- 1940s Men's Suits- Learn about 1940's men's suits and clothing. Tips on creating your own look.
- 1940s Men's Casual Fashion- Sportcoats, shirts, sweater vests
- Men's Outfit Ideas from the 1940s and 1950s
- 1940s Men's Shirts- Dress shirts and casual shirts, T-shirt styles
- 1940s Men's Formalwear - Dressing in white tie, black tie, summer whites and semi- formal
- 1940s Men's Workwear & Uniforms- What wore to labor jobs and military positions
- 1930-1950s Western Wear for Women and Men - Men's western style clothing from the 1930s to 1960s
- 1940s Men's Shoes- Learn about and shop for 1940s style shoes. See more about Saddle Shoes.
- 1940s Men's Swimwear- Swim shorts of the 1940s
- Men's Vintage Gym Clothes | Sweatshirts, Shorts, Tops, Shoes Styles
- 1940s Pajamas - Men's sleepwear, robes and slippers
- 1940s Teenage Boys Fashion- Boys and young men styles
- 1940s Dance Shoes for Men - Shop men's swing and ballroom dance shoes with 1940s style.
- 1940s Hats- Learn about 1940s men's hat styles.
- 1940s Men's underwear - Boxers, briefs, long johns, socks, undershirts
- 1940s Men's Accessories- Belt, suspenders, cufflinks, glasses, watches, cane, pocket square, gloves, scarves
- 1940s Men's hairstyles and facial hair - Common styles, trends, grooming products
- 1940s Groom Clothing- A 1940s wedding attire for grooms
- 1940s Men's Costume Ideas- Classic 1940s look you can re-create
- Where to shop for men's vintage and repro clothing and specifically 1940s men's repro clothing
Vintage Summer Clothes, Beach Outfits
Now that the weather is finally starting to warm up, it may be time to think about vintage summer clothes…
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1940s Formal Dresses, Evening Gowns History
1930s formal gowns were long, sleek, and sexy – the basis for most modern formal wear today. The 1940s formal…
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Vintage Gloves History- 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 1940, 1950, 1960, 70s, 80s
Can you imagine having to wear gloves every time you left the house? Even in the summer? While gloves are…
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1940s Bathing Suits History
1940s bathing suits, like many other clothing items, were also losing their modesty. The ’40s was the era when the…
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1940s Outfit Ideas: Recreate the 40s Look
Continuing with our Recreate the Look series, in this post I will show you how to recreate a 1940s outfit…
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1940s Men’s Fashion History and Clothing Styles
1940s men’s fashion for day, sport, or evening was styled to make a man feel “larger than life.” During 1941-1945,…
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1940s Men’s Accessories: Belt, Suspenders, Cuff Links, Jewelry
Part two of the article on 1940s men’s fashion continues with a look at accessories in menswear. Men’s belts or…
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1940s Hair Snoods- Buy, Knit, Crochet or Sew a Snood
Snoods were a popular hair accessory in the 1940s for both daytime and work. They were a rayon or…
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Vintage Sweaters & Cardigans: 1940s, 1950s, 1960s
Part two of this series of vintage sweaters continues with the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. These three decades were a…
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1940s Sleepwear: Nightgowns, Pajamas, Robes, Bed Jackets
Women’s 1940s sleepwear was simple and practical. For women, the design stemmed from two directions. The ’30s bias cut negligee…
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Vintage Wide Leg Pants & Beach Pajamas History
I was out shopping the other day observing what was in fashion for fall. The one item I was most…
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1940s Shorts History | High Waisted Shorts | Sailor Shorts
Shorts were not a new item in women’s 1940s wardrobes, but they weren’t very common. The 1930s style short had…
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1940s Costume & 40s Outfit Ideas – 16 Women’s Looks
The 1940s fashion era is one of my favorites, especially to recreate using used/vintage/thrifted clothing or new vintage inspired clothing…
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1940s Teenage Fashion for Boys and Young Men
In 1940, as many as 8 out of 10 high school graduate teen boys went to war. The teenage boys…
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1940s Men’s Reproduction Clothing Brands
Where to find men’s 1940s reproduction men’s clothing that is either ready-made or custom made to measure? What about 1940s…
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1940s Teenage Fashion: Girls
The term ‘teenager’ was coined in 1941, and Seventeen magazine printed its first issue in 1944, showing off young teenager-targeted…
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1940s Sweater Styles, Knitwear History
Knitted sweaters were a clothing staple throughout the ’40s. Sweater styles shared similar designs to the blouse, and were often…
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Vintage Men’s Swimwear History- 1930s, 1940s, 1950s
What did men wear to the pool or beach in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s? Vintage men’s swimwear experienced big…
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1940s Sunglasses, Glasses & Eyeglasses History
Reader Kathy wrote me this question about 1940s sunglasses: I’m desperately looking for a vintage pair, or good replica pair…
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