The fortieth years are associated with the war. And in wartime, women and men wanted and dressed fashionably. What were the fashion trends of the military fortieth years of the last century?
The beginning of the decade was marked by the rise of industry. The consequences of the economic crisis of the early thirties were safely eliminated. Purchasing power has increased. The fashion trends of the pre-war forties, their very beginning, were multilayered, white blouses, sleeves-lanterns, voluminous bows. But the main trend was strips. Strips any, stripes everywhere. In general, the fashion of the forties is similar to the clothes of Hispanic women. Along with Latin American motifs, many women copied the style of movie stars. The other part did not abandon the traditions of the thirties - the style of a teenage woman.
It was at the beginning of the forties that women began to pick up cosmetics, in particular lipsticks, in the tone of the outfit. In general, by the time lipstick is produced all sorts of colors, and by consistency is close to modern.
But came the alarming war years, which turned everything upside down. Already in 1941, many states declared martial law. Paris, considered the capital of fashion, is occupied by German soldiers. Naturally, fashion houses and shops are closed. And fashion designers become personal tailors for the wives of the "top" of the government of the Third Reich.
In early 1942, the US issued a notable law "L-85". The Government Committee of the Military Industry banned the use of natural cotton fabrics and wool for civilian clothes. For these purposes, it was proposed to use acetate silk and viscose. It was allowed to use a minimum of tissues and choose a cut without unnecessary ornaments.
England also introduced strict planning in everything. This involved not only the models of clothing, but also its quantity for each person. It was during wartime that the "pret-a-porter" originated. In those years, all fashion designers, tailors and cutters were drafted into the army. They were put in conditions of strict economy. The fashion trends of the military forties were minimalism in the cut and a small figure.
In late 1942 white collars and collars became fashionable. This trend is relevant, both for women's and for men's clothing. This fashion is also caused by the saving of wartime. Matter on white shirts is not, and to look elegantly like even in these conditions.
In Europe, the military style reigns. Popular at the end of the thirties, the caps at first somewhat decreased. And then they were replaced by handkerchiefs. The main color in the clothes was khaki or dark gray. And for the weekend dresses - a small flower. I had to completely abandon the lapels, lapels, pleated, cuffs and ployka.
The real luxury was ordinary cosmetics. But ingenious Spanish quickly solved this problem. They tinted eyebrows burnt bone or wood, and instead of lipstick used wine. Such cosmetics "natyurel" quickly spread throughout Europe. In the US, there was no such problem. The production of cosmetics did not stop, but only decreased. Import of things not related to essentials was banned. Therefore, European women of fashion were deprived of this pleasure until the end of the forties.
In the US, although there were no military operations, the country's economy was transferred to the military regime. The fashion trends of the military forties in America were represented by three styles. The dress-shirt reminding the military uniform was the basis of the first direction. The second direction was the working style. Women wore trousers with an inflated waist and blouses that looked like shortened jackets. The third direction was sports style. All these tendencies were combined with traditional American predilections: hats and corsets, Scarlett O'Hara-style outfits. And this combination of traditions and innovations in 1943 perfectly blended with the emerging new style of "mix and match."
It was this motto that became relevant to the end of the war in England. Conservative female costume began to sew from different fabrics, both in type and color. The jackets were shortened to the minimum length. In the course there were skirts-pencils, on which there was the least tissue. But shoes became a real deficit. European ladies had to wear shoes from leatherette on wooden soles.
But the war was coming to an end. And women are very yearned for fashionable clothes. They woke up the desire to look feminine and attractive.