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Period: to
1940's
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America's Time
Since war was happening in France and Italy, they were no longer fashion leaders. That meant American need to step up their game. At this time substance was more important than style. People needed sturdy and sensible clothing. No one wanted to be accused of not being patriotic and wearing something to showy. -
Boys Outfit
A lot of boys would wear long socks and short trousers up until the age of twelve then they would go to long trousers. -
Girl's Dresses
Girls would wear short dresses made of cotton for daytime wear and they would wear velvet for special occasions. -
Women's Wide Legged Trousers
Women wore these trousers because when most of women worked in factories, they didn't want their pants getting caught on machines. These pants used to be just work clothing but soon after the trend started, women would also wear these at home. -
Kid's Shoes
Sometimes both boys and girl would be wearing ankle bar or t-bar sandals. If there was a shortage of rubber you might have seen boys wearing lace up shoes. -
Women's Shoes
Women's heels were short. Designers thought to add some interest by coming out with a wegde heel. Women also wore flat shoes to be comfortable and safe while walking and working. -
Teen Boy Shoes
Teen boys would often wear army boots similar to the ones their male relatives were wearing in war. They could usually purchanse them at surplus stores. -
Teenage Girls Skirts and Dresses
During this time, skirts and dresses that ended right below the knee were a big trend. -
Teenage Sports Sweaters
Both teenage girls and boys wore sports sweaters during the 40's. It was a big trend for teens during this time. -
World War II Ends
The war had a big impact on the fashion in the 1940's. War clothing could be seen being wore on people on the streets. Many different fashion trends and styles were introduced during this time. Even though the war was a terrible thing, the fashion industry boomed. -
Men's Fashion
During this time men's fashion was associated with the swing era. Full-cut, wide trousers, longer jackets, and double breasted suits were in again. -
Men's Shoes
In the 1940's, almost every man wore wingtip, spectator shoes. These shoes weren't much different from the shoes in the 1920's and 1930's. -
Men's Accessories
Men would wear tie to show their individuality and uniqueness. Their ties were held in place by clips. They would also wear wide-brimmed fedoras. -
A New Women's Trend
In Feburary of 1947 Christian Dior introduced a new look. An hour-glass figure was the new thing. Dresses and skirts were long and had tons of fabric. Women were wearing wide hats and had tight-nipped waistlines. This made women have a hour-glass figure, which until then, was strongly denied.
