Nowadays, the 1940s women style doesn’t get the most attention. Frequently, it is called old-fashioned and poor, and therefore not that inspiring. But is that correct? Today, we go back in time and explore the silent elegance and distinct character of the 1940’s. A decade full of commotion.
Tough Times
World War II had a big impact on the lives of ordinary citizens. There was a shortage of fabrics and the economy was shrinking, which caused a lot of people to end up in poverty. Since fabrics were scarce, clothing of the 1940s women style was simple, but still costly. This is a whole different story than the 1950s. Because women could not afford an extensive wardrobe, a lot of items such as blouses, skirts and jackets were combined. The two piece suit became very popular, they were comfortable and practical.
Put your look together
Knee lenght jackets were a real fashion statement in the forties, and we still love them. They came in a variety of thickness, depending on the season. These jackets are stylish and put your look together for every occassion. Below you see another stunning jacket from the 1940s women style. It’s classy and fits well. The buttons on the front give it a little extra touch.
The necklines of dresses and jackets were varied. We can see a lot of V-shaped necklines, -often worn with a blouse or light sweater- and collars. Shoes had a simple style, they were often plain and did not have a lot of details. However, their materials were quite special. Shoes were made of velvet, leather and animal skins. Heels were thick and short, but in the late 1940’s heels became a little bit slimmer, and eventually turned out to be pumps.
More than just clothes
Even though most women could not afford expensive, outstanding clothes, they did their best to look decent. At the time, there was a big demand for make up products, especially lipstick. Another way to create a personal style was wearing accessories. In the forties, bold and colourful accessories were a must-have. They also became affordable because of new plastics. Bags were bigger than the clutches of earlier years. These new fashion items were made of brown or black leather.
1940s women hairstyle
Hair styling is also a good method for a better look. It is relatively inexpensive and it is an easy thing to do. In the forties, most women had shoulder lenght hair. It became a trend to pin the hair up at the front, or to curl it. For a woman, it was common to wear a hat. Small hats were paricularly favoured.
The girl above is wearing flannel pants. An item that started to become fashionable in the forties. Originally only men were wearing pants, but because of a lot of women started to work in factories during the war, pants were designed for women as well.
Women in the forties had character and characterized themselves with powerful items. Their style is balanced, subtle and complete with a bit of feminine elegance. An authentic style to embrace.
What do you think of this classic 1940s women style?
Read more about the history of our Dutch watch brand or view all men’s watches or women watches.
