Vintage 1940s World War 2 Fashion and Clothing

Who wore it?

Accessories

A Brief History

For many, clothing options were limited by coupons during the early 1940s, with many making and modifying their own clothes. Ranges available were limited do to government legislation. All clothes and furniture from 1941 had the familiar CC41 mark, which stood for "Civilian Clothing", the 41 representing the year it was first introduced.

It was introduced by the British government to indicate that it had been made with the minimum of cloth possible (or wood, if furniture).

The usual style of the 1940s in the UK and to many extents the USA too were skirts at about knee-length, simply-cut blouses or shirts and square-shouldered jackets (like the 80s, in brownvision).

The introduction of the nylon stocking in the 40s was a revelation for women everywhere, until supplies were rerouted to be used for parachutes. G.I.s became dealers of nylon as the supply ran dry, nylon was the new crack (ok not really).

Because of the war, current European fashion was no longer available to women in the United States, leading to American designers becoming popular as American women began to wear their home grown labels.

An Interesting Fact

In the UK the government controversially banned the turn-up on trousers!

Best Bit?

Everyone dresses like the old people out of 'Last of The Summer Wine' (YouTube it...)

Worst Bit?

Coupons, shortage of cloth, just about everything else.

Designers

Ummm mostly just the government regulated factories...

The 40s boasted a unique style of beachwear, see our favourite picks of vintage 1940s pin up stlye swimsuits below, available from various stores online.