Fashion in the 1940s

Description

This book reveals the impact of wartime and austerity on British fashion and tells the story of how a spirit of patriotism and make-do-and-mend unleashed a wave of new creativity among women who were starved of high fashion by shortages and rationing. Many home dressmakers copied the high-end looks, and women involved in war work created a whole new aesthetic of less formal street wear. Fashion in the 1940s also shows how the Second World War shifted the centre of the international couture scene away from Paris, allowing British designers to influence Home Front style. Afterwards Paris fashion was re-born with Dior's extravagant New Look, while casual American trends were widely adopted by young British women and men.

Jayne Shrimpton is a professional dress historian and portrait specialist with an MA in the History of Dress from the Courtauld Institute of Art (University of London). She has many years' experience analysing historical images and is well known for her dress history and photograph books, magazine articles, lectures and photo dating events.

"While the war may have been over by the mid-40s, this work makes clear that its effect on fashion far outlasted the duration, as shortages persisted into the early 1950s. The 'Make Do and Mend' campaign is highlighted, along with the influence of war-time jobs on women's fashion and the innovative ways women 'made do.' Men's fashion receives short shrift, ostensibly as most men were in uniform. The text is clear and concise, flows logically, and there are an appropriate number of illustrations, both color and black and white. Definitely worth the small price tag for those interested in Great Britain's war-era fashions." --Historical Novel Society "What I like most about this book is it is bite size yet packed with detail. It can fit in your (vintage) bag and be easily read on the train or with a slice of cake. The author clearly knows her stuff and decribes the era with authority and passion." --Kate Beavis, author of Style Your Modern Vintage Home