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Wartime Forties Fabric, hosiery, dye, and buttons were regulated, leading to plain, above the knee skirts and boxy jackets with padded shoulders. France as a fashion center was halted with Britian and America creating collections. Longer hemlines returned following the war, climaxing in 1949 with Dior's "New Look.". Notable designers include Adrian, Claire McCardell, Edith Head, Hardy Aimes, and Norman Norell. Web Sites | Books | Videos Web Sites about 1940s Fashions and Culture Rationed Fashions During World War 2 http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Coffeehouse/6727/rationed_fashion.html This site is dedicated the history behind wartime fabric rationing and includes a list of designers, accessories, and even a rundown on early sportswear. Very informative and easy to use. Glamour Central hhttp://members.tripod.com/slowdyve/GLAMMAIN.html This attractive web site is the premier resource on forties style and culture, including links to related music sites like swing and rock-a-billy. There are plenty of vintage graphics, links to related web rings and chats, and other hip features. 1920s-1930s Freeware Clip Art on Fashion http://www.costumes.org/pages/1920s clip art Back To Top Books About 1940s Fashions and Culture Great Fashion Designs of the Forties :... TEXT Fashion Sourcebooks the 1940s TEXT Fashions of a Decade : The 1940s... TEXT Fashion in the Forties by Julian Robinson This 1976 book is worth a look if you can find it at libraries or bookstores. It offers a look at the 1940s in interviews, news clippings, photographs and sketches. It explains how the war affected fashion, how fashion returned to Paris, and the post-war rush on fabric. Many of these photos cannot be found elsewhere. Everyday Fashions of the Forties As Pictured in Sears Catalogs Edited by JoAnne Olian This is a great book to quickly and easily identify forties clothing, compiled by the curator of the costume collection at the Museum of New York. It offers a great selection of collectible items, ranging from children and women¼s day wear to menswear and accessories like leg makeup. Each page is identified year it first appeared. Back To Top Videos About 1940s Fashion and Culture The Woman This 1939 movie shows the artistry of Hollywood costume designer Adrian, who's screen fantasies influenced what women wore off screen during the forties. It set the tone for the decade with an all star cast in stunning clothes - pay attention to the fashion show scene! Easter Parade This movie has wonderful forties fashions. Most notable is the fashion show scene, where hats to die for follow one after the other in a wish-you-could-have-one sequence. Stormy Weather This 1943 film captures the glory days of zoot suits, before they were banned due to wartime restrictions on fabric. Riots caused between servicemen and those defiantly wearing zoot suits in public ensured this would be a short lived fad during the forties. Vintage Pattern Lending Library http://www.vpll.org/library A collection of over 800 antique sewing and needlework patterns covering periods of 1870 - the late 1940s. Only members may check out patterns, but paying the fee allows free check out, discounts on pattern purchases, and the chance to check out more than one pattern at time. From the teen patterns include those from rare French fashion magazines and British fashion patterns. This is a fantastic idea. The Canadian Virtual Museum - Virtual Fashion Hat Exhibition http://www.civilization.ca/membrs/canhist/hats/hat51eng.html Back To Top

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