1940s Ladies Jackets

The 1940s in the United States was a period of great change in fashion. World War II began in 1941 and the shortages of the war greatly impacted the availabilty of cloth and leather for clothing. After the war ended in 1945, as supplies increased, fashion developed dramatic trends, especially in ladies' jackets.

Cut and Silhouette

The jackets for women in the 1940s reflected the recent war effort by emphasizing a military cut and minimal decoration. Shoulder pads widened the shoulders and gave an impression of power. A nipped and natural waist, flaring at the hips, softened the masculine line. Jacket length was to the hips or slightly below.

Sleeves were long and straight, with little embellishment. Lapels varied, but in general were wide enough to add balance to the proportion.

Use of Fabric and Colors

Jackets were designed to be worn with a matching skirt as a suit, called a Victory Suit. With the fabric shortages of the war, women became creative at mixing and matching their skirts and jackets to create a new outfit. Consequently, the jacket fabric and skirt fabric might not match, but were always complimentary.

The fabric for a jacket depended on the time of year. Wool and wool tweed were popular for winter after the war. Lighter weights were used in spring and summer, such as cotton, linen or rayon.

Colors varied, but navy, black and beige were easy to match with skirts. Bright colors, such as royal blue and red were popular.

Wearing of the Jackets

Women often wore the jackets open, with a blouse or cardigan underneath. The blouse was often a bright or contrasting color. Often, the jacket was removed indoors for comfort.