About 1940s Ladies Fashion
Ladies fashion in the 1940s was somewhat restricted as a result of World War II. This was due to the fact that fabric was in limited supply during that time. After the war was over in 1945 however, women came out of their shell and started to dress more elegantly.
Dresses and Skirts
Access to fabric was limited during the war so as a result, dresses were made short, at knee-length. There were no pleats, folds or any type of embellishments on clothing, as precious material was being conserved at the time. Soon after the war when fabric was no longer a concern, the dresses became full and longer and many of the sleeves were puffy. The skirts also became more lengthy and took on more of a swing style. Jackets that were worn with skirts were box shaped with square shoulders and no definition at the waist.
Pants
More women began wearing pants than ever before during the 1940s. This was due to the fact that many women joined the workforce after the war and pants were a more sensible option to wear while working than the full flowing dresses.
Accessories
One of the most popular accessories for a women back in the 40s was the head scarf. Many women saw them as a functional accessory, especially those women who worked outside of the home. The shoes were understated and flat. Most of the jewelery that women wore when they went out for the evening was costume jewelry.