Fashion History Continued The 1930s & 1940s Fashion History Continued

Overview Historical Overview of the 1930s & 1940s What defines these decades’ fashion? Women’s Fashion Men’s Fashion Important Movements of the time Fashion Icons and Designers 1930s & 1940s fashion today

What was happening during the 1930s & 1940s? Two major events define these decades: The Great Depression (1929- 1939) and WWII (1939-1945) Prohibition ends (1933) The Dust Bowl begins (1934) Spanish Civil War begins (1936) Architectural feats are finished (Hoover Dam, Golden Gate Bridge, Mount Rushmore) First Commercial Flight over Atlantic (1939) A lot of technological advancements- (microwave oven, VW Beetle, first computer, polaroid cameras, Atomic bomb is tested (1945) United Nations in founded (1945)

How do we describe fashion of the 1930s & 1940s? Longer silhouette, more feminine shape Simpler, more functional Utilitarian, yet chic

Women’s Fashion Fashion was still quite glamourous in the 30s & 40s just in a different way. Shift back to longer hemlines, natural shape, nipped in waistline Focus on the shoulder, with shoulder pads becoming popular Skirts were narrow and widened below the hip with the use of godets Fur stoles were wardrobe staples Attire for working women such as bolero jacket, cardigans (casual chic) Eveningwear was elegant, dresses were clingy and bias cut Hats: the snood We see wedge heels for the first time By the mid 40s, dresses started to be more colourful The end of the decade included the New Look, a cinched waist and full skirt. Hello 1950s! Fashion inventions- the zipper and nylon. Fashion was becoming more accessible and comfort was important as women’s roles were changing.

Men’s Fashion All about the “athletic build” or the “superman” look. Double-breasted suits with extra broad shoulders, thin waists, and tapered legs Very wide lapels Zoot suit (exaggerated suit) Large, beefy overcoats High-waisted, wide legged pants A lot of military/uniform inspired looks Also, fitted sweaters, sweater vest, vests Boys wore shorts and tall socks Ties were more popular than bowties Oxford shoes are still popular suspenders

Popular Art and other movements… Rise of Film and Cartoons (Wizard of Oz, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, release of Bugs Bunny) Release of “War of the Worlds” causes panic The world of film and radio is very important during the depression and time of war; people wanted to escape Communism panic is building in US and abroad Surrealism: subconscious creativity, liberating the creative mind, innovative, bizarre, not bound by rules

Fashion Icons Marlene Dietrich (rocked a tuxedo, truly an individual) Vivian Leigh (the “it” girl, designers loved her, a true movie star 1930s Greta Garbo (androgynous, elegance, practicality) Bette Davis (feminist icon, relatable)

Rita Hayworth (androgynous, The new “workwear” Joan Crawford Grace Kelly (feminine, classy, elegant) Joan Crawford (power dressing, Hollywood Royalty) Doris Day (popularized daywear, especially nautical)

Fashion Designers Shoulder pads Wrap dresses Invented godets Elsa Schiaparelli Madeleine Vionnet Shoulder pads Wrap dresses Invented godets Bias-cut dresses Minimized darting, “hugged” female form Closed business in 1939 due to wartime hardships

Created the “New Look”, this propelled fashion changes in the 1950s Christian Dior Pierre Balmain Created the “New Look”, this propelled fashion changes in the 1950s Worked with Dior, helped created the “New Look” He believed that “dressmaking is the architecture of movement”.

What examples of 1930s & 1940s fashion can we see in our modern fashion?

Works Cited: 1930s Fashion: Famous Designers & The Return of Femininity http://www.fashiongonerogue.com/1930s-fashion-famous-designers/ 1930s Fashion: A Decade In Style Demonstrated By 13 Iconic Beauties http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/blogs/549400/1930s-fashion-the-women-who-defined-thirties-style.html 1940s Fashion: The Decade Captured In 40 Beautiful Pictures http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/blogs/544203/1940s-fashion-the-decade-captured-in-40-incredible-pictures.html 1930s Men’s Fashion Guide http://vintagedancer.com/1930s/1930s-men-fashion-guide/ 1930s Timeline http://history1900s.about.com/od/timelines/tp/1930timeline.htm 1940s Timeline http://history1900s.about.com/od/timelines/tp/1940timeline.htm Famous Designers of the 1940s http://infomory.com/famous/famous-designers-of-the-1940s/ Fashion in the 1940s http://www.retrowaste.com/1940s/fashion-in-the-1940s/ How to Dress 1940s Style http://www.thelifenostalgic.com/how-to-dress-1940s-style-for-him/