Ever Present Past: Stars and Stripes

The ’40s were a time of sacrifice for women. When World War II came, everyone was asked to help the war effort. Rations were placed on everything- including fashion. Nylons were rarely found on a store shelf due to the fact the nylon was now being used to make parachutes. Women were told to “make do” by mending, but it was just not enough, so women got creative by drawing seams on the back of their legs with a pen. Makeup was now a luxury. Due to lack of material, the puff found in the powder and blush box was often missing. Yet Rosie The Riveter was there to let women know that it was going to be okay. For the first time, most women worked on aircraft and army supplies. It was thrill of independence for them. And of course, nights out were just as important, whether it being a date with some G.I.’s or a girls’ night out. Pageboy and victory rolls with lots of curls were hairstyles that women would often wear to the movies on such an occasion. Some actresses of the silver screen that influenced this decade were; Katharine Hepburn in The Philadelphia Story as a strong willed women trying to decide what she really wants in a husband, Joan Fontaine, who plays a mousey girl discovering secrets in Alfred Hitchcock’s first American project Rebecca and Ingrid Bergman trying to secure a passport in a war torn world in Casablanca.

Lipsticks: Red is the color of this fall and winter season. In the ’40s, lipstick was about the only thing you could get your hands on still. And red lipstick was starting to be known as a patriotic statement. Some lipstick shade names during that time were; Patriot red, Fighting red and Montezuma red. Now of course everyone loves Revlon’s matte lipstick in Really red or M.A.C.’s Ruby Woo.

Headscarves: These were worn out of practicality to keep a girls hair out of the way when working in factories. But it could also be found when a woman would go shopping and didn’t have time to do her hair. These would also be worn as a simple triangle scarf tied under the chin much like Grace Kelly, who would make her statement later in the ’50s. Vintage/thrift stores have some great scarves usually under a dollar.

Separates: These became statement pieces in a ’40s wardrobe. they could be mixed and matched, dressed up or down. A day look would be a simple pencil skirt with collard shirt. Add a broad shoulder padded jacket and accessorize with a thick belt. Later, this could be taken apart and made more dressed up with pieces that could be worn for evening. It was also an easy way to conserve on money, and help the war effort by not purchasing new clothes. This served new ways of wearing the existing pieces a girl would have in her closet.

The 40s were full of hope for a better time in the world. It was a beautiful yet dark time in our history. I think a quote to sum up this decade would have to be by Anne Frank “I don’t think of all the misery but of the beauty that still remains.”