Forties Fashion #7: Day Wear 1942

If I've worked out Blogger's Scheduled Post function correctly then thanks to the wonders of modern technology this post should appear while I am still laid up in hospital.  We haven't had an excerpt from the 1940s Fashion Sourcebook for a while and as it lends itself to the kind of simple, straightforward pre-planned post now would seem to be the perfect time to revisit it.

We now find ourselves in the middle of the war years - 1942 to be precise.  Restrictions on cloth allowance seem not to have quite come in yet judging by the following outfits, although they would not be much longer in appearing.  Even so basic simplicity appears ever more obvious, although fashionable flourishes still abound - as we shall see.

Top left wears: wine red wool two-piece suit comprising of a hip-length edge-to-edge jacket, fastened with loops and buttons in four sets of four from above the hemline to under the narrow stand collar and self-fabric buckled belt; two inset bands of bias-cut self-fabric from under arms to centre-front and full-length tight inset sleeves with padded shoulders; bias-cut knee-length flared skirt.  Accessorised with a red silk turban, black leather envelope clutch bag and matching lace-up high-heel shoes.  Red and black are such wonderfully contrasting colours (as anyone who has seen the film "Dick Tracy" could attest to; cf. some of Jessica's outfits over at Chronically Vintage as well), I could imagine this looking quite striking - especially if the two inset bands were black too perhaps?

Bottom right wears: Knee-length green and blue herringbone wool-tweed coat, single-breasted fastening from waist level to under wide lapels and large collar; flared from under arm to hem with long raglan sleeves, padded shoulders and hip-level welt pockets with top-stitched edges and raised & top-stitched seams.  Complemented by a blue and green patterned silk scarf, navy blue felt hat with small crown & turned-down brim and navy blue leather shoes with round toes & high heels.

Top left wears: two-piece wool jumper suit comprising of a long single-breasted turquoise jacket with large hip-level patch-and-flap pockets, the upper bodice tucked from above the self-fabric tie belt to under the high yoke seam; shirt collar in fawn with matching lapel facings, yoke, full-length sleeves under padded shoulders and a knee-length box-pleated skirt.  Finished off with brown leather shoes.  Another clever use of colours - blue and brown is an often-overlooked combination, I find.

Bottom right wears: two-piece blue and grey striped wool suit comprised of a double-breasted unfitted jacket with wide lapels, patch pockets and stitched cuffs; wide trousers with turn-ups (I'm surprised to see turn-ups and skirt pleats so far in to the war because as far as I was aware both were prohibited/restricted - by the Utility Clothing Scheme I believe - from 1942 due to fabric rationing).  White cotton collar-attached shirt with blue and silver-grey patterned silk tie.  Black leather lace-up shoes.  Quite a modern ensemble for our lone chap, blue and grey/silver being a popular combination even today.

Left wears: Cherry red wool dress with a semi-fitted bodice above a self-fabric belt with covered buckle, knee-length flared panelled skirt, black wool yoke with scalloped top-stitched edges continuing over the padded shoulders above long sleeves with scalloped pockets set vertically at hip level into panel seams.  Topped off with black high-heeled shoes with turned-down tongues.  Yet another excellent use of red and black - I bet this would look as good as the first outfit, not to mention more than suitable even among today's fashions.

There we have it then for another selection - and in my opinion one of the best yet.  Some striking designs very much in the wartime style, I think you'll agree, but also I'd like to believe rather inspirational this time.  Certainly there are if not entire outfits certainly aspects of them that could be incorporated into achievable looks today and which I'm sure I have or could easily see on several vintage blogging gals, if I may say so.  I hope you agree with me - do let me know what you think!

The next two scheduled posts should more than redress the balance for us chaps, however.  Despite no Miss Lemon fashion post from any of you ladies recently (what's the matter - suffering from bow cardigan fatigue?! ;p) another Captain Hastings-fest is on the horizon, as well as an extra-special addition to the Style Icon series.  Hopefully I'll once again be able to take inspiration from both before long, in the meantime I hope everybody's continuing to keep well!

Forties Fashion #4: Day Wear 1941

I hadn't forgotten this fashion series, taken from a sourcebook I picked up in a library sale at the beginning of the year, and as there seems to be a dearth of things to blog about at the moment now would seem to be the time to continue it.

We've now reached 1941 so clothes rationing is really beginning to bite, but did that ever stop anyone?

The first three ladies are intent on going about their business as stylishly as the war will allow and wear, from left to right, the following:

(l) Charcoal grey wool two-piece suit:  long single-breasted fitted jacket with 3-button fastening and turned-up collar & lapels; seams of top-stitched panels continue into knee-length skirt (clever!); hip-level patch pocket with inverted bow pleat and black ribbon bow trim matching small breast pocket; fitted inset sleeves with padded shoulders.  Brimless (there's a war on, remember) draped black silk hat with pink silk carnation trim.  Black leather clutch bag and matching shoes.

(c) Tan and beige patterned wool-jersey edge-to-edge coat with full-length fitted sleeves, padded shoulders and hip-level welt pockets; lapels matching buckled belt and collarless dress.  Beige felt hat, long beige leather gloves and tan leather shoes.

(r) Powder blue linen dress with bloused bodice above navy blue leather buckled belt; padded shoulders, matching buttons on mock double-breasted fastening and top-stitched darts on right side of fabric continuing as hip yoke in knee-length flared skirt; white cotton-piqué roll collar with matching short-sleeve cuffs.  Navy blue felt hat [small crown, swept-up bonnet brim], navy blue leather clutch bag and shoes with white cotton gloves.

So on to the next lady, who wears:

Yellow crepe dress patterned with grey and white flowers and bloused bodice, self-fabric buckled belt, elbow-length sleeves and padded shoulders; gathered shaping between high round neckline and curved half-yoke seams, repeated cut and gathered side panels.  Small white straw hat with yellow flower trim, white leather clutch bag and gloves; black and white leather shoes (co-respondents or spectators, perhaps?)

Now then chaps, finally, here we go!  The poor old outnumbered man (I know how he feels!) wears:

Grey wool three-piece suit consisting of single-breasted jacket with 3-button fastening with wide lapels and piped pockets, single-breasted collarless waistcoat and straight-cut trousers with turn-ups.  White cotton collar-attached shirt and striped silk tie; grey felt trilby and black leather lace-up shoes.

Well there we have it for another fashion phase.  I'm hopeful that it won't be another 8 months before another appearance of Forties Fashion which, for the record, will be evening wear.  Hmmmnn, perhaps I shall tie it in with the Christmas party season...