Forties Fashion #5: Evening Wear 1941

Apologies for the dearth of posts this last week but a lack of blogworthy news was compounded by me feeling a little under the weather.  There's still a lack of blogworthy news but as I'm in the right frame of mind for a bit of writing I think it's about time I turned my attention to doing another excerpt from my 1940s Fashion sourcebook.  So without further ado, we find ourselves in 1941 about to don some evening wear.

These first two ladies are wearing quite contrasting gowns, possibly for different "classes" of "social" event.   

Top: a fine grey wool-crepe dinner dress with bloused bodice; button fastening from above waist level to under low V-shaped neckline; self-fabric covered buttons; small beaded patch pockets; short inset sleeves and padded shoulders; floor-length flared skirt gathered at front in decorative pinafore panel; self-fabric belt tied into a bow; silver kid-strap sandals.

Bottom: a floor-length red velvet evening cape with wide padded shoulders; embroidered and beaded stand collar matches large patch pockets at hip level; floor-length black taffeta evening dress; elbow-length black silk gloves and black satin strap sandals.

The next two gals sport more "informal" evening wear, as follows:

Left: a blue, pink and silver flower-patterned fine silk brocade evening dress with a fitted and ruched bodice from low neckline to hip level; shaped epaulette shoulder straps (already there's a military theme creeping in!); floor-length flared skirt; silver kid shoes with peep toes.

Right: a dinner ensemble - bright pink silk-taffeta blouse with wide padded shoulders and shaped epaulette extensions; self-covered button trim and roll collar; full-length black silk-crepe skirt draped around high waist and over hips, front panel of unpressed pleats; black satin shoes.

Finally, the solitary chap.  We men don't get two male fashion models until midway through 1942 I'm afraid!  For now though, this dashing fellow wears:

Two-piece black wool evening suit comprising a single-breasted fitted jacket with linked-button fastening, wide lapels faced in black satin, hip level piped pockets; breast pocket with folded white silk handkerchief (see here for various ways to fold a handkerchief for the breast pocket); straight-cut trousers with no turn-ups and satin ribbon on outside seams; white cotton shirt worn with wing collar (available here) and black satin bow tie (self-tied of course); black patent leather lace-up shoes.

That's it for another Forties Fashion phase.  Have a wonderful weekend, all, whether you'll be in evening wear or not!

Forties Fashion #2: Evening Wear 1940

For the second in this series of fashion posts from my recently-acquired 1940s Fashion Sourcebook the focus is on evening wear; even at the height of war the pursuit of pleasure and entertainment was still in evidence - one might almost say more so as a result of the hard times and dark days of 1940. Already there are some small examples of the make do and mend attitude creeping into these clothes, though, as you will see.

The first outfit (left) consists of a black silk-jersey dinner dress (shaped neckline, fitted bodice, full-length inset sleeves and ankle-length flared skirt) with yellow-gold tissue for the pleated front panels; matching turban hat with large bow trim; a narrow, clasp-fastening belt and black peep-toe suede shoes. Sounds quite striking, doesn't it?
These next three ladies wear - top: a deep-blue fine wool-crepe evening dress (low V-neck, ruched-shaped side panel of self-fabric from hip level to under deep-scooped armholes, slender bodice and skirt cut in flared panels with no waist seam) and silver kid strap sandals.
Bottom left: full-length royal blue silk taffeta evening dress (wide square neckline, brooch trim at each point, matching band of royal blue on hem of pale violet skirt).
Bottom right: fine black wool dinner dress (bloused bodice, V-neck, gathered shaping from asymmetric insert with black sequined embroidered motif); black and grey fox-fur stole and black satin strap sandals.

Now on to an area I am more familiar with (I have to be honest, I may as well have been typing "blah blah, V-neck, blahblahblah, skirt, blah blah" for all the sense the ladies wear terms make to me!) - menswear! This dashing fellow (right) sports: two-piece black wool evening suit (double-breasted jacket with wide lapels faced with black silk, white silk handkerchief in breast pocket and straight-cut trousers with no turn-ups [no turn-ups on evening suit trousers, of course. There's also no mention of silk braiding but for the record one should wear single braid trousers with black tie (informal) and double braid when in white tie (formal). We can forgive this chap though, after all there was a war on - material was probably scarce!]); white cotton shirt with black silk bow tie (and you must tie it yourself - if I can do it, so can anyone. Pre-tied bow ties are just plain wrong); black patent leather lace-up shoes.

Well, there you have it. I feel like getting suited up for a night at the dance hall, or possibly the theatre, after that! Mustn't forget the overcoat and hat!