1940's Fashion - Waves - Women in the US Navy

Waves [ Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service ] added a real touch of glamour
to the navy during the second world war with the help of Fashion label Mainbocher and the beautiful recruitment posters designed by illustrator John Falter.and McClelland Barclay.

"Throughout the nation, recruiting posters were placed in countless prominent public locations. One might see Falter's and Barclay's designs several times throughout the day during 1943. The Navy often reused the same designs for multiple formats with differing text. Posters hung in post offices, libraries, grocery and department stores, on billboards and even in public restrooms. Car cards, or smaller rectangular posters, were mounted in subway cars by transit authorities in major metropolitan areas. Window cards were displayed in the storefronts of businesses."

Check out the US Navy website section on Waves

Lingerie History - 1930's

The Depression brought conservatism, and women in the 1930s returned to the curvy silhouette of eras past, with lingerie returning the emphasis to hips and bust [ which depending on your opinion,wasn't such a bad thing].
Pointed rigid bras came next that maintained their shape. Then came "falsies" ,pads worn inside the bra that were designed to enhance the fullness of the bust,which became the push-up bra, stiffened cups supported by underwiring.

World War Glamour - Women at work in the 1940's

American women added a touch of glamour to the grim task of arming their country in war.

During World War II, women began to gain more respect and men realized that women actually could work outside of the home. They fought for equal pay and made a huge impact on the United States workforce. They began to take over "male" jobs and gained confidence in themselves.
Images courtesy of the Library of Congress

Fashion Photography 1920's - Edward Steichen

Edward Steichen was already a famous painter and photographer in America and abroad when, in early 1923, he was offered the most prestigious position in photography's commercial domain: that of chief photographer for Vogue and Vanity Fair.

Over the next fifteen years, Steichen would produce a body of work of unequaled brilliance, dramatizing and glamorizing contemporary culture.Edward Steichen in High Fashion

1940's swimwear - Esther Williams

Bathing Beauty was Hollywood's first swimming movie, and it created a new genre that was perfectly suited to Esther Williams beauty and athletic skills. A special 90-foot square, 20-foot deep pool was built at Stage 30 on the MGM lot, complete with hydraulic lifts, hidden air hoses and special camera cranes for overhead shots.

"No one had ever done a swimming movie before," she explains, "so we just made it up as we went along. I ad-libbed all my own underwater movements." Famous choreographer Busby Berkeley was responsible for the film's elaborate water scenes - complete with fountains, flames, smoke and, as Williams herself admits, lots of pretty girls swimming around with bows in their hair. It worked,Bathing Beauty was second only to Gone with the Wind as the most successful film of 1944.

Check out Esther Williams.com for some lovely imagery and links to genuine 1940's swimwear

Beautiful Flappers - Colour fashion film 1920's

This is a much better edit of this beautiful film . Enjoy !
It's a beautiful colour film of 1920's fashion, dress and hat styles.A rare find.

1920's fashion - Hats worn by Angelina Jolie in The Changeling

These beautiful hats were inspired by those Cloche hats worn by Angelina Jolie
in the Changeling.
Found here at Kitty Gallery
I don't know about you,but I really think the hats from that period are unmatched
for pure femininity.

1920's Fashion - Make a Bra out of two handkerchiefs

A CAMISOLE NOTE

Found on Pathe News.
Those 1920's girls were so resourceful !