Planning your winter wardrobe in the late 1940's
Following on from the earlier Young Womans Wardrobe Plan from 1947.
For more information on womens lives, fashion, etc in the 1940's check out the following links:
1940's Fashion - How to Dress Accurately
A 1940's Housewifes Daily Routine
Helena Rubinsteins 1940's Makeup Guide
1940's Prom
The 1940's Fashion Silhouette
And for the definitive guide to 1940's Makeup styles visit
1940's Vintage Makeup Guide
Download original vintage makeup guides from the 1920's,1930's, and 1940's at
Vintage Makeup Guide.com
Is your seasonal wardrobe just a haphazard collection of outfits thrown together, or a complete and harmonious set of carefully chosen garments that will turn head and stop other women in their tracks as they envy your style and fashion sense ! Can you tell by the way they look, which other women planned their wardrobe? Back in the 1940's women meticulously planned their wardrobe down to the last detail.
1940's Fashion writer Elisebeth Todd interviewed ordinary women like Betty below, on their fashion planning in 1948.
The following is a list in her own words of Bettys wardrobe plan from 1947.
Winter Coats and Jackets
Good black coat, Brown tailored coat, Tan polo coat.
Pastel, plaid, tan, soft and tailored jackets.
Winter Suits
A powder blue herringbone tweed suit for travelling, church and dates.
A pink tweed suit for the same occasions.
Winter Dresses
A gold wool dress - very dressy for dances.
Can be dressed up ultra with black coat and black accessories.
A red and black check dress - for church or games or a day out with friends.
A powder blue lightweight wool, tailored two piece dress.
This can be worn with any of the coats and with pumps or saddle shoes and anklets.
A red plaid wool one piece dress.[ My favourite dress ever !]
Can be worn with brown and black coats for dates and dress up affairs.
A gold chiffon dinner dress with long full sleeves. This is my pet !
It has silver embroidery on it.
Green net formal with a short taffetta jacket which is worn with the dress for dinners or used as a wrap.Finally, a knee length black wool dress with half sleeves.
This is my head turner.
Fall and Winter Skirts.
Brown wool swing skirt
Black crepe plaited
Green plaid plaited
Blue and red plaited
Striped taffetta evening skirt to be worn with white blouse for parties.
Green Pencil skirt
Winter Shoes
Brown suede and alligator pumps - Two pairs
Black mary janes -One pair
Cuban heel oxfords -One pair
Brown and white low heeled pumps.
Brown ladies galoshes.
[ Glamourdaze note - these were designed to fit over your high heeled shoes]
Winter Hats
Powder blue felt
Navy Blue silk
Turban, wrap around.
Red felt medium brim hat.
Gloves for the Winter Season
Black leather gloves
White long gloves - for evening wear and formals.
White angora mittens - for snowy and cold weather.
1940's Fashion Purses
Blue leather, black leather and gabardine.
Betty's Underwear and Hosiery
Slips - 2 peach, 2 white, 1 blue and 1 black.
Panties - 8 pairs white.
4 brassieres
Girdles- 2 long line girdles
6 pairs of silk hose.
Winter Pajamas
Blue and white striped - cotton
Peach wool nightie
Blue wool Pajamas.
Planning your wardrobe includes deciding what clothes you will need for the coming season, trying on and judging what will fit as the season progresses. Older women may add a pound or two during the colder months of winter.Planning also includes combining tops and skirts, dresses with cardigans or jackets. What hosiery to go with what outfit and in what weather. What shoes work best with what hats.
Where do you start ? With the wardrobe you left from last winter of course! What articles of clothing do you need ? One way to begin is to list all the occasions for which you will need clothes.
List the wearable garments from last year. Are they still in fashion ? If you had a successful wardrobe last year, then hang on to them and simply accessorise. Be ready for all temperatures and all occasions.
Edited from original text by Elisebeth Todd - 1947 Clothing for Women and Girls.
"So as you can see, a woman need not have many garments to be well dressed !"
