History Highlight: Practical Fashion

There appears to be a reoccurring fashion theme recently. In this History Highlight I want to explore 1940's fashion. America enters the decade and goes right into war. World War II, which ended in 1945, would have a lasting influence on the United States, socially and politically. However, the war reached Americans in other ways as well.

Long coats were stylish but
less practical for the new
 technologies of World War II.

Practical can be stylish as these pilots
 demonstrate in their newly
fashioned bomber jackets.

A popular look with both men and women today is the bomber jacket. It is usually made of leather, or faux leather or any other material, but it is always waist length. This jacket comes straight from the battlefield. World War II was the first war that depended upon aviation warfare. This changed the structure of the military as funds and men were dedicated to creating a powerful air force. These pilots were issued the same long coats as ground troops. This presented a problem to the pilots who found the foot length coats uncomfortable and impractical while sitting in a plane. With limited space and long flight times, pilots needed a practical solution that still kept them warm. By making the coats waist-length, these "bomber" jacket provided pilots with a practical solution and sparked a new fashion trend that take off by the 1950's.

Friends never let friends walk out with
crocked stocking lines. 

Some fashion changes weren't so much about transforming an item of clothing but more about replicating an item that is no longer available. Nylon became a rationed item during the war and shortages for civilian use was common. Nylon is key to the manufacturing of nylon stockings. Stockings were a fashion must in the early twentieth century and women refused to give up this fashion trend. Therefore, they improvised. Stockings were easily identifiable by the black hem that ran the length of the leg. Women decided to imitate that line by drawing that line in black marker on their own legs. It gave the impression of wearing stockings without having to spend the money or hunt the rare fashion item down. When the war ended, nylon once again became available to the public but it is a fascinating reminder of the resourcefulness of war-time women.

Red for victory!

And it was those same resourceful women that were also joining the workforce, especially the manufacturing industry, in mass. Working conditions changed the way women got ready in the morning. They now wore pants that would let them perform the physically demanding tasks required of them. However women did not abandon feminine fashions all together. Women continued to paint their nails but manual labor was not gentle on nail polish. As they did with their nylon stockings, they improvised and innovated. The popular crescent moon design had been around since the 1920's. It consisted of coloring the nail until the "half moon" near the cuticle. Chipping at the tip of the nail became a regular occurrence. The style had to change to suit the needs of the working and fashion conscious women. To prevent chipping, women began keeping the tip of the nail unpainted but still painting the middle and keeping the "half moon" clear of polish. This shift in popular fashion represents life for women during World War II. They were determined to support soldiers overseas while still retaining a sense of normalcy at home.

For historians, fashion is a window into the daily lives of regular people. The clothing they wore and beauty habits they practiced allow us to understand what they valued and how they viewed their society. Behind every fashion trend or any other trend is a history, which is what makes being a historian so fun!