As a massive fan of 1940s fashion, I have decided to revisit the topic. This time, I decided to portray the more pragmatic and simplistic wartime fashion in the earlier years of the decade. World War II and the subsequent rationing caused clothing shortages, as a result many people recycled their older outfits. Thus many fashion trends of the early 1940s were in fact leftover items from the previous decade.
The first lady's outfit is an example of the recycled trends during World War II. Her simplistic shirt dress dates from the late 1930s, as do her tilt brim hat and shoes. Her shoes are sturdy lace-up, a style that was popular during the Great Depression and World War II, due to pragmatism. In contrast the next lady was more fortunate and able to obtain the latest trends. Her sheath dress, pillbox ha, and peep-toe pumps are the latest fashion of 1942.
The gentleman is wearing a charcoal three-piece pinstripe suit and matching fedora, typical of the 1930s and 40s. The final lady is a blend of chic and recycled trends. Although her peplum suit and hat are of the latest fashion for 1942, her pumps are from the 1930s.
In the previous World War, consumers were faced with the same problems obtaining clothing. Many people similarly recycled fashion from the earlier part of the decade. The first lady's dress dates from the early 1910s and is an example of this recycling, while the second was more fortunate to obtain a trendy one. Both are wearing a tea dresses or afternoon dresses. The tea dress or afternoon dress was worn during the afternoon, for tea time, as its name suggests. It was lighter and more comfortable than a day suit, but less formal than an evening gown. However, due to the clothing shortages caused by the war, some practical ladies began wearing tea dresses to formal events as opposed to lavish evening gowns. This was similar to how some women during World War II wore suits instead of gowns to formal events.
The final lady and gentleman are wearing the respective day suits of the 1910s. The lady's suit consists of a jacket, ankle-length skirt, hat, and boots. Over the gentleman's suit, he wears a frock coat and accessorizes his outfit with a homburg hat. The lady is handing him a white feather, part of a government campaign to encourage young men to enlist. The program involved young women handing the symbol of a cock too weak to fight, a white feather to young men in uniform. The movement turned into a huge embarrassment, since many of the recipients were in fact wounded veterans and crucial war effort workers. The British government was considering launching the campaign again in World War II, but after the humiliation of last time, chose not to.
In other news, in time for the landmark Scottish decision to remain part of the United Kingdom, I have completed my depiction of the Battle of Bannockburn which I called Plains of Fire. Scottish historian Walter Bower wrote "Let Scotland’s warcraft be this: footsoldiers, mountain and marshy ground;
and let her woods, her bow and spear serve for barricades. Let menace lurk in all her narrow places among her warrior bands, and let her plains so burn with fire that enemies flee away. Crying out in the night, let her men be on their guard, and her enemies in confusion will flee form hunger’s sword. Surely it will be so, as we’re guided by Robert, our lord." I would like my scene from the Scottish War of Independence 700 years ago be a representation of how far the English and Scots have come.
800 years ago, another great battle of the Middle Ages was fought in France between the Kingdom of France and the Holy Roman Empire. The King in Peril at Bouvines is a scene of a crucial moment from that battle. King Phillip II Augustus has been pulled from his horse and surrounded by Flemish pikemen, while two of his knights Pierre Tristan(right) and Galon de Montigny(left) hurry to his aid. Fortunately for the King of France, his armor protected him against the enemy's weapons and the two knights were able to save their downed sovereign.
Very nice!
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