The jacket was long and the coat had extra broad padded shoulders. It was tapered, had high waisted trousers and narrow ankles. The “Zoot Suit” made a bold and brash statement during the war. Other little fashion trends included the use of bow ties, pleated trousers, overalls, (jeans), short sleeved shirts for war service work and the black or brown wingtip shoe. A large group of men was watching the activity and every man was wearing a fedora.Įlizabeth Leese, in her book, “Costume Design In The Movies,” said three actors were fashion trend setters in the 1940s - Gary Cooper, Clark Gable and Fred Astaire. The late Bill Stanley, in one of his columns, included a photo he had taken of the construction of the “Meadows” strip mall in Norwichtown. It was recognized by its “pinched in” sides and is considered by fashion historians as the most popular hat in all of men’s fashion history. Also, traditionally, business men, politicians and presidents wore the fedora.
In the 1940s, a hat called the “fedora,” usually made of felt, was associated with the Hollywood “gangster” look and that of detectives. When General Dwight Eisenhower began wearing his short-collared jacket “nipped” at the waist, American men took notice and although there were variations, the Eisenhower Jacket found a place in fashion history at the time. They were zippered to the neck with snug cuffs and waist. Those jackets needed to keep pilots warm, but allow for flexibility. Other accessories emerged, including tie clips, cuff links and a handkerchief in the top jacket pocket, adding just the right touch.Īctual military clothing had its influence on the fashion world during this period: The vintage “bomber jacket” looked like the ones worn by pilots in World War I. So were leather belts, making suspenders a popular addition to men’s wardrobes. Vests suddenly no longer were in style, pocket flaps and trouser cuffs were also out. Natural fibers were not used for civilian wear because they were used for military uniforms.
The rationing not only affected the way we lived, but the way we dressed.especially the men.ĭuring the war, designers felt it was their patriotic duty to create fashions which would remain stylish over time, using a minimum of fabric. That year Americans were embarking on a brand new decade: One dominated by a world war which included rationing on the home front. In 1940, only one out of five Americans owned a car, one in seven had a telephone, only 75 percent of households had a refrigerator or icebox, 60 percent lacked central heat, and 75 percent of farmhouses were lit with kerosene lamps.
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