Fashion History – The Effect of World Events on Design Trends in the 1930′s and 1940′s
The stock market crash of 1929 effected a lot more than bank accounts. The ensuing Great Depression threw the world into a period of change that showed up at the dinner table and at fashion shows. Where a few short years before, the Roaring 20′s was a time of wild exuberance, fashion trends of the 1930′s followed the economy toward a new austerity that ruled fashion designs for the next 20 years.
In the 1930′s, women’s dresses showed a more tailored look than they had in the 1920′s. Where once women wore loose, short dresses adorned with fanciful decoration, they now wore longer skirts and higher waists. Skirts and dresses cut on the bias hugged hips and flared slightly below the knees. The new line was diagonal, a way to add interest to the tailored, simplified silhouette.
The new frugal styles did not end with the decade, however. World War II ushered in a different kind of austerity in ladies’ clothing styles. Fabric was restricted by governmental decree. Wool and nylon were needed by the military as well as the metal used for zippers. Where the 1930′s frugal styles displayed a sleek elegance, the clothing of the 1940′s were utilitarian.
Fashion Ideas For Real Women
When you look at magazine covers or advertisements, you see similar looking women. All the models and actresses are the same size, the same shape, and you sometimes wonder how they are supposed to reflect the average woman.
The average woman has different shapes and sizes ranging from women who have curves, to those who are skinny. Women range in height, and not all of them are super tall like all the models. While it is obvious that the fashion industry opts to select the women that they feel reflect a shape women should be like, they do not understand that viewing the latest fashions on these bodies does not in any way help us understand how it would look like on us.
Here are some ideas that can help you comply with the today trends in your dress.
1. Heels
Fashion Rules for the Mature Woman Over 40
Colour Trends: Be on trend with this season’s colours, avoid those which make the skin look sallow and are not compatible with skin tone and can be draining and aging such as pastel shades. Eye color is usually a good guide for what suits you. Choose bolder and more sophisticated shades like this season’s Rococco Red, Snorkel Blue, Gold and Olive.
Underwear: Don’t underestimate the importance of what you wear underneath your clothes. Without the correct fitting bra, your clothes will not hang properly. Get measured professionally. Most women in this country are wearing the wrong size bra.
Hair. A chic hairstyle is a must have. A classic bob style suits most women. Seek advice from a professional hair stylist. Look at highlights, low lights or a colour change. A professional hair cut can take years off you.