With the Second World War in full swing, the beginning of the 1940s feature fashion that is utilitarian, mass produced, and cost effective. The war effort required everyone to sacrifice, and clothes were designed to be useful instead of for their appearance or feel. War uniforms were predominant for men, while many women found themselves working on the home front and needing clothes they could get dirty and not need to clean on a daily basis. Military style influenced the fashion of the time, with bomber jackets soon adopted by young males in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Rationing was everywhere, and fabric for personal use was rare.
The war ended, but rationing continued for years afterwards. This did not stop people from enjoying life once again, and soon dancing and movies were more popular than ever. Clothing became more relaxed, with shorter dresses for women and less formal wear for men. The bikini made its appearance, while rebels without a cause began sporting jeans and t-shirts, instead of plaid pants.
The 1950s saw an explosion of clothes, as mix and match became the norm. Men and women could now find tops and bottoms and mix them, instead of having to purchase sets. This allowed more flexibility in the way people looked, but also promoted consumerism. The zoot suit emerged from Harlem, just in time to be eclipsed by the rock'n'roll look of the new youth culture. Soda fountains became the rage, and jukeboxes were everywhere, playing popular youth music. Changes in fabrics and the appearance of the first synthetic, nylon, dramatically changed what was possible
No comments:
Post a Comment