1940's Style with a "Lisboeta" Background

In a nut shell, 1940s women’s fashion was about creating a certain silhouette: wide padded shoulders nipped in high waist tops, and A-line skirts that came down to the knee. This was the everyday shape for clothing, from suits to dresses.

I tried to make a similar look to those from de 40s. However, as the skirt is the principal item to my outfit, I wanted to tell you the beginning story of its fashion.

With the war and subsequent production boom that went with it, women’s skirt lengths began to rise. It became not just a casual clothing item but one that all other wardrobe elements revolved around. They were the foundation item of every look a 1940s woman wore in daily life.

In 1942, clothing rationing brought about actual regulations on women’s clothing. In fact, to save on fabric, hemlines rose to just below the knee. Hems could be no more than 2 inches wide. Thin belts had to stay in place without belt loops too. Pockets were also not allowed and the colors were limited on drab blues, grey, green and brown.

So, for my outfit I just grabbed some new pieces I bought recently except the skirt that I bought years ago without using it too much. So, I had the idea of making a DIY by cutting it and sew it carefully.

The background is just a Portuguese avenue in Lisbon, were it matches the beautiful old architecture and its very known “Calçada Portuguesa”.

You can find the rest of the shooting pictures in the "1940´s Style" album of my Fashion Book area.

Meriam-Maria Khamassi.