WWII RATIONING FABRIC REQUIREMENTS
My research into World War II dresses yielded this this fascinating 85-page research paper.
Because of WWII, styles changed drastically.
Fabrics for clothing were limited in type and yardage.
Since silks were needed for parachutes, I used 100% cotton, which was typical for day dresses.
Another war-time rationing requirement was that skirts should come just below the knee, and no longer.
AMERICA LEADS FASHION
Although the fashion industry is historically set in Paris, their occupation by the Nazis rendered this impossible.
Thus, American fashion designers rose in the fashion world, taking strict fashion requirements to a new level of imaginative design that created a distinctive American patriotic style!
MOVIES
Even though Hollywood movies made during the war might seem to break all the rules, they were allowed to reuse any old costumes and fabric from those costumes that they already had in storage.
Otherwise, any new outfits made from new fabrics had to follow rationing rules.
In the movie, Casablanca, beautiful evening gowns had been designed for Elsa, portrayed by Ingrid Berman.
However, the producer insisted that the real Elsa, running away to freedom, would not be wearing elegantly affluent clothing.
Thus, he suggested a simple brooch as opposed to several necklaces and a simple business suit type look.
SEWING OUR DRESSES
To sew World War II dresses for me and my daughter, I used Simplicity 1587, which is a reprint of one of their vintage patterns.
My daughter loves this sheer stripe in her favorite color of lavender.
Cleverly, the vintage pattern uses little bits of remnant fabric to create fun style, which is enhanced by the play of stripes in the different directions.
Again, an example of style despite rationing through the clever use of ruching which makes a fun effect on the play of stripes.
All together this is a very interesting dress, though limited in fabric due to war time rationing.
And I used the same pattern for my polka dot fabric.
BLACK HAT WITH WHITE ROSES
While researching World War II hats, I found this 1944 booklet: How to Make and Trim Your Own Hats.
Basically, anything goes in design and how to wear it: on top of the head, on the back, or even jauntily to one side!
They encouraged that we play with the hat until we found something that suits us best, both in styling and in how we wear it!
So, I rummaged through my millinery baskets and found white paper roses and sheer black ribbon for the black hat blank I purchased on Etsy, from the advice of Lauren at Wearing History.
See the header photo for the finished hat, and stay tuned for the fashion show!
