1940s Fashion - back to 'Civvie' Street
#SUBHEADING# Demob Suits #SUBHEADINGEND# When the War ended men leaving the armed forces were issued with new clothes to ease their progression back into civilian life. As part of demobilisation, these 'demob suits' came in a variety of different sizes, colours and packages. If the full suit, including waistcoat and other items such as shoes and hat, were purchased, the customer had bought the 'Full Monty'; a term derived from the owner of the Burtons clothing store, Montague Burton, the main stockist for Demob suits. In reality choices and sizes were limited. Suits were only produced in several sizes which often meant they were ill fitting, and colour and style was determined by the location of the demob centre. For some men this was their first ever suit. For others aspirations of walking out a fashionable man on "Civvie Street" were not always fulfilled! #SUBHEADING# Christian Dior and New Look #SUBHEADINGEND# #IMAGE# In February 1947, fashion designer Christian Dior showcased his new spring collection in Paris. After years of wartime austerity and continued shortages people wanted something more glamorous, feminine and graceful. Dior's spring collection featured narrow shoulders, a round bust, small waist, padded hips and a full long skirt reaching far below the knee for a long pencil skirt. The style was soon dubbed by fashion journalist as 'New Look' although in many ways it was highly reminiscent of the mid 19th century dress silhouette. The New Look inspired a range of feelings from awe to strong resentment. It was considered inappropriate and irresponsible by the Board of Trade in London and some fashion designers agreed that the new skirt length made no economic sense and was unpatriotic. #SUBHEADING# A ridiculous extravagance? #SUBHEADINGEND# The British Housewife's League and the Women's League of Health and Beauty joined the protests denouncing the fashion as ridiculous extravagance. Some people saw the New Look as anti-feminist, requiring women to constrict their figures, making it hard for women to work and turning the clock back to the era of a 'caged bird attitude'. Such an attitude was irrelevant to the majority of working class women in the late 1940s. New Look was warmly welcomed in Paris and was featured in American Vogue October 1947. Despite protests the spring collection was a huge success and worn by fashionable figures such as Rita Hayworth, Margot Fonteyn, Princess Margaret and the Duchess of Windsor.
Flirty Flapper Fashion
The 1920s saw a radical change to the fashionable silhouette. In contrast to the previous decades, the tightly corseted shape was abandoned in favour of the slim line boyish figure. Read on to explore the radical fashion of the daring twenties.
The Mitchell Collection of Costume
The Mitchell Collection is one of the most extensive and impressive collections of costume Hull Museums' own. From corsets to capes and bodices to boots, the collection contains many exquisite examples of historic costume. Explore the history behind the collection and how it came to be in Hull Museums.
1940s Fashion - Rationing and Making do
War time shortages had a big influence on fashion in the forties. Discover how the government introduced a clothing rationing system, which meant people had to 'make do and mend' with the clothes they already owned.
Madame Clapham: Hull's Celebrated Dressmaker
Madam Clapham was Hull's most celebrated dressmaker. She established her business in 1887 in Kingston Square, and continued until her death in 1952. Read on to discover how she developed her dress making business, when she reached the height of her fame and how she became a Court dressmaker.
Costume and Fashion
Clothes and fashion are a part of our every day lives. The costume collections at Hull Museums contain over 6,000 items, ranging from bodices to boots and Gents waistcoats to whalebone corsets. The collection represents every major historical period; from the Georgian period to the last decades of the 20th century. This section explores the diversity and development of fashion, showing what we used to wear, where we used to wear it and how we used to live.
1940s Fashion - Hard times for fashion
War time shortages had a big influence on fashion in the forties. Discover the restrained and austere styles of the forties, looking at the main fashion features of the period.
1940s Fashion - Utility scheme
War time shortages had a big influence on fashion in the forties. Find out how the shortages in resources led to a government restrictive fashion scheme, which placed limitations on how clothes looked and how much material they could be made from.
1940s Fashion - 'Keep young and beautiful'
War time shortages had a big influence on fashion in the forties. Discover how women managed to keep looking young and beautiful, and what hairstyles and make-up were popular during the wartime years.
