1940s : Fashions of a Resourceful Decade

[seanutbutter]

1940's Cinema Mink Puff Dress
Here's a a rare & so adorable vintage 1940's dress by the Cinema label. They made clothing for the movie industry here in California in the 40's & 50's. It has a removable beige mink fur ball & bow on the front, & a metal zipper on one side. Movie clothing always have the actors name written on the inside, usually next to the tag. This one has been marked out next to the label. It does not show through to the outside. We have no idea which movie this was used in.

poshgirlvintage.com

 

[seanutbutter]

1940's Sheer Teal Fluttery Dress
This is a gorgeous vintage 40's dress made of teal sheer print either silk or rayon chiffon. It has a matching tie belt, and the waist has some small delicate elastic at the waist. The skirt is sewn so beautifully with a jagged or zigzag hem or bias cut that flares out so nicely.

poshgirlvintage.com

 

[seanutbutter]

John Dean of Bergdorf's working on fitted jack for broad-shouldered suit re American designers unable to travel to occupied France testing their fashion ingenuity at home
Location: New York, NY, US
Date taken: August 1940
Photographer: Alfred Eisenstaedt

LIFE Photo Archive on Google

 

[seanutbutter]

Fira Benenson (L) of Bonwit Teller, giving new twists to French fabrics re: American designers unable to travel to occupied France testing their fashion ingenuity at home.
Location: New York, NY, US
Date taken: August 1940
Photographer: Alfred Eisenstaedt

LIFE Photo Archive on Google

 

[seanutbutter]

Peggy Morris (L) of Bergdorf Goodman draping French satin re American designers unable to travel to occupied France testing their fashion ingenuity at home.
Date taken: August 1940
Photographer: Alfred Eisenstaedt

LIFE Photo Archive on Google

 

[seanutbutter]

Model wearing latest sweater fashion.
Location: New York, NY, US
Date taken: 1949
Photographer: Nina Leen

LIFE Photo Archive on Google

 

[seanutbutter]

Girl wearing latest teenage sweater fashion.
Location: New York, NY, US
Date taken: 1949
Photographer: Nina Leen

LIFE Photo Archive on Google

 

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A woman modeling some western fashions during a fashion show.
Location: US
Date taken: 1945
Photographer: Walter Sanders

LIFE Photo Archive on Google

 

[seanutbutter]

Interesting caption - I'm wondering if $100 would buy you all that nowadays.

Model with fashion wardrobe available for $100.
Location: US
Date taken: 1947
Photographer: Nina Leen

LIFE Photo Archive on Google

 

[seanutbutter]

A view of the St. Louis Fashion Board looking over new fashions.
Location: St. Louis, MO, US
Date taken: 1944
Photographer: Nina Leen

LIFE Photo Archive on Google

 

[seanutbutter]

Shawls, the newest fashion accessory. Plaid shawl can be carried along on country walks.
Location: New York, NY, US
Date taken: 1940
Photographer: Alfred Eisenstaedt

LIFE Photo Archive on Google

 

[seanutbutter]

Models wearing fall fashion sweaters & caps.
Location: New York, NY, US
Date taken: 1940
Photographer: Gjon Mili

LIFE Photo Archive on Google

 

[seanutbutter]

Date taken: 1945
Photographer: Nina Leen

LIFE Photo Archive on Google

 

[Ziegfeld Girl]

Evening dress by Rahvis. London, 1947. Vogue (British edition) June 1947. Photograph by Clifford Coffin.


New Look jacket by Christian Dior. Fine wool, Paris 1947.


Suit by Hardy Amies. Worsted wool, London, 1947.


Photograph by Cecil Beaton. Paris, 1948. Evening dresses by Charles James.


Lady Alexandra wearing a Jacques Fath evening dress, Paris, 1948.


Evening Gown by Jean Dessès. Voided silk velvet by Bianchini Férier. Paris 1948.


Advertisement for checkerboard patterned velvet and faille by Bianchini Férier, modelled in an evening dress by Dessès. Vogue (French edition), October 1948.


source: vam.ac.uk

 

[Ziegfeld Girl]

Photographs taken by Nina Leen, November 1946.


Moscow, August, 1941. Photograph by Margaret Bourke-White.


Halldis Prince (R) meeting actresses Helen Hayes (L) and Joan Crawford (2L) at a party hosted by publisher Conde Nast. New York, 1940. Photograph taken by John Phillips.


Publisher Conde Nast talking with Halldis Prince at his party. New York, 1940. Photograph taken by John Phillips.


Halldis Prince watching singer Lauritz Melchior play an ocarina while attending party hosted by publisher Conde Nast.


Halldis Prince arriving for party hosted by publisher Conde Nast.


Halldis Prince looking into mirror while attending party hosted by publisher Conde Nast.


Halldis Prince talking to actor Freddy Bradley at a party hosted by publisher Conde Nast.


Halldis Prince talking with actor Charles Chaplin at a party hosted by publisher Conde Nast.


Halldis Prince talking to another guest at a party hosted by publisher Conde Nast.


LIFE Google Archive

 

[Ziegfeld Girl]

A woman modelling some western fashions during a fashion show.
Location: US
Date taken: 1945
Photographer: Walter Sanders

Model combing her hair as she shows off latest wide-mesh black cotton stockings w. extra pair of round garters to help prevent bagging at the knees in, in the newest fashion response by hose manufacturer to the challenge of wartime rayon restrictions.
Location: New York, NY, USDate taken: July 1948
Photographer: Peter Stackpole

Six Hollywood fashion models fr. Dorothy Preble Model Agency sweating it out in steam cave at Arrowhead Hot Springs Hotel.
Location: Los Angeles
Date taken: 1948

Photographer: Peter Stackpole

Joseph Cukor, head of custom-made workshop at Saks, selecting fabric designs re American designers unable to travel to occupied France testing their fashion ingenuity at home.
Location: New York
Date taken: August 1940
Photographer: Alfred Eisenstaedt

Photographer Nina Leen explaining shot to fashion model, who is posing in shorts in fore. Date taken: 1945.

Wife of fashion designer, Mrs. Jacques Fath, wearing checked dress with large cloth flower at the waist, as her husband gazes at her.
Location: New York
Date taken: March 1948
Photographer: Nina Leen

Sophie of Saks FifthAvenue working on her new collection re American designers unable to travel to occupied France testing their fashion ingenuity at home.
Location: New York
Date taken: August 1940
Photographer: Alfred Eisenstaedt

source: LIFE Google archive

 

[seanutbutter]

1940s Vintage Slim Smart Rayon Day Dress
Neat as a pin, 1940s era day dress in a light weight rayon wool blend fabric in basic black with contrasting black & white tiny checks outlined in a bright tomato red on the yoke & sleeve cuffs. This high necked dress has a full A line box pleated skirt, ¾ length French cuffed sleeves & a pocket on each hip. Missing it's original belt, it's shown with slim vinyl one. Theres a short metal zipper at the back of the neck & a side metal zipper also. Lined partially in rayon acetate thropugh the hip area. Labeled A Rentner Original.

mystiquevintage.com

 

[seanutbutter]

1940s Vintage Gal Friday Rayon Houndstooth Check Dress
A 1940s era rayon everyday dress in a medium blue & black tiny houndstooth check. This has a side metal zipper with an open V neck line with pointed collar and cuffed short sleeves. Missing it's original belt, it's displayed with a modern leather belt which is included with the dress if desired. The skirt is straight and slim and a longer calf length and there are 2 roomy front facing hip level pockets. The fabric is midweight of rayon tweed with a soft feel and fluid drape and the dress is unlined.

mystiquevintage.com

 

[seanutbutter]

1940s Vintage Rayon Print Dress
A 40s vintage button down day dress in a delightful black, fuschia pink & white abstract print against grey. This has clear plastic rhinestone centered buttons which totally open the front, elbow length cuffed sleeves & a nice horizontally pleated hip pocket detail. Missing it's original belt you will have to add your own or go without. The fabric has a fluid blousey feel.

mystiquevintage.com

 

[seanutbutter]

1940s Vintage Novelty Print Rayon Dress
A Swing era rayon dress in a delightful novelty print of roses & letters falling form a mailbag - a distinctive war time reference. This has formidably padded shoulders, short puffed sleeves with ruched gathering at the shoulder & the added detail of a peplum waist line with a fish tail back. It opens with a side metal zipper and comes with it's original same fabric belt. Labeled Toni - Tyler, no size label.

mystiquevintage.com