World War II fashion topic of historical presentation
Fashions from the 1950s, including a shirtwaist dress like Mrs. Cleaver wore with pearls on the TV show “Leave It to Beaver” and a house dress and apron like “grandma had” are part of the clothing display for a talk on WWII fashions hosted by the Monongahela Area Historical Society. The talk will begin with a look at photography of Horst P. Horst, whose fashion photos appeared for 60 years in “Vogue” magazine.
World War Fashion
Norma Werner, a charter member of the Elizabeth Township Historical Society who started the society’s vintage clothing collection in 1976, shows a silk gown and tailored day dress and hat from the late 1920s that will be displayed for a talk on WWII fashions hosted by the Monongahela Area Historical Society.
During World War II, women in the United Kingdom were advised by the British Ministry of Information to “make do and mend” in regard to fashion.
Across the Atlantic, women in the United States were following the same decree in an attempt to be both stylish and resourceful.
With restrictions on the use and amount of material in garments, skirts were made shorter. At the same time, nylon – being used for ropes, parachutes and netting – was hard to come by. Women enhanced their bare skin with painted-on hosiery and by drawing lines on the backs of their legs to mimic stocking seams.
“Beauty was a duty,” said Debbie Popp Gilbert, vice president of the Elizabeth Township Historical Society, who added that despite the frugality of the time, women were compelled to keep up their appearance for morale.
“During the war, fashion became utilitarian,” she said. “There were limits on the size and number of pockets. It was recommended that a dress had only three buttons, and buttons were chosen over zippers, because zippers were metal and fairly new. You could easily replace a button, but if a zipper broke, that was it.”
Gilbert will give a presentation on fashion from the 1940s and into the “new look” of the 1950s at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Parlor Room of First Presbyterian Church, 609 Chess St., Monongahela. Hosted by the Monongahela Area Historical Society, the event is open to the public.
The Elizabeth Township Historical Society has amassed a large collection of vintage clothing that goes back to the 1890s. Gilbert’s presentation Thursday will include attired mannequins and display boards of garments and accessories from the period.
“Two designers we look at are Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli, who vied for top ranking and were distinctly different in design,” said Gilbert. “Coco started working with jersey. It was a lower grade of material at the time and her clothing was a little more affordable.”
Women were moving away from restrictive corsets and embracing more comfortable clothing. Instead of designing on mannequins, Chanel used models and had them move around in her garments.
“Elsa, on the other hand, was very much into surrealism and would work with people like (artist) Salvador Dali. She put ornate designs on evening jackets and gowns, and very ornate buttons,” said Gilbert. “That’s why we look at haute couture. Women were aware, magazines were coming out, women were going to movies. They saw the designs. During the time, they may be broke, but they didn’t want to look like it.”
Some of the key elements of Gilbert’s presentation will be a silk evening gown, a woman’s wedding suit and a house dress that Gilbert, who is a graduate of Ringgold, said epitomized clothing at the time.
“Every grandma in the Valley wore a house dress with a full apron,” she said. “…and a handkerchief in the pocket, because there was always a runny nose to wipe.”
The Elizabeth Township Historical Society presents trunk shows on the road as part of its fundraising efforts to maintain its museum, located in the 1905 Coates House, and restoration efforts for a 1790 log house, both in Elizabeth Township. To arrange a show, call Gilbert at 412-807-8452.