Forties Fashion: From Siren Suits to the New Look

The illustrations on display showcase the diverse array of fashion trends and styles prevalent in the 1940s across North America, Europe, Australasia, and Japan. Fashion expert Jonathan Walford, in his engaging narrative, delves into how fashion during this era was not merely a superficial pursuit but a profound expression of the circumstances of the time. Despite initial attempts by Fascist states to impose "national" styles before the outbreak of the war, by 1940, the pursuit of beauty was championed on both sides of the conflict as a patriotic duty. Through period advertisements, images of authentic garments, and contemporary accounts in publications, we witness the evolution of attitudes from the prewar period to the postwar era. The result is a celebration of a wide spectrum of styles, from practical and chic attire suitable for air raids, such as hooded capes with spacious pockets and siren suits, to the emergence of street fashion and the iconic debut of Christian Dior's "New Look" collection in 1947. The collection features a remarkable display of 196 color illustrations and 54 black-and-white images.