Fashions of World War II and the 1940s

The 1940s were a tumultuous period in history, and the fashions of the time reflected the upheaval. World War II led to restrictions on what Americans and Europeans could wear because of rationing for civilian populations and uniforms for those who enlisted, but the 1940s represented the moment when American designers first began to break free from rigidly following European fashion. This talk will explore the variety of different looks that typified the whole span of the 1940s, including uniforms, suits, underwear, swimwear, and even glamorous evening dresses through a close examination of images from the collection of the Kent State University Museum.