During the days of the Second World War, handmade clothing had become a necessity. As most of the men were serving in the war, women in the households were encouraged to knit. They were mending and making rather than shopping for goods. This made the raw materials of such goods available for the production of weapons and supplies.
Many of the women who were earlier on the home front entered the workforce in great numbers. This created new demands for their wardrobes. While elite fashion was still in demand among the wealthy, new demands of working-class women were also accommodated.
1. Ivy Vintage Faux Headwrap
In the 1940s, women working in factories and the ones doing manual labour used headbands and bandannas. They were used to tie back their hair as they always run the risk of getting entangled in the machinery. There’s a secret to this headwrap. It is actually a hat, which can be pinned in place with the help of hairpins. So, it isn’t really a wrap.
2. Pleated A-line skirts
The pleated skirt goes well with nearly any top. Such skirts were practical, flattering, and extremely comfortable. This is why they were a popular choice during the times of the Second World War. Today, they’re available in a variety of colours. However, in the 1940s, the popular choices were black and navy. In recent times, many women choose turquoise or pale lavender for a bolder feel.
3. Zelda Vintage Blouse
This blouse has been designed after the knitted blouses that women used to wear in the 1940s. It would be the best choice to wear to work or to go for an outing. This blouse has a beautiful, intricate pattern in columns highlighting the shaping. It also has shaped shoulders and short sleeves.
4. Midnight Blazer
The structured and emphasized shoulders of this blazer can be associated with 1980s fashion. In the 1940s, the accented shoulders were big. Today, such blazers are knit up fast in bulky yarn. A midnight blazer worn over a delicate blouse makes for a perfect eye-catching layer.
5. Voe Vest
Voe Vest uses the Fair Isle stranded knitting pattern, one of the simple styles used in the 1940s. This form of knitting allowed the use and reuse of yarn with varying colours. The vest looks charming with a classic V-neck and geometric stranded pattern. Choices of colours include rose, sage green, dusty blue, and grey. They are also available in colours with contrast and heathered tones. This gives Voe Vest a picture-perfect look.
6. Bonny Garter Tam
A popular hat choice in hats during the Second World War was the tams. They kept the head warm during winters and were simple to knit. The Bonny Garter Tam comes in a solid colour of worsted yarn, which would give that 1940s look. An updated version of this classic favourite uses a tonal or speckled yarn. Another great feature of this tam is that it can suit most of the head types.
7. A-Line Skirt
The A-line skirt has a lovely lace detail at the edging. The pattern makes use of an Aran-weight acrylic or mohair blend, but it also gives scope for experimentation. Different yarns can be used to know which of the texture is best suited to the one wearing it. As the yarn is heavy, it adds heft to the wheat-sheaf motif on the edge of the lace.
