Author(s): Kay Fiona Storey Neil R

Art

Despite - or perhaps because of - the privations of war, the 1940s was one of the greatest decades for fashion in Britain. The mantra of `make-do and mend' spawned a decade of creativity, and a generation who would not let austerity prevent them from looking good. Transatlantic, and military influences, were everywhere, and after the war was over Dior's `New Look' set the scene for the fashions of the prosperous 1950s. Fashion in the 1940s is a profusely illustrated and fascinating guide to the changing styles in fashion, make-up, suits and styles through the war years and over the years of austerity from the legacies of the 1930s through make-do-and mend and knitted wonders to Demob suits, and the `New Look.' Interest in wartime fashion has never been higher, with thousands of people regularly dressing in 1940s styles, or using the styles of the decade as an influence for a modern wardrobe. Illustrated with a wealth of images not seen since the war years, this is the perfect introduction for anyone interested in remembering, or recreating, the style of the decade.