can you help me with this? PLEASE HELP?

Question

how can i dress like a 1940's or 1950's woman? i am fascinated by the styles and way of life and etiquette back then. please help me. i want help on slang, dress, etiquette, and way of life. thank you kindly.

Answer 1

The early 1940s were difficult because of wartime shortages of fabric. This explains the short, often skimpy skirts on dresses made of easily creased rayon. To compensate for the skirts, shoulders were extending with padding. Not terribly attractive really. On the plus side, though, many women went into factories, which gave them a excuse to wear slacks without being frowned upon as 'loose women'. Also, because their heads had to be covered with scarves for safety reasons, they could wear curlers during their working hours, and take them out in the evening. Remember, no hair spray or electric curling iron or mousse then, so those old metal curlers came in handy! Peep toed shoes with platform soles were trendy, if a woman could get her hands on a pair. Accessories were minimal - again because of wartime shortages and a more casual attitude toward clothing - few men to impress, during those war years. And since stockings were scarce, orangey tanning lotion was applied to bare legs, with a 'seam' down the back, drawn on with an eye-brow pencil.

In 1947, with the war over, the Christian Dior's New Look came in. This meant much longer skirts, which were considered more feminine because they had enough fabric in them to swirl around the lower calves. And with real stockings, no less! Looser hairstyles took over from the rolled pompadour of the war years.

Then came the '50s. Fashioned changed little over this entire decade. Undergarments consisted of garter belts or girdles, tightly fitted pointy bras, full or half-slips, panties that covered the entire bottom and belly, and nylon hose with seams. Shoes varied from flat 'ballerina' slippers to tapered high heels to 'fruit boots', which were pixie style flats. For casual wear there were penny loafers and saddle-shoes. Skirts were worn at mid-calf, often held at the waist with an elastic cinch belt. If a woman leant to the side, the belt would fold in half and have to be tugged back into place. Also they were so tightly fitted that the waistband of a skirt would pop out from beneath them. Sweaters and blouses were often made of nylon, the latter see-through, worn over a camisole or full slip, trimmed with lace.

Going formal meant a strapless dress with a multi-layered net skirt, worn over a crinoline petticoat. Extra glamour was achieved by adding dyed-to-match satin shoes and elbow length gloves. Hair spray came into use in the late fifties, which meant the days of having a guy 'run his fingers through your hair' were over. That spray was like glue. Hair was often streaked, but only streak per 'do', usually achieved by applying straight peroxide or a product called Light 'n Bright. Hairstyles such as the Italian Boy, Pixie Cut, Poodle Cut and Pony Tail were 'in'. (So was virginity, but we won't go there.) Hats with veils and white gloves were worn when dressed up, especially for church. And by the late fifties, hats had little fabric-covered clamp affairs on the sides, to keep them in place. Swim suits were elasticized, covered most of the torso, and had a little panel at the front to hide the 'private' area. Needless to say, no waxing was required. Short shorts usually had cuffs and were often worn with a cotton blouse, with the bottom buttons undone, so the tails could be tied to saucily reveal the midriff. Oh, and there were pedal pushers, peasant blouses, peasant skirts, and 'straight' skirts, with a slit or two or a pinch pleat at the hem for walking purposes. Clothes were, for the most part, uncomfortable. As was the way of life, really.

All this blethering and I’ve not even touched on etiquette or slang. Just a bit on that then. Young persons respected their elders, whether they agreed with them or not. These were days when an adult, any adult, could keep a young person in place with a threat or a swipe. Girls, good girls that is, could keep a guy in his place too. Most girls feared having a ‘bad reputation’. It honestly mattered. As for slang, it depended on your neighborhood, and the year. Most of it can be found in songs for these eras. Well, I’ve overdone it, I think. But hope I’ve helped a bit.

Answer 2

Basically, to make a really long explainations short...they sorta lived in a fantasy world...at least around other people/

Act sorta charming...but make sure if your around guys you keep your space. Curl your hair (shorter was more the style)
Skirts were basically the only thing worn unless you were doing something casual. Wear shoes all the time (High heeled for partys or going out, flat dress shoes around the house) Aprons while working. Try to look good all the time :) lol
I'm not really sure about the slang part...except that it was 'in' to say 'pert near instead of pretty near and things...

Answer 3

Try watching an episode or two of Happy Days on DVD. You can rent it, and it has everything you're looking for.

Answer 4

This ought to give you some ideas :)

www.hemlockvintage.com/1950sdr.html

Answer 5

If you had lived in the 50's you wouldn't want to regress back, forget about it.... it's over.

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Answer 6

Take a look here you might enjoy:
http://www.hemlockvintage.com/1950sdr.html