Women looked so glam in the 1940s

[Lardlizard]

Going to try and do victory rolls today and a strong lipstick, never done victory rolls before so doubt it will work, but I’ll give it a try

Oo I'm going to do the same! Hopefully theres a good YouTube video as I'm not sure how to do them very well!

Only thing I’ve got is hair pins !!

From my memory as a child I remember my aunt had a band of some kind onto to which she rolled her hair all the way round her head. Fine if it suited you.

You can use toilet roll inners or any other cardboard tube to form the rolls round. Pin in place, plenty of hairspray then take the tube out.

You need a ton of hairspray!

OP - you are absolutely right. One of my aunties is American and she came to the UK to marry my uncle just after the war (they met during the war) and the photos of her at that time are just so stylish. She's wearing tailored suits with gloves and matching bags and shoes. Her nails and lips are both painted a deep red. Her heels are high and her stockings have a seam down the back.

When I was young and thin in the 70s I wore vintage dresses from this era and the 50s - picked up cheaply back then in charity shops. Usually the result of clearouts from a sadly deceased person's home. Felt good to keep these clothes 'alive' as well as having an unusal look.

I wouldn't fit into any vintage clothes now

I wonder what the women think of how we dress today, jeans and t shirts/ jumpers etc

Toilet roll is a good idea
It even make one of them donut type roll thjngs
From a sock?

About to hop in the bath, as need to shave my legs if I’m going to wear a dress first time in ages !

Can’t pull off red lips though so will do dark plum

My granny always used to wear gloves and a hat. Her shoes and handbag always matched and she had a beautiful collection of brooches. She was so glam.

Fit was a lot to do with it. Everyone was taught basic sewing skills so it was far more usual that even if you bought off the peg you would take in waists, level hems etc.

Oh to be that glam, but without much effort.

I wonder what the women think of how we dress today, jeans and t shirts/ jumpers etc

When I was growing up (1970s) my granny (born 1920, so just the right age for the women we are talking about),had “slacks” (polyester flares, but still slightly tailored) and a jersey (turtle neck jumper) for cleaning. She put a scarf in her hair, still looked glam!

I remember getting ready to go out for lunch for DH’s grandma’s 80th birthday about 15 years ago. Grandma look at my SIL and asked why she wasn’t coming. SiL said that she was. Grandma told her that she’s better hurry up and get changed out off her work clothes! SiL was wearing black jeans, a top and walking boot style ankle boots.

There’s a lady on the Great British Sewing Bee who wears 40s style clothes and she looks amazing! She does a good job of keeping it casual and not too costume-y too imo.

Alas I can’t sew and I’m too fat for vintage clothes! XD

My DGM (would be 107 if still alive) always said it was a great relief to her and all other women when trousers became acceptable day wear. She also said that having to knit all jumpers and socks was awful (DDad was one of seven). Photos were also often only taken when people were dressed up...

I think the phrase rose tinted specs coes into play.

I remember how itchy and restrictive clothes used to be before the widespread use of jersey/lycra. And heels, even low ones, for women all day every day. Even when working as a chef/bar maid/cleaner. I did it when I was young, but don't know how older women would have managed. We're so lucky now, the invention of trainers made such a difference. As a teen in the 70's, it was really hard to find flat shoes, in fact you could have childrens Clarks style shoes( not in adult sizes though) or brogues with a heel,( which is what we had for school) or platforms. No ballet flats, just actual ballet shoes. Or plimsols.
Life is so comfy these days!

I've been watching a series on YouTube called the 1940s house and in reality the women look really rough day to day.

They have shapeless pennies on over their clothes, the hair is a mess, no make up for everyday use and only harsh soap and water to wash with.

The women were nearly all very slim then because of rationing. Food was scarce and vegetables were pretty plentiful
Anything looks great on a slim frame

They certainly did look glam for the photos but as I sit here in my t shirt, flip flops and soft wafty pants I can only think ‘fuck that for a game of soldiers’

And I might not have much going on right now, but my life is still too short to be faffing about with toilet roll innards in my hair.

Our neighbours (musicians) are playing a 40s medley tonight, so I'm half tempted to stick a tea dress and some lipstick on just for the hell of it. Might try a very simple roll too, with a bandana. I've got some lovely 10940s style shoes, which hardly ever get an outing, so it would be nice to have an excuse to wear them.

People didn't tend to pose for photos in their everyday clothes. Plenty of darned jumpers, saggy cardis and unflattering floral blouses would have been a common sight at the shops or at home. Calf-length skirts in serviceable fabric, ladies' lace-up walking shoes with a small heel - think the sort of thing the Queen wears when she's off-duty. According to my elderly relatives, victory rolls were only a fashion fad for a year or two. Older women wore their hair quite short and had a perm if they could.

1940s high fashion could be gorgeous, even the Utility styles, but it wasn't what the majority of women wore day-to-day.

They did look glam but the pressure to look so must have been tough.

Yes, but everyone smelt because you couldn’t wash clothes as easily Easy to make the same effort now though.

I've managed a very simple roll in six year old DDs short, fine hair.