Utility Clothing in the 1940s
The 1940s were a tough decade for many countries, including the United States. Rations of food and materials were common in order to redirect as many resources as possible to the US military fighting on the war front. Naturally, that meant less material was available to make new clothing. As a result, women’s fashion took on a more utilitarian aesthetic.
Dresses, suits, and pants were streamlined to use less fabric. That meant shorter hemlines and more practical fabrics were used in women’s fashion. Plus, many women entered the workforce while a majority of men were enlisted in the military. These women needed more practical clothing that they could move around in freely.