Classical Theatre - Women's Fashion of the 1940's - Costumes

What did the women wear?

The 1940's in the UK was a time for war and rationing especially, fabric was rationed and the skirts went shorter. There was a desire to have an  hour glass figure with big shoulders and tiny waits - broad shoulders showing masculinity - a lot of women had to take up the male roles while the men were busy fighting at war so the clothes went from skirts to trousers. The whole figure of the women with the broad shoulders was brought back int he 1980's but a little more extreme 40 years later. Women often wore stockings but since Nylons were being rationed also women would lace their legs in gravy and draw the stocking seem with an eye brow pencil.