Before and After Hit Parade: Cute 1940s Summer Frock

Seamstress: Emily in Australia
Pattern: Du Barry 5833

Here is the pattern, Du Barry 5833, from 1944 and the war years. Such a classic style, this frock has a swing skirt, square neckline, and a lightly bloused bodice with short sleeves and the option to go sleeveless:

The result:

Emily picked a gorgeous color for this frock, and is true to the short-sleeve version. Lovely flare and a perfect length. So flattering, and a lovely result! And I think I spy her cat (named Lamp) in the mirror! ;). Speaking of her cat, Emily has her own shop on Etsy, Lamp's Little Luxuries, where she sells beautiful hand-knitted accessories, so be sure to check it out!

Women Protest Fashion Decrees - The Hemline Revolt of the late 1940s!

During the war years, hemlines were at the knee in order to accommodate war time rationing of fabric.

Then, in 1947, a hemline change occurred.  In that year, Paris decreed the "New Look" and and skirts dropped from knee length to tea length (mid-calf). This caused a serious protest - women did not like losing the freedom of those shorter hemlines.

News photo from 1947 of women's protest against new fashion skirt lengths

Patterns from the late 1940s demonstrate the return of hemlines to mid-calf lengths (tea-length).

 

Ultimately, the voice of women was heeded, and hemlines gradually rose closer to the knees in the 1950s. This won't be the only time women protested Paris designs. Next post, I'll talk about the hemline revolt of the 1970s. :)