During the 1940’s, fashion in the United States was impacted tremendously by World War II and other events going on in the world at the time. For one, the government limited the amount of fabric that certain companies could use when creating clothes. These types of restrictions only ensured that fashion would be restricted a bit during the 1940’s. Designers during the time struggled to come up with alternatives for the restrictions as well. They had to turn towards rayon, which was notorious for shrinking and not being durable in certain types of weather. This all impacted the fashion of the 1940’s as companies struggled to find the right clothing to exist for all seasons.

The 1940’s fashion of women changed dramatically during the 1940’s as a result of the changes in the fashion world. Previous to the ‘40’s, women had become used to wearing long gowns and beautiful ensembles out to parties and such. However, now they were restricted to sportier threads that could be durable in all different situations. Their skirts were much straighter than before and even shorter due to less fabric being used on them. Mixing and matching was not uncommon in this age of fewer clothes either. Nail heads curiously became an intricate part of certain shoes and handbags as well.

As the women struggled, the men had their fair share of problems as well. Suits changed dramatically as opposed to earlier seasons of fashion. Baggy coats and slacks with higher waists became the norm for fashionable men. This was mainly because the suits were now made of viscose, a material known for shrinking as well. Men were not kept warm in the winter months, as the cold weather could not be stopped by these types of suits. Fashion in the 1940’s was much bleaker than other time periods in the nation’s history. The drastic changes hurt the fashion of the country and forced change for everyone.