In the 1940's, during the war, women were given jobs and freedom from the four walls of their homes however this newfound freedom was because their husbands and relatives were fighting in a war and it also meant that they were 'gradually stripped' of their femininity. Clothes took on a 'military style' and frills and trims felt 'out of place'. It became more normal for women to wear trousers as they had to be practical whilst they were working in factories or on farms. Fabrics became scarce and clothing factories joined the war effort meaning people had to make the most of the clothing they already owned. They had to mend clothes and adapt them, the Government even held classes to teach how to make do and mend. 'Fashion became a distant dream' to the women in the 1940's.
However, in February 1947 Christian Dior brought back fashion with his New Look. The New Look consisted of 'soft, sloping shoulders over cinched-in waists and full skirts which came to mid-calf'. The expensive fabrics, bustles, bows and wide Magyar sleeves were a huge change from the straight skirts and padded shoulders of the military style outfits. The shape of the New Look designs gave the person wearing them an hourglass silhouette, a massive change in itself, making women feel more sophisticated and elegant. At first hardly anybody could afford to have an outfit made in the style of the New Look because the country was still suffering from shortages in materials and clothes rationing was still in place. However, paper pattern companies such as Vogue produced designs that could be made at home and eventually rationing ended in 1949 so factories were able to mass produce clothing again. By the early fifties everyone was wearing the New Look.
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