Whilst in London, Al and I visited the Imperial War Museum, where we saw ‘The Children of War’ Exhibition in its final weeks. The exhibition views World War Two through the lens of childhood, offering a unique slant on the very real impact of conflict and the lives it changed forever.
A definite highlight for me was the full-scale model of a wartime house, complete with rooms fitted out in period style, as if the inhabitants had just popped out for a moment. I had seen this part before on a previous visit, as it was exhibited in conjunction with the 2001 Channel 4 series, ‘The 1940s House’ about a modern family that tries to live in the same manner as a typical middle class family in the Blitz.
The attention to detail was just stunning; entering the house was like stepping back in time. From the carpets to the board games in the living room, basket in the hallway and mirror and dress in the bedroom every single item there had been lovingly curated.
A bit further along, more attention was paid to individual artifacts (and the stories of their owners), which was truly fascinating. Naturally, I was drawn to the clothing section. What fascinated me was the glamour that women managed to maintain, despite existing in a time of extreme austerity. It seemed as though they didn’t leave the house without hair curled, hat and gloves donned and make-up and stocking lines painted on. I guess this was one way of maintaining a sort of normality and by continuing to make an effort in this way it kept their spirits up? I’m no historian but the juxtaposition of glamour and sobriety seems pretty telling and is something that touched me.
Part of the glamour is in the subtlety of it all – to me this is the main allure of forties fashion. Covered up but sexy, there was an elegance to the pared down ‘utility look’ that is truly unique. The signature skirt suit epitomises forties glamour: below-the-knee lengths and peplum jackets nipped in at the waist optimised femininity in a time when women were acting as both men and women. Of course, looking back at the past in this romanticising way isn’t realistic, and I’m sure that the day-to-day sartorial struggle was far less glamorous (more patches than pearls). However, I do think that the femininity and glamour maintained in wartime style is evocative of something deeper. Clothes rationing of course influenced the styles and I was fascinated to learn about how women constructed their wardrobes, and of course the ‘Make-do and Mend’ propoganda campaign. Perhaps fast fashion could learn a thing or two.
