The government bureaucrat who was most responsible for taking the fun out of fashion on the W.W. II home front was a former fashion model and Neiman-Marcus executive named Nina Smithdeal. She is pictured on the right eyeing a model wearing cuffless suit trousers:
“In the last year Nina has outlawed generous lapels and [patch] pockets; flowing skirts and sleeves, zoot suits, lace and other pretties on lingerie.”
During the war, men’s formalwear was also banned – click here to read about it.
More on W.W. II fabric restrictions can be read here…
Click here to read about the fashion legacy of W.W. II: the t-shirt…
More about W.W. II fashions can be read here.
