Q. how can i dress like a 1940's or 1950's woman? i am fascinated by the styles and way of life and etiquette back then. please help me. i want help on slang, dress, etiquette, and way of life. thank you kindly.
A. The early 1940s were difficult because of wartime shortages of fabric. This explains the short, often skimpy skirts on dresses made of easily creased rayon. To compensate for the skirts, shoulders were extending with padding. Not terribly attractive really. On the plus side, though, many women went into factories, which gave them a excuse to wear slacks without being frowned upon as 'loose women'. Also, because their heads had to be covered with scarves for safety reasons, they could wear curlers during their working hours, and take them out in the evening. Remember, no hair spray or electric curling iron or mousse then, so those old metal curlers came in handy! Peep toed shoes with platform soles were trendy, if a woman could get her hands on a pair. Accessories were minimal - again because of wartime shortages and a more casual attitude toward clothing - few men to impress, during those war years. And since stockings were scarce, orangey tanning lotion was applied to bare legs, with a 'seam' down the back, drawn on with an eye-brow pencil.
In 1947, with the war over, the Christian Dior's New Look came in. This meant much longer skirts, which were considered more feminine because they had enough fabric in them to swirl around the lower calves. And with real stockings, no less! Looser hairstyles took over from the rolled pompadour of the war years.
Then came the '50s. Fashioned changed little over this entire decade. Undergarments consisted of garter belts or girdles, tightly fitted pointy bras, full or half-slips, panties that covered the entire bottom and belly, and nylon hose with seams. Shoes varied from flat 'ballerina' slippers to tapered high heels to 'fruit boots', which were pixie style flats. For casual wear there were penny loafers and saddle-shoes. Skirts were worn at mid-calf, often held at the waist with an elastic cinch belt. If a woman leant to the side, the belt would fold in half and have to be tugged back into place. Also they were so tightly fitted that the waistband of a skirt would pop out from beneath them. Sweaters and blouses were often made of nylon, the latter see-through, worn over a camisole or full slip, trimmed with lace.
Going formal meant a strapless dress with a multi-layered net skirt, worn over a crinoline petticoat. Extra glamour was achieved by adding dyed-to-match satin shoes and elbow length gloves. Hair spray came into use in the late fifties, which meant the days of having a guy 'run his fingers through your hair' were over. That spray was like glue. Hair was often streaked, but only streak per 'do', usually achieved by applying straight peroxide or a product called Light 'n Bright. Hairstyles such as the Italian Boy, Pixie Cut, Poodle Cut and Pony Tail were 'in'. (So was virginity, but we won't go there.) Hats with veils and white gloves were worn when dressed up, especially for church. And by the late fifties, hats had little fabric-covered clamp affairs on the sides, to keep them in place. Swim suits were elasticized, covered most of the torso, and had a little panel at the front to hide the 'private' area. Needless to say, no waxing was required. Short shorts usually had cuffs and were often worn with a cotton blouse, with the bottom buttons undone, so the tails could be tied to saucily reveal the midriff. Oh, and there were pedal pushers, peasant blouses, peasant skirts, and 'straight' skirts, with a slit or two or a pinch pleat at the hem for walking purposes. Clothes were, for the most part, uncomfortable. As was the way of life, really.
All this blethering and I�ve not even touched on etiquette or slang. Just a bit on that then. Young persons respected their elders, whether they agreed with them or not. These were days when an adult, any adult, could keep a young person in place with a threat or a swipe. Girls, good girls that is, could keep a guy in his place too. Most girls feared having a �bad reputation�. It honestly mattered. As for slang, it depended on your neighborhood, and the year. Most of it can be found in songs for these eras. Well, I�ve overdone it, I think. But hope I�ve helped a bit.
In 1947, with the war over, the Christian Dior's New Look came in. This meant much longer skirts, which were considered more feminine because they had enough fabric in them to swirl around the lower calves. And with real stockings, no less! Looser hairstyles took over from the rolled pompadour of the war years.
Then came the '50s. Fashioned changed little over this entire decade. Undergarments consisted of garter belts or girdles, tightly fitted pointy bras, full or half-slips, panties that covered the entire bottom and belly, and nylon hose with seams. Shoes varied from flat 'ballerina' slippers to tapered high heels to 'fruit boots', which were pixie style flats. For casual wear there were penny loafers and saddle-shoes. Skirts were worn at mid-calf, often held at the waist with an elastic cinch belt. If a woman leant to the side, the belt would fold in half and have to be tugged back into place. Also they were so tightly fitted that the waistband of a skirt would pop out from beneath them. Sweaters and blouses were often made of nylon, the latter see-through, worn over a camisole or full slip, trimmed with lace.
Going formal meant a strapless dress with a multi-layered net skirt, worn over a crinoline petticoat. Extra glamour was achieved by adding dyed-to-match satin shoes and elbow length gloves. Hair spray came into use in the late fifties, which meant the days of having a guy 'run his fingers through your hair' were over. That spray was like glue. Hair was often streaked, but only streak per 'do', usually achieved by applying straight peroxide or a product called Light 'n Bright. Hairstyles such as the Italian Boy, Pixie Cut, Poodle Cut and Pony Tail were 'in'. (So was virginity, but we won't go there.) Hats with veils and white gloves were worn when dressed up, especially for church. And by the late fifties, hats had little fabric-covered clamp affairs on the sides, to keep them in place. Swim suits were elasticized, covered most of the torso, and had a little panel at the front to hide the 'private' area. Needless to say, no waxing was required. Short shorts usually had cuffs and were often worn with a cotton blouse, with the bottom buttons undone, so the tails could be tied to saucily reveal the midriff. Oh, and there were pedal pushers, peasant blouses, peasant skirts, and 'straight' skirts, with a slit or two or a pinch pleat at the hem for walking purposes. Clothes were, for the most part, uncomfortable. As was the way of life, really.
All this blethering and I�ve not even touched on etiquette or slang. Just a bit on that then. Young persons respected their elders, whether they agreed with them or not. These were days when an adult, any adult, could keep a young person in place with a threat or a swipe. Girls, good girls that is, could keep a guy in his place too. Most girls feared having a �bad reputation�. It honestly mattered. As for slang, it depended on your neighborhood, and the year. Most of it can be found in songs for these eras. Well, I�ve overdone it, I think. But hope I�ve helped a bit.
I need some advice . .. ?
Q. I am 21 almost 22 and I have felt for a very long time that I am transsexual and I don't know what to do. I want to be a girl and love to dress in girls clothes, but yet I don't know where to get then in my size. I also love to where makeup when I'm home alone. Can anyone offer any advice?
A. Just remember to dress for your age. I feel that is the #1 key to success to dressing FEM.
How's your hair, is it long, short or are you trying to grow it out?
Pay attention to what the girls your age around you are wearing,their make-up, their hair. That usually is a good indacater to what your look should be.
Of course throw your own flair in there.Be your self.
Is there a second hand shop close to you? We have a Plato's Closet by me, they sell gently used Young Person's clothes, all brands, all sizes, all styles. Maybe if you have something like that near you , you could outfit your self for little money. Until you get more comfortable to go to the Mall to shop. Maybe Target would also be a good place to shop, allot of trendy people shop there. (I happen to LOVE Target!)
But what is your "male" size? You didn't state that in you Q, if we knew, we could help you more.As far as shirts, most run the same size, pants are different, shoes run different. Mens shoes run 2 sizes smaller than womans, so if you wear a mans 8 that would be a womans 10. So I hope that helps.
Pants run in waist size for men, in womans they run in #, so if you have a 27-29 waist that is a 7-9 in womans(brand depending) Here is what I would try, go to the mens, pick 1-2 pair of pants,then go to womans,pick 1-2 pair, and take them all to try on. That way it doesn't look like your trying on all womans pant(less embarressing that way).
Good Luck and Happy Shopping!
How's your hair, is it long, short or are you trying to grow it out?
Pay attention to what the girls your age around you are wearing,their make-up, their hair. That usually is a good indacater to what your look should be.
Of course throw your own flair in there.Be your self.
Is there a second hand shop close to you? We have a Plato's Closet by me, they sell gently used Young Person's clothes, all brands, all sizes, all styles. Maybe if you have something like that near you , you could outfit your self for little money. Until you get more comfortable to go to the Mall to shop. Maybe Target would also be a good place to shop, allot of trendy people shop there. (I happen to LOVE Target!)
But what is your "male" size? You didn't state that in you Q, if we knew, we could help you more.As far as shirts, most run the same size, pants are different, shoes run different. Mens shoes run 2 sizes smaller than womans, so if you wear a mans 8 that would be a womans 10. So I hope that helps.
Pants run in waist size for men, in womans they run in #, so if you have a 27-29 waist that is a 7-9 in womans(brand depending) Here is what I would try, go to the mens, pick 1-2 pair of pants,then go to womans,pick 1-2 pair, and take them all to try on. That way it doesn't look like your trying on all womans pant(less embarressing that way).
Good Luck and Happy Shopping!
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