1940s & 1950s House Dresses

Now lets learn a little bit more about the House Dress (because that is one of the fun things about vintage clothing, learning about its history).

BLOG NOTE: I have also done on a post on the ‘1940s & 1950s Shirtwaist Dress‘ not realizing that they are basically the same style of dress, just called different names. You can find that post by clicking on the name of the post just above.

History of the House Dress

A house dress is a type of simple dress worn informally in the mornings at home for household chores or for quick errands. The term first originated in the late nineteenth century to describe at-home garments designed for maximum practicality and usually made from washable fabrics. It is directly descended from the Mother Hubbard dress. Such dresses were a necessary part of the housewife’s wardrobe in the early twentieth century and could be widely purchased through mail-order catalogues.

Although an informal garment, the house dress, particularly during the 1950s, was intended to be stylish and feminine as well as serviceable. The concept of attractive house dresses was popularised in the late 1910s by Nell Donnelly Reed, who established her house dress company in 1919. The company, renamed Nelly Don after Reed’s retirement, quickly became one of the most successful American clothing manufacturers of the 20th century. Some designers became known for house dress designs, such as Claire McCardell, whose 1942 ‘popover’ wrap dress was equally wearable as a house dress, a dressing-gown, a beach cover-up or even a party dress. The house dress version of McCardell’s popover came with a matching oven glove.

Here is the “Popover” wrap dress with oven glove. How stylish and beautiful is this dress?

1940s Vintage Dress: Clair McCardell Popover dress-1940s Housedress example

Sally Kirkland, in All-American: A Sportwear Tradition, reported that McCardell’s “Popover” dress “sold in the thousands (its low price [$6.95] and was classified as a ‘utility garment’. In utility achieved with ingenuity, McCardell found a synergy. The modern woman could both be chic and do the cooking (Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History).

Key Looks of the 1940s Blog Post by the Vintage Inn

(Updated March 2023)

Hi everyone! For my first official blog entry I thought I would start with a favourite event of the Lindy Hop season in Toronto called “Swing out to Victory” It’s a 1940’s Big Band dance in an airplane museum in Hamilton, Canada and it’s lots of fun.

At this dance dressing up in 1940’s fashions is while not a must, is encouraged to take your dance experience to the next level. Plus it looks great posing with those vintage airplanes. However I do realize that not everyone knows how to dress in 1940’s fashions for an event like Swing Out (or whatever event your attending), so I thought I would help get you started with a post about the ‘Key Looks of the 1940’s’. It’s a post filled with loads of vintage images, illustrations, and links to get you inspired and shopping.

So sit back, relax and have a read and then at the end I have supplied shopping options for Vintage & Vintage Reproduction clothing that you can take home today (or close too).

Have fun!

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay, Unique Vintage, RocknRomance Vintage & Collectif are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Key Looks Of The 1940’s For A Night Out Swing Dancing

1940’s Women’s Suit

II faut ‘skimp’ pour être chic’, you must skimp to be chic – Vogue Oct 1941-

The war was on and rationing of materials was in full effect. Gone were the days of silk and wool, women were left with materials like rayon, synthetic Jersey, and gingham to create their clothes. Elaboration was out and a pared-down elegance was becoming the norm. The main look of the decade: Was broad shoulders and a streamlined, slim look.

Women’s “Utility Suit” or “Victory Suit” or “Clothing by law” was fashioned to resemble the military style of WWII. The suits had a boxy, broad-shouldered (aka shoulder pads) jacket. Peplum at the bottom of the jacket was also used to give the illusion of volume (see pic below). Blouses were normally solid coloured with details around the neck. Skirts were shorter (knee-length) and either straight or A-lined and had a front and back pleat.

Further Reading: The Skirt Suit: A Fall Fashion Trend. The 1940s Edition

Other 1940’s Skirt Options:

Trumpet
And swing skirt (for the dance floor)

How to wear this look:

Accessories even during the war were still very important to a 1940’s women. Pair the suit with an asymmetrical or angled shaped hat with unusual trimmings (whatever could be substituted or used during the war. Ex: materials from older hats).

Add Stockings with the seam or you could do what many women had to do when stockings became rationed which was to paint some light colour to your legs and draw the seam up the back.

Shoes: Peep Toe and T-straps (1” in height) were fashionable (and saved on leather) as were Cork platforms. Don’t forget a basic purse. Lastly add your red lipstick and curl your hair with a pin curl set.

Further Reading: A Vintage Guide to 1940s Hair Accessories

Women’s Blouses AND great 1940s hairstyle inspiration examples.

1940s Women's blouse sewing pattern illustration

1940’s women’s hats (just an example of 1 of the many styles available at that time).

Further Reading: Ladies Winter Hats-1940s Style

1940s Vintage hats as seen in a 1940s vintage sewing pattern

Consider a peplum jacket with your skirt.

1940s vintage women's peplum dress as seen on a 1940s sewing pattern.

Pants / Slacks

Pants were also becoming part of women’s everyday wear as they had to wear them to the factories. These slacks were often high cut or at the waist and would have a single pleat down the front of the pant, and wide legged. Jeans and overalls were also being worn much like our favourite “Bomb Girls” did.

How to wear this look:

Top the pants with a form fitting blouse or sweater tucked in, add a “mans cut” jacket or Bolero. Add the “Rosie the Riveter” scarf to your hair if you want or a snood with victory rolls and don’t forget the red lips. Shoes were sturdy and practical, often flat or you could pair them with a wedge shoe.

1940s vintage photo of a woman standing on a fence in 1940s pants. Cute 1940s fashion.

1940s vintage image of women in slacks / matching blouse and pants-1940s Fashion.

1940’s Dresses

Shirtwaist Dresses: This style of dress you can easily find today (Trashy Diva has a few they make). The simple dress features a button down style top often seen with a flared or A-line skirt. Just like everything else during this time it was considered useful for most daily activities.

How to wear this look: Pair it with a pair of saddle shoes (and bobby socks-they appeared in the 40’s first) or wedge or peep toe shoes. Hair in victory rolls or try a pin curl set. Add a ribbon, Flower or a snood to the hair. Once again…put on those red lips.

Further Reading: The Shirtwaist Dress of the 1940s and 1950s

1940s Shirtwaist dress as seen on a 1940s sewing pattern.

Rayon Dresses were very popular during the 1940’s as it was the dress “that never creased and had silk-like quality to it” and made going from day to evening very easy. Many of the dresses would be in colourful prints, knee-length and very simple cuts. Bolero and fitted jackets were added to the dress to create more outfits. This style was very popular for swing dancers.

How to wear this look:

Vintage Photos & Illustrations shown here lon this post are super examples. Or you visit my archived content on Women’s Fashions – Vintage Styles.

1940s rayon dresses vintage 1940s photo. Stylish 1940s fashions

1940’s Dress Features:

Cap sleeves (sometimes with a small slit on the side for ease of movement)
Puffed up sleeves with gathers at the top
Dress necklines: Cut-outs (got to loves cut-outs!), Square, keyhole, V etc.
Sequins & beads: Not rationed by the war, sequins were sewn on dresses, jackets and shawls to add drama to day wear and evening wear.
Evening Dresses “Long”: Were Strapless (elegant and saved on material!), spaghetti strapped or halter topped, draping from the waist was seen as well.
Evening Dresses “Short”: Women would wear cocktail dresses (Little Black dress made its way to the scene) or Suits. This look was very popular during the height of the war.

1940's evening gown vintage 1940s sewing pattern.

1940s eveningwear short and long dresses as seen on a 1940s sewing pattern

Now for something a little different….

Sportswear & Ready To Wear

(Originated from New York Fashion Industry)

Highlights (but not limited too):

Shirtwaist dress (mentioned above)
Pinafore Dress-often seen in Gingham
Sundresses in cotton
Plaids, checks and stripes were often seen in Ready to wear outfits
Designers: Claire McCardell and Clare Potter
Beachwear or Swimsuits (Maybe you would like to go as Pinup, Betty Grable)
- One piece suits were form fitted, Halter or V neck with bottoms that were like shorts (but went to the top of the thigh) or skirt shaped.
- 2 pieces swimsuits were not like what we know today. They were high-waisted, and the top was the same as above. Note: The Bikini was invented in 1946.
- Playsuits: Very short dresses that wrapped around a swimsuit. Also playsuits with long skirts and front buttons with a snug leg under panties and bra-like top.

1940s pinafore dress as seen on a 1940s sewing pattern — Pinafore Dresses

1940s women's playsuit with overskirt as seen on 1940s sewing pattern.

1940's playsuit as seen on a 1940s sewing pattern. — 1940s Playsuit

1940s playsuit as seem on a 1940s sewing pattern

1940s vintage photo of 4 women in 1940s swimsuits with 1940s hairstyles standing in the water.

How to wear these looks:

If you are going for the “Sportswear” look think of a “younger look”. Simple pageboy hair style, no hat, saddle shoes, peep toe shoes or wedges. Ribbon in the hair if you like. Cute and simple. Red lips!

For Swimwear: Look to the Pinups of the time for style inspiration. Betty Grable, Ava Gardner, Jane Russel. 1940’s hair style and 40’s shoes and your good to go. Oh! and a flower in the hair always helps (As everyone knows or now knows…I’m a big hair flower fan.

FURTHER READING: Hair Flowers-A Girls Best Friend For An Easy 1940’s Vintage Look

Hawaiian Themed Outfits & Mexican Influences

Sarong Dresses and Hawaiian prints – MY personal favorite
Peasant tops-off shoulder blouses with drawstring and puffed up sleeves and a full peasant skirt. Think Carmen Miranda

Further Reading: Summer Is Here-Tropical Dress Time It Is!

How to wear this look:

With the styles above, 1940’s hair and makeup is a must. Add flowers…lots of flowers to one’s hair. Pile on the Bakelite bracelets for extra effect.

1940s vintage hawaiian dress style inspiration as seen on a 1940s sewing pattern.

1940s vintage summer outfits for women featuring peaseant tops and cute shorts and skirt as seen on a 1940s sewing pattern. — Peasant tops and playsuits again

1940s sarong dress with matching bolero jacket as seen ona 1940s vintage sewing pattern. — Sarong Dresses-MY FAV!

Christian Dior’s “New Look”-1947

With the war over, materials available and France open for business again a brand new look was created for women called “New Look” by Christian Dior. The idea was to let the curves of the women’s body be molded by the clothes. Highlights:

Small nipped in waist
Full skirt falling below mid-calf
Soft shoulders, NO MORE SHOULDER PADS!
Loads and loads of fabric

Further Reading: The Fashions of Christian Dior 1947-1957

How to wear this look:

Kitten heels or pumps, dramatic hat, gloves, red lips, black eyeliner and impressively styled hair.

Where to buy 1940’s clothes:

Online:

Vintage:

Etsy
- I have also created on Etsy a collection of ‘1940s Fashions‘ you can purchase that is updated monthly
eBay

Vintage Reproduction (meaning modern fabrics & sizing):

Shop for Vintage 1920s-1960s

OTHERS: Trashy Diva and Stop Staring , Vivian of Holloway (have beautiful sarongs) have some good 1940’s influenced outfits as well (I own two “shirtdresses” from Trashy Diva).

So there you have it, a high-level overview of what you could wear to any swing dance/event you wish to attend. I hope this has helped you get your brain going on what you could wear to your event. ENJOY!

FURTHER READING:

Collection of vintage fashion blog posts from the 1920s-1960s
Swing Dance & the Big Band Era (Archived Blog Posts)

Liz

Category: 1940s

1940s & 1950s House Dresses- Must Haves For Your Vintage Collection

1940s & 1950s House Dresses

History of the House Dress

Let’s explore some wonderful Vintage House Dress Images & illustrations