What did women wear in the 1940s?

Women wore knee-length A-line dresses or skirts, structured jackets with padded shoulders, seamed stockings, and practical low-heeled shoes due to wartime fabric rationing.

How do I make a quick DIY 1940s costume?

Wear a knee-length floral dress, draw a black eyeliner line up the back of your legs to mimic seamed stockings, style your hair in victory rolls, and apply red lipstick.

What is the difference between 1940s and 1950s fashion?

1940s fashion was defined by wartime utility, featuring narrower, knee-length skirts and padded shoulders. 1950s fashion featured much fuller, longer skirts (like poodle skirts) and softer, rounded shoulders.

AI-generated example

1940s

Channel wartime utility and swing-era elegance with classic 1940s fashion.

The 1940s is a popular costume choice for swing dances, theatrical events, and historical parties. This guide focuses on the iconic civilian and military-inspired looks of the decade, featuring structured silhouettes, utility styling, and classic hairstyles. Whether you choose a victory-roll swing dress or a sharp military uniform, this era is all about polished, tailored elegance.

Difficulty: Medium
Time: ~45 min
Budget: $35–120

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40 1940s costume ideas

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What you need for a 1940s costume

A-line swing dress
A knee-length, structured dress with a defined waist, padded shoulders, and a modest neckline, often in a solid color, floral print, or polka dots.
DIY: Use a modern knee-length wrap dress with structured shoulders and add a slim belt to cinch the waist.
Amazon
Seamed tights or stockings
Nude or sheer black nylon stockings featuring a distinct black seam running straight up the back of the legs.
DIY: Draw a straight line up the back of your bare legs or regular nude tights using a black liquid eyeliner pencil.
Amazon
Mary Jane or Oxford heels
Chunky, low-to-medium heel shoes with a rounded toe and a single strap across the instep.
DIY: Wear simple black leather flats or low pumps with a rounded toe.
Amazon
Vintage-style hat
A small tilt hat, fascinator, or wool beret worn angled on the side of the head.
DIY: Pin a simple wool beret to the side of your head using bobby pins.
Amazon
Men's wide-leg trousers
High-waisted, pleated wool or cotton trousers in brown, grey, or navy blue.
DIY: Thrift a pair of oversized, pleated dress pants and wear them high on the waist with suspenders.
Amazon
Button-down shirt and suspenders
A crisp white or light blue button-down shirt paired with button-on elastic suspenders.
DIY: Use clip-on suspenders over a standard collared dress shirt.
Amazon

How to put it together

1
Select your style: choose either a feminine swing dress look or a tailored high-waisted trouser outfit.
2
For the dress look, put on the A-line dress and cinch the waist with a slim leather belt to create the iconic hourglass silhouette.
3
Carefully pull on the seamed stockings, ensuring the back seam is perfectly straight and centered.
4
For the trouser look, tuck the button-down shirt into the high-waisted pants and secure them with suspenders.
5
Style your hair into classic 1940s victory rolls or a neat side part, securing with plenty of hairspray.
6
Apply vintage makeup, focusing on a clean complexion, defined brows, and a bold red lip.
7
Finish the look by putting on your Mary Jane heels or leather Oxfords, and angle your hat or beret to one side.

Makeup & hair

For women, style hair into victory rolls or a faux bob with soft curls, paired with a matte complexion, winged black eyeliner, and classic red lipstick. For men, style hair with a neat side part and a glossy pomade finish.

1940s for couples, groups, kids & more

couples: Pair a swing-era civilian dress with a WW2 Allied soldier or sailor uniform.
group: Assemble a group featuring a swing dancer, a Rosie the Riveter, a WW2 pilot, and a land girl.
kids: Dress kids in newsboy caps, suspenders, and knickers, or a simple floral tea dress with white ankle socks.
Plus size: A-line swing dresses with structured shoulders are highly flattering and authentic to the era's tailoring.
pet: A small dog wearing a green military-style canine vest or a tiny red-and-white polka dot bandana.

Tips

Keep the stocking seams straight by checking them in a full-length mirror or having a friend help adjust them.
Wartime fabric rationing meant skirts were shorter (just below the knee) and less full than 1950s poodle skirts.
Thrift stores are excellent sources for genuine vintage-style belts, hats, and structured blazers.
If dancing, opt for low, sturdy character shoes or Oxfords instead of high heels for comfort.

1940s costume FAQ

What did women wear in the 1940s?: Women wore knee-length A-line dresses or skirts, structured jackets with padded shoulders, seamed stockings, and practical low-heeled shoes due to wartime fabric rationing.
How do I make a quick DIY 1940s costume?: Wear a knee-length floral dress, draw a black eyeliner line up the back of your legs to mimic seamed stockings, style your hair in victory rolls, and apply red lipstick.
What is the difference between 1940s and 1950s fashion?: 1940s fashion was defined by wartime utility, featuring narrower, knee-length skirts and padded shoulders. 1950s fashion featured much fuller, longer skirts (like poodle skirts) and softer, rounded shoulders.

Did you know? Due to wartime nylon shortages, women in the 1940s painted liquid makeup onto their legs and used eyebrow pencils to draw fake seams down the back to look like they were wearing stockings.