Dressing up 1940\'s style - help and challenge
Hi everyone. I am attending a dance (including WWII veterans and families) and thought it would be fun to look the part. I am a complete novice with 40's fashion, but put together a look with a VERY limited budget, some sewing skills, and some vague familiarity with period styles (from recent online research/photos). I am hoping that those more informed than I can help me understand what is appropriate and what is not, and give me suggestions on how I might tweak this look. I will try to get pics, but for now, here's a description:
Evening dress solid black (rayon, I think) with slightly lower than knee-length fuller "swing" style skirt, barely the hint of sleeves, and shallow scoop neck. Something like this except the neck: http://sensibility.com/vintageimages/1940s/images/1940sonepiece.jpg
Because the belt that came with the (thrift store) dress was missing (AND my torso is extra long), I added, for now, a fabric "belt" of black velvet (not sure that's the best choice, but stay with me for a minute) that is wide enough to encircle my waist while also hiding the seam which would normally sit at a person's waist (high, on me). The "belt" has no buckle - I suppose it might be considered more of a sash, or simple waistband. I know narrower belts would be ideal (as would a dress more tailored to my body) but the former would reveal the ill-placed waistline, and the later is cost prohibitive.
Shoes: two current options:
1. velvet high heels with rounded toes, bows as embellishment, with rhinestones.
2. Black fabric rounded toe lower heels (wider heel that flares slightly at the bottom) with no embellishment except a mary-jane style strap across the top.
Accessories:
As I have a very modern haircut that is extremely short (as in not long enough to curl) in the back, and long in the front, I tried to find a hat that would be both appropriate, and cover the short hair in the back. I came up with a black wool felt (with black grosgrain ribbon) version of the red hat on the left: http://sensibility.com/vintageimages/1940s/images/grey1940suits.jpg, . I plan to wear it back on my head with the narrow back brim just barely covering my short hair, and tipping the wider front brim up to frame my face, and to allow me to style the front of my hair in 40's style. I have black veil material I can add upon suggestion (and a little direction as to how to do this in a stylish and/or appropiate way? )
Silver dragonfly pin with tiny rhinestones.
Rhinestone "flower" ring (like bohemian garnet patterns I've seen, if you know what I mean)
Rhinestone stud earrings for lack of anything else, at the moment.
Also, I have 3 circular rhinestone buttons (maybe 3/4" inch in diameter?) that can be turned into earrings, a hat pin, or whatever, and a swatch of black velvet fabric at my disposal (tried, at first, to turn this into a dressy head-scarf type thing, but it was not very convincing).
How'd I do? Suggestions, thoughts welcome! Thank you!
Janice
Hi everyone. I am attending a dance (including WWII veterans and families) and thought it would be fun to look the part. I am a complete novice with 40's fashion, but put together a look with a VERY limited budget, some sewing skills, and some vague familiarity with period styles (from recent online research/photos). I am hoping that those more informed than I can help me understand what is appropriate and what is not, and give me suggestions on how I might tweak this look. I will try to get pics, but for now, here's a description:
Evening dress solid black (rayon, I think) with slightly lower than knee-length fuller "swing" style skirt, barely the hint of sleeves, and shallow scoop neck. Something like this except the neck: http://sensibility.com/vintageimages/1940s/images/1940sonepiece.jpg
Because the belt that came with the (thrift store) dress was missing (AND my torso is extra long), I added, for now, a fabric "belt" of black velvet (not sure that's the best choice, but stay with me for a minute) that is wide enough to encircle my waist while also hiding the seam which would normally sit at a person's waist (high, on me). The "belt" has no buckle - I suppose it might be considered more of a sash, or simple waistband. I know narrower belts would be ideal (as would a dress more tailored to my body) but the former would reveal the ill-placed waistline, and the later is cost prohibitive.
Shoes: two current options:
1. velvet high heels with rounded toes, bows as embellishment, with rhinestones.
2. Black fabric rounded toe lower heels (wider heel that flares slightly at the bottom) with no embellishment except a mary-jane style strap across the top.
Accessories:
As I have a very modern haircut that is extremely short (as in not long enough to curl) in the back, and long in the front, I tried to find a hat that would be both appropriate, and cover the short hair in the back. I came up with a black wool felt (with black grosgrain ribbon) version of the red hat on the left: http://sensibility.com/vintageimages/1940s/images/grey1940suits.jpg, . I plan to wear it back on my head with the narrow back brim just barely covering my short hair, and tipping the wider front brim up to frame my face, and to allow me to style the front of my hair in 40's style. I have black veil material I can add upon suggestion (and a little direction as to how to do this in a stylish and/or appropiate way? )
Silver dragonfly pin with tiny rhinestones.
Rhinestone "flower" ring (like bohemian garnet patterns I've seen, if you know what I mean)
Rhinestone stud earrings for lack of anything else, at the moment.
Also, I have 3 circular rhinestone buttons (maybe 3/4" inch in diameter?) that can be turned into earrings, a hat pin, or whatever, and a swatch of black velvet fabric at my disposal (tried, at first, to turn this into a dressy head-scarf type thing, but it was not very convincing).
How'd I do? Suggestions, thoughts welcome! Thank you!
Janice
