Amscan Army Abby Playsuit Fancy Dress Costume

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While they went out of fashion in the late 1950s, they came back revised but still in the one-piece style in the 1980s. To go with the youthfulness of playwear, most skirts were dirndl style with large ruffles, pinafores with large pockets, or a simple A-line. They were brightly colored with reds, greens, yellows, and blues, and were often done in patterns, checks, and plaids.

Your waist is between the bottom of your ribs and the top of your hips, so your measuring tape should be placed in the middle - usually just above the belly button. Many were designed to be worn without a blouse, although a striped or solid color T-shirt was a favorite pairing. Shorts were still too revealing to be worn in public settings such as to the movies or to lunch with friends. The skirt was usually longer than the shorts, between low thigh and above-knee length depending on the age and modesty level of the wearer. Take the measurement for your chest from the fullest part of the chest (usually around the nipple area).Buttons would sometimes extend down the front of the shorts, although these were often decorative rather than functional.

In this way, they resembled ’40s work clothes and Land Army uniforms – but now in a more stylish summer fashion. Our fashion history blog helps you create the look from decades past using vintage, vintage inspired and thrifty clothing. Top tip: mark on the wall using a pencil or place a book (or another flat object) where the top of your head meets the wall, then, measure from that point to the floor to get your height!Wrap your measuring tape around and make sure the tape is pulled tight but not digging into the skin. The 1940s and 1950s playsuit consisted of two to three pieceswith a few different variations and names. We are here to help you find clothing online and learn about vintage fashions as worn by everyday people, just like you. A swimsuit that came with a matching skirt could transition from pool to party without requiring a change of clothes.

The shorts would fit similarly to the pants of the day– tight at the waist with a loose and wide leg, with a pleat or two.The 1940s jumper shortall had longer straps and a shorter bib front that required wearing a shirt underneath.

Debbie Sessions has been teaching fashion history and helping people dress for vintage themed events since 2009.The 1940s fitted styles are harder to find, and most likely won’t have the cute matching skirt to wrap over it (darn!