1940,s outfit

P.S. out of curiosity have just looked on Minerva's web site and they have lashings of suitable patterns under the 'Vintage' banner.....am quite envious would love to do one - all very Lauren Bacall.

I do quite a bit of costume making and always pop onto the dreaded Amazon to see if they have any suitable patterns. I see Simplicity do a couple and often Burda do something similar. You do not necessarily have to go through Amazon to buy them ....its just a useful first stop to see what's out there.

A site I use for some costume patterns is Minerva Crafts.

That website is very interesting Maywalk.

Go to my website it has a pattern for a snood on there plus some pictures of the fashion of that era.
I am 85 and was 15 when VE day was declared.

www.memorylanehf.oddquine.co.uk/ladies.htm

Stockings with seams! Or if you go barelegged, draw a seam up the back of your leg and use some instant tan on your legs - Bisto was used as a substitute.

DH wears black trousers, white shirt, black waistcoat and braces when we go to 1940s dances. A lot of the men wear a hat. You can often pick up waistcoats and hats at charity shops.

DH could wear v neck sleeveless sweater, home knit if possible and Carlisle would be great, with shirt and tie. Flat cap perhaps? Brylcream hair. Old fashioned spectacles with no lens.
(Tweed) trousers with turn ups. EBay as a source.

Do you have a modern tea dress. If not there are a lot about. Wear comfortable shoes that have a small heel. Depending on the length of your hair you could have a victory roll in your hair or wear a snood. If your hair is short don't worry. The main this is to have your hair off your face. Makeup .... Use your own foundation. Eyes and lips are the important. Lipstick should be red or red based.

Glad to have been of help, campodol. Hope you have a wonderful time at the party!

thanks everybody ,when you want to know something ask gransnetters, love the land girl idea and just seen one on ebay,youve come up trumps again thanks

If you are near London the Imperial War Museum has a good exhibition on called Fashion on the Ration. I bought a dress pattern there and I am making a tea dress to wear to a VE day dinner dance later in the year.

You could try googling images of 1940s weekends for ideas. Haworth do one every year and have an excellent website with dozens of pictures.

I'd say getting the hairstyle and makeup right is the most important thing. A simple dress of appropriate length with shoes as near to the fashion of that era that you can find and you're good to go!

(As for DH, I have no idea! [cnfused])

Also, there are lots of military uniforms on eBay for your DH, or for both of you.

I would find the waist bit difficult! - and uncomfortable. But the New Look is elegant. My Mum made herself a NL skirt and the first time she wore it she finished up having to rescue my toddler brother from a pond!

Outfit, not loutfit!

An easy one is the land girl loutfit. Dungarees and headscarf. Not terribly elegant, but simple to achieve an authentic look.

Well I would have to go for the late 40's with Dior's wonderful New Look. The only problem being I no longer have the waist for it!! I'm sure your DH would look handsome in uniform.