1944: and the beginning of the end is in sight. In Europe the Allies open up a second front on D Day. In the Pacific US and Australian soldiers push the Japanese out of New Guinea. And in the narrower world of the home front, women are still coping with rationing and renovating. It's not that fashion was banished for the duration: it's just that it had to take a back seat to thrift and practicality.
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| January 1944 |
B Coupons
The Minister for Trade and Customs has sounded a warning about B coupons which became current on 15th November. They may have to last longer than six months. People should not go in for a coupon-spending orgy that might be regretted later. Present indications were that stocks would allow a new coupon issue in June next year, he said. Australia, however, was entering a vital stage of the war in which still greater demands might be made upon our productive capacity and stocks of raw materials, including textiles.
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| February 1944 |
Snappy Styles
Fashion styles for adults this season have a snappiness that is all their own. It may be, of course, that folks who have to "make do" with the material available have made up for this disadvantage by a smarter cut and much greater care in the trimmings and etceteras.
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| August 1944 |
About Overalls.
Overalls for domestic and war work are being catered for on a more colourful basis. At one warehouse we saw one- and two-piece slack suits, one-piece coveralls and overalls of sturdy washable fabrics principally in blue and shades of blue. With the coveralls and overalls, V-necked cotton blouses in stripes and colours predominated.
Material Shortage
From the evidence given before the Quota Commissioner it will be noted how coupons are only worth while as long as goods are available in exchange for them. This is a further argument for the making of children's clothes from the partly worn garments of their elders. Children go through clothes quickly, and there is not enough material to provide them with new dresses or suits all the time.
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| September 1944 |
Plain and Patterned
The alliance of plain and patterned material is always effective, and this season it will be more and more in evidence. It is a change from the usual one-colour dress, and with most of us is compulsory.We note this idea exploited by one of our movie actresses. She had a brightly-patterned floral blouse with red and blue sprigs on a white background, and a plain blue skirt.One friend of mine who copied the idea retrieved the best bits from a former dance frock for the bodice, and picked up a short length of material at an oddment counter for the skirt.
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| November 1944 |
Changing Ideas
... Don't hang onto that old frock; you know you never liked it much, the material was too heavy. Why not make a smart new skirt, plain enough for morning wear, yet dashing enough for afternoon?
New Hats.
The flattering little new hats worn by smart women are definitely the badge of evening fashions.The smart, right look is the combination of a pretty but simple little black dress or suit, with a confection of a hat that does everything possible to flatter the face, complexion and coiffure.
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| December 1944 |
Exchange Children's Shoes
In countless cupboards throughout the country, children's shoes are lying idle, not because they are outworn, but because they are outgrown. What a help it would be if mothers would pass these shoes on to a friend, whose child could wear them. Or perhaps the local school, local store, welfare clinic or some local women's organisation may already be running a children's shoe exchange—or planning to run one. It's worth finding out, anyhow.
Poor Materials
Be very careful of the material you buy. Some stuff has arrived from overseas that is just absolutely shoddy. Good appearance, but no wear. We had brought before us a little boy's shirt; it had been washed once and collar and neckband has started to fray. This class of material should never have been granted an import licence.
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