Forties fashions are still fabulous
I am a lover of the forties Look and I love wearing the clothes
There was one boon for women in the 1940s, it was fashion. In the history of couture, very few eras can match the innovation and originality of the post-war period. With difficulties in sourcing high quality materials, style had to come from somewhere else.
Talk of 'austerity chic' was de rigueur in the 1940s, and 'make do and mend' was the mantra of the day. But it's not just the philosophy of the decade that is suddenly relevant again - it's also the clothes and accessories. Straight out of a noir film, the retro look - featuring sleek skirt suits and elegant dresses paired with peep-toe pumps and slingbacks - embodies the elegance of the era. The key looks are fur collars, silk blouses, pencil skirts, pill box hats and the most delicate of tea and shift dresses.
But it’s in the detail, the accessories, that this romantic trend really comes into its own. If you like having fun completing a look with just the right finishing touch, then you're going to love immersing yourself in this new style. While your clothes may be vintage-looking, reminiscent of wartime glamour, your bag, shoes and jewellery need to be polished and sharp, for balance.
But there's so much fun to be had in accessorising this look: leather driving gloves, for example, are back in style and red leather ones couldn't be more fashionable. Bright, roomy tweed bags with wooden or metal frames will house all your essentials - or you could add a trilby for an unexpected twist. Jewellery is also key - vintage pieces add that unusual and one-off look to your outfit.
And, of course, no outfit is complete without a fantastic pair of shoes. For day, choose a pair with a good heel, blocked and tapered a peep toe and for evening, bring the look right up to date with a slim ankle strap heel, with a matching clutch bag in satin. Groomed, neat and as sophisticated as a shaken Martini. Perfect for a night of Art Deco decadence. After all, you may be Forties inspired, but there's no need for rationing.
Style all who have it share one thing originality
*Ashley Shye*