What Did Women Wear Swing Danicng in the 1940's?

Swing dancing was the latest and greatest social fad of the 1940's. While middle aged and above adults still enjoyed ballroom and ragtime dances like the foxtrot and tango, the young kids were breaking social norms and engaging in Swing Dancing. I always assumed that swing dancing in the 1940's required wearing special clothes and shoes. As it turns out clothing worn for swing dancing was the same clothing young women wore do any day or evening wear. The reason may have a lot to do with War rationing restrictions on new clothes and perhaps just because they were already comfortable enough.

Since swing dancing was mostly a dance for teenagers and college students they wore what was fashionable to them. They liked to wear knee length a-line skirts in solid colors or especially bright plaids. In the early 40’s the skirts didn’t have any pleats or extra fabric that would have made them “swing” with movement. In the later 40’s skirts had more pleating so there was a little bit more movement to them. However these were not the large skirted dresses of the 50’s with the multiple layers of petticoats. The only garments worn under these skirts were the usual girdle, panties, nylons and slips. Because of the narrowness of the skirt and the longer knee length women didn’t run much risk of twirling up skirts and exposing their under things during vigorous swing dancing.

Skirts were macthed with a basic blouse, with short puffy sleeves, in either a solid light color or fun wide stripes. Teenagers were also fond of cardigan style sweaters worn over their blouses or hung around their shoulders. Another popular sweater style was the “Sloppy Joe” an oversize knit sweater that looked baggy and might feature schools letters on the front.

As for dresses teens like simple cotton shirtwaist dresses in fun colors with small patterns. A shirtwaist dresses buttoned down the front ending at the waist or buttoned all the way down the dress. These were simple easy and casual. They were very comfortable to dance in too. The bodice had short sleeves (down to the elbow, or capped at the high shoulder) and a snug high waist. The dress collar could be v-neck with a pointed collar or have a adorable rounded peter pan collar made of the same fabric as the dress. Contrasting colors, such as white, also became popular after the "Kitty Foyle" style dress took the fashion world by storm. Other 1940's dress styles were worn too. Pretty much if you had it in your closet you could wear it to a swing dance.

Teens loved to wear oxfords and saddle shoes with bobby socks. They wore these swing dancing too. Unlike moderns hoes that have rubber "no slip" soles 1940's shoes were usually smooth leather which made them easy to dance in. For fancier occasions women would wear basic round toe pumps with low heels.
To learn about all the different types of dresses, skirts, blouses, shoes and accessories worn by women in the 1940’s you need to get a copy of the 1940’s Style Guide: The Complete Illustrated Guide to 1940’s Fashion. This ebook shows you not only what to wear but how to do your hair and makeup, what shoes are best for dancing, and where to buy everything you need for a 40’s swing outfit. If you don’t read this book first you will inevitably buy a dress from the wrong decade or spend countless hours searching online for a “swing dress” only to miss out on some of the best shopping sites that don’t show up in google searches. Save yourself time and money with this ebook. Guaranteed.

The Fashion of 1940's Formal Dresses

Evening -wear was one thing that still had glamour in the '40s. Sequins and beads were not rationed or restricted, and were put on everything. Early 1940's dresses and gowns were simple but shiny, and did tend to be more on the casual side than anything in the decades before or after. Dresses were usually made from rayon taking the form of jersey, taffeta or crepe and fastened with metal zippers or small buttons in the back. Black was the most popular color, and pinks, reds and blues were often used as well. 1940s formal dresses were often covered head to toe in beads or sequins, some decorated just the bust like a necklace, or the front panels of a jacket.

One evening look during the '40s was the long gown and dinner jacket. The gown was a column shape, long to the floor and straight. It was usually plain or had beading or sequins at the neckline. A dinner jacket, fitted and usually short (to the waist), was worn on top of the dress. The dinner jacket was decorated with sequins and beads, either all over or down the front and had square shoulder pads. It would close with buttons or a metal zipper. Buttons on dinner jackets were often decorated themselves with beads or rhinestones. A bolero jacket was also worn a lot as a dinner jacket. These were short, coming only to the waist, with rounded edges at the front. They would have similar decorations and would close with a button at the top or middle or could be left open.

Other evening dresses were less fitted, with long to the floor skirts that were a bit gathered, making them more flowing. Evening dresses were also worn shorter, just below the knee, with a similar flowing skirt. Skirts were sometimes draped. They could have thin straps, but often also had short or ¾ length sleeves. If the dress had sleeves, it most likely had the ever-present sharp '40s shoulder pads. These dresses often had shirring in the waist, one panel on either side, or in the bust. They also often had a cross-wrapped bodice. Evening dresses were usually high-cut in the neck, similar to day dresses of the time. They would usually have some sparkle somewhere on the dress with beads, sequins or a combination, if not all over.

-This post is an excerpt from the 1940's Style Guide: The Complete Illustrated Guide to 1940's Fashion ebook. For more style history, how to tutorials and hundreds of images and shopping links pick up a copy today at 1940's Fashion.