Clothing goes to war: creativity inspired by scarcity in World War II

Abstract

"The story of civilian clothing use during World War II. Manufacturing for civilians across the globe nearly stopped at the outset of World War II, as outfitting troops took precedence over nonmilitary production. Raw materials were prioritized for the armed forces and the majority of nonmilitary factories were shifted to war work, resulting in shortages and rationing of consumer products. Civilians, especially women, responded to the resulting scarcity of goods by using ingenuity and creativity to 'make do'. In Clothing Goes to War, Nan Turner offers a critical look at some of the resourceful results of this period as necessity paved the way for fashionable invention"--Provided by publisher.

Contents

Machine generated contents note: 1. Rationale for Rationing: The Demanding War -- 2. Textiles Go to War: Military Uniforms Prioritized -- 3. Gender Defined by Clothing: Women in Slacks -- 4. Home Front Handicrafts: Creativity Inspired by Restrictions -- 5. Feed Sack Fashion: Nothing Was Wasted -- 6. Wartime Weddings: Falling in Love During Wartime -- 7. Costumes Go to War: Clothing in Hollywood and British Film -- 8. Clothing as Commerce: Hoarding, Bartering, and the Black Market -- 9. Make-Do and Mend: Once Forgotten, Now Reborn -- 10. Epilogue: Global Pandemic of 2020 Forces Revivals of 1940s Handicrafts.