Women's Practical Wartime Fashion and Rationing (1939–1945)

1. War mobilization shifts women’s everyday dress

   Sep 1, 1939Labels: Everyday dress, Government mobilization

   • IWM
   • Britannica

2. “Austerity” clothing rules begin limiting trims

   Jan 1, 1940Labels: Austerity rules

   • CollectorsCompanion
   • IWM

3. UK introduces clothing rationing with coupons

   Jun 1, 1941Labels: Clothing rationing, Coupon system

   • M S Archive
   • VFG

4. Utility Clothing Scheme and CC41 mark launch

   Sep 1, 1941Labels: Utility Clothing, CC41

   • M S Archive
   • CC41

5. Women’s workwear expands as labor needs grow

   Jan 1, 1942Labels: Women s

   • IWM
   • NPS

6. French textile and clothing coupons circulate in occupied Paris

   Jan 1, 1942Labels: French rationing, Textile coupons

   • Paris Mus es

7. British couturiers design within Utility limits

   Mar 1, 1942Labels: London couturiers, ISLFD

   • IncSoc
   • Utility

8. US issues L-85 limits on women’s apparel

   Apr 8, 1942Labels: L-85 regulation, War Production

   • LOC Law
   • NPS

9. “Make Do and Mend” promotes repair and remaking

   Apr 5, 1943Labels: Make Do, Board of

   • TNA Discovery
   • TNA Images

10. Théâtre de la Mode reasserts French couture after liberation

    Mar 28, 1945Labels: Th tre, French couture

    • Th tre
    • Vogue

11. Wartime controls ease unevenly, but rationing continues

    Sep 2, 1945Labels: Postwar rationing, Clothing controls

    • NPS
    • TNA

12. Britain ends clothes rationing, marking a shift

    Mar 15, 1949Labels: End of, UK government

    • Hansard
    • TNA