German Fashion in Photos #9

 

Once again we have a great original photograph of an average, everyday woman but here she is wearing a plain coat and charming hat. This photo, I think, is from the late (??) 1930s but it is a great example of a 1940s look that a reenactor or a living historian could use as inspiration to build a look for the cooler weather. However, based on the abundance of foliage around her, I suspect this photo was taken in the spring. Her coat has great lapels and what looks like a pin? Under the coat is a plain dress with a bit of adornment at the center of the V shaped neckline. Her hat has great 1930s lines, but this shape was seen in the 1940s as well. In 1940s Germany some women held onto and continued to wear 1930s clothes as the war created shortages which continued to tighten. Did all women wear 30s styled clothes in wartime Germany? No, not all women were equal in Germany, some were hit harder by shortages than others and some had better access to goods than others. In creating your impression for events, think about who you want to represent and go for it. Now back to the photo, if you look closely, she has a cute little purse, and I cannot tell too much but it looks like she does not have gloves. Does every 1940s look need to have gloves? Well, based on this photo, no. Do gloves really help round out a look? Yes, they do but they are not a hard and fast requirement.