35 Stunningly Glamorous Fashion Photos of 1940s Women’s Style

1940s women’s fashion was heavily influenced by World War II. Due to fabric shortages, designs became more practical and modest.

Classic models wearing 1940s fashion designs

Dresses often featured knee-length or mid-calf hems, narrow waists, and A-line skirts. Women’s suits with padded shoulders, slim skirts, and tailored blazers became iconic, reflecting the masculine influence of the time. Utility fashion, with simple cuts and minimal embellishments, was popular.

After the war, the late ’40s saw the return of more feminine silhouettes, with Christian Dior’s “New Look” (featuring full skirts, narrow waists, and rounded shoulders) revolutionizing post-war fashion. Take a look at these glamorous photos to see portraits of classic models wearing fashion designs from the 1940s.

Meg Mundy wearing a short-sleeved blue and white Gourdon rayon crepe dress with bows down the front and a matching set of gloves with a headwrap of the same textile, photo by Constantin Joffé, Vogue, January 15, 1945

Model looking away from the camera and holding a newspaper in black gloved hands wearing a blue, black and white ‘petal’ dress of rayon crepe by Capri, photo by Constantin Joffé, Vogue, January 15, 1945

Model wearing a short-sleeved black rayon crepe dress printed with multicolor flowers and a peekaboo neckline of two triangular cut outs from Bonwit Teller, photo by Constantin Joffé, Vogue, January 15, 1945

Model with a big smile wearing print tunic dress of rayon crepe, holding a newspaper in a purple gloved hand, photo by Constantin Joffé, Vogue, January 15, 1945

Model with a newspaper held under her arm wearing a blue printed peplum dress of rayon crepe by Larry Aldrich, photo by Constantin Joffé, Vogue, January 15, 1945

Model standing in front of a white brick wall, wearing an ensemble by B.H. Wragge (blue-and-white block-plaid tweed swing jacket; knee-length blue pleated jersey skir), photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, January 1, 1946

Model wearing a new copper-colored wool gabardine suit, consisting of a square-shouldered jacket with slits on the sides, a fitted waist, and gold buttons, and a fuller knee-length skirt, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, January 1, 1946

Natalie Paine wearing a grey-blue coat with large buttons in Stroock’s fleece, worn over an unattributed black skirt, with a close-fitting light pink hat and light pink gloves, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, January 1, 1946

Barbara Tullgren wearing an “ice-yellow” and “heat-yellow” two-tone dress by Clare Potter, Bendel lipstick in “Cheerie-Cheerie”, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, June 1, 1947

Elise Daniels leaning against a white studio backdrop wearing a blue-and-white hat, shoes, and spun rayon dress by B. H. Wragge, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, June 1, 1947

Elise Daniels wearing blue Hope Skillman chambray dress with a bolero, both by Adele Simpson, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, June 1, 1947

Kitty Kopet wearing a red cashmere and silk ankle-length double-breasted coat-dress, with a champagne-colored nutria stole by Maximilian, photo by Richard Rutledge, Vogue, September 15, 1947

Model in front of a Chinese mural, wearing an ermine beret by Lilly Dache and a matching ascot, with a gray worsted broadcloth suit with a fitted jacket, by Larry Aldrich, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, June 1, 1947

Model is wearing a bright red long coat in Merrimack velveteen by Hi-Dee, photo by Frances McLaughlin-Gill, Vogue, August 15, 1947

Model is wearing a brown hooded fleece coat lined in mustard crepe by Brittany in Stroock shag fleece, photo by Frances McLaughlin-Gill, Vogue, August 15, 1947

Model is wearing a calf length floral evening swing coat with a black velveteen collar from Altman, photo by Frances McLaughlin-Gill, Vogue, August 15, 1947

Model is wearing a green patterned skirt with a black velveteen jacket by Hi-Dee, photo by Frances McLaughlin-Gill, Vogue, August 15, 1947

Model is wearing a grey rayon taffeta dress and jacket by Ceil Chapman, photo by Frances McLaughlin-Gill, Vogue, August 15, 1947

Model is wearing a hooded plaid Cerey wool coat by Gaynes with Capezio opera pumps, photo by Frances McLaughlin-Gill, Vogue, August 15, 1947

Model is wearing a Zelan processed green corduroy raincoat by Sherbrooke with a Madcaps black wool cap, photo by Frances McLaughlin-Gill, Vogue, August 15, 1947

Model lays face-down wearing a navy blue Cohama rayon-and-cotton satin twill one piece bathing suit with a white webbing belt by Frances Sider, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, June 1, 1947

Model wearing a beige-gray velveteen jacket with a small, notch-lapeled collar over a black wool suit with a plumbline skirt, by Kraus, with a plumed and veiled velvet toque, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, June 1, 1947

Model wearing a bright red evening dress of Merrimack velveteen with buttons down the front by Connie Adams, photo by Frances McLaughlin-Gill, Vogue, August 15, 1947

Model wearing a brown rayon satin dress by Ceil Chapman and topaz gold plated pins by Accessocraft, photo by Frances McLaughlin-Gill, Vogue, August 15, 1947

Model wearing a pinch-waisted blond velveteen jacket with a wide mink collar, with a brown wool skirt, by Kraus, worn with a veiled hat, white gloves, and a string of pearls, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, June 1, 1947

Model wearing a printed Everfast cotton dress and matching shawl by Ceil Chapman, with the beach in the background, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, June 1, 1947

Model wearing a short-sleeved gray wool dress by B.H. Wragge with a cream-colored scarf by Glentex, cream-colored gloves, flower-shaped silver earrings, photo by Frances McLaughlin-Gill, Vogue, September 15, 1947

Model wearing a strapless ankle-length purple and black striped rayon satin dress with a matching stole, by Ted Shore, and purple slingback shoes by Delman, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, September 15, 1947

Model with top Bettman and shorts Joset Walker, photo by John Rawlings, Vogue, June 1, 1947

Barbara Mullen standing in a blue short sleeve dress with a full skirt and a flower at the neckline by Clare McCardell, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, May 1, 1948

Elise Carlson wearing lavender satin dress with matching shawl by Mark Mooring made to order at Bergdorf Goodman, glace kid long blue gloves, also Bergdorf Goodman, photo by Erwin Blumenfeld, US Vogue, October 15, 1948

Marilyn Ambrose seated on the corner of a table wearing a pink dress printed with black by Tina Leser with a black hat and black doeskin gloves by Acme, photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, May 1, 1948

Model standing in a brown satin striped dress with a tie at the waist by Adele Simpson, winding a ball of yarn, stockings by Prestige in “Baie d’Argent” , photo by Horst P. Horst, Vogue, May 1, 1948

Model, photographed in Paris by Clifford Coffin, wearing a pale blue silk crepe dress, with a tucked bodice and draping skirt, by Paquin, Vogue, March 1, 1949

Tedi Thurman wearing a shoulder deep, blue straw hat that leaves the far side close, by Madame Paulette, photo by Arik Nepo, Vogue, March 15, 1949