World War II: Causes & consequences
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*Annotations have been made with assistance from Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4-turbo). ChatGPT, OpenAI, Oct. 2025.
*Annotations have been made with assistance from Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4-turbo). ChatGPT, OpenAI, Oct. 2025.
This page was last updated 10/14/2025
fashion & clothing
Web resources
The Impact of World War II On Women’s Fashion
This blog provides a comprehensive overview of how World War II reshaped women’s fashion. It highlights the shift from luxurious styles to practical, utilitarian clothing due to wartime rationing and material shortages. Key changes included the rise of man-made fibers, simplified silhouettes, and military-inspired designs such as shorter skirts and shoulder pads. The piece also explores how fashion became more uniform across social classes and how muted colors and patriotic themes dominated the era.
This blog provides a comprehensive overview of how World War II reshaped women’s fashion. It highlights the shift from luxurious styles to practical, utilitarian clothing due to wartime rationing and material shortages. Key changes included the rise of man-made fibers, simplified silhouettes, and military-inspired designs such as shorter skirts and shoulder pads. The piece also explores how fashion became more uniform across social classes and how muted colors and patriotic themes dominated the era.
Print resources
The 40s & 50s : utility to new look [Call #391 REY]
This resource provides historical context, visual examples, and analysis of how global events like World War II influenced clothing design, materials, and societal expectations. Ideal for students researching the cultural impact of WWII on fashion and the evolution of style in the mid-20th century.
This resource provides historical context, visual examples, and analysis of how global events like World War II influenced clothing design, materials, and societal expectations. Ideal for students researching the cultural impact of WWII on fashion and the evolution of style in the mid-20th century.
Database resources
"Fashion on the Ration: how World War 2 finally let women wear the trousers; As the Fashion on the Ration exhibition opens at the Imperial War Museum, this extract from Julie Summers' book of the same name reveals how women's style changed in1940s Britain"
[Gale In Context: Canada]
Highlights how World War II and clothing rationing led to significant changes in women's fashion in Britain, including the normalization of trousers for women. It draws from Julie Summers' book and the Imperial War Museum exhibition to show how practicality reshaped style during the 1940s.
"Beetroot and boot polish: How Britain's women faced World War 2 without make-up; It was a major drive of World War Two: to persuade Britain's women to be glamorous above all else. A new exhibition at the Imperial War Museum charts their challenge in the face of a cosmetics blackout" [Gale In Context: Canada]
Explores how British women maintained a sense of glamour during World War II despite severe shortages in cosmetics, using creative substitutes like beetroot and boot polish. It accompanies an Imperial War Museum exhibition that highlights the resilience and ingenuity of women on the home front.
[Gale In Context: Canada]
Highlights how World War II and clothing rationing led to significant changes in women's fashion in Britain, including the normalization of trousers for women. It draws from Julie Summers' book and the Imperial War Museum exhibition to show how practicality reshaped style during the 1940s.
"Beetroot and boot polish: How Britain's women faced World War 2 without make-up; It was a major drive of World War Two: to persuade Britain's women to be glamorous above all else. A new exhibition at the Imperial War Museum charts their challenge in the face of a cosmetics blackout" [Gale In Context: Canada]
Explores how British women maintained a sense of glamour during World War II despite severe shortages in cosmetics, using creative substitutes like beetroot and boot polish. It accompanies an Imperial War Museum exhibition that highlights the resilience and ingenuity of women on the home front.
need More information?
You can find more information about this topic by searching the library catalogue, the internet, and the databases below:
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EBSCO Host: An academic database with scholarly articles, magazines, and historical journals. It is ideal for in-depth research and citations.
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Gale Canada in Context: Contains articles, primary sources, and multimedia content tailored for students. Good for Canadian content and perspectives.
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CBC Curio: Provides access to documentaries, news reports, and archival footage from CBC.
Useful for understanding historical events through media. |
