Vix's Tips - Vintage 1940s Style for V E Day

Got anything 1940s? It's the question we're asked most by visitors to our pitch. Despite a reputation for selling all things vibrant & groovy and the scarcity of clothing from the war years, we do have a number of genuine pieces on our rails. The trouble is that with the changes in lifestyle and diet over the last 70 years, vintage Forties clothing is usually significantly smaller than your average, modern day Brit. So, I do a shockingly un-British thing, I recommend cheating.
By cheating I'm not talking about going down the repro route (the bête noire of vintage traders the world over), I mean mixing original 1940s pieces with vintage clothing from more recent eras to create a look which is both financially friendlier and easier to find in larger sizes.

Anyone spot a certain Land Girl gatecrashing the party?
As part of the 70th Anniversary of V E Day our beloved Vintage Village @ Stockport are hosting a VE Day Fair. With this in mind I've put together some 1940s-inspired outfits using clothes & accessories from the Kinky Melon stockroom, all of which will be available to buy from us this coming Sunday.

To create a typical daytime you won't go far wrong with a tea dress or a tailored suit. Using 1940s photos of my Grandma as inspiration I've chosen dresses from the 1950s, 1970s & 1980s and a 1950s Harella suit. Add a framed handbag, a slouchy beret (the ones shown here are both authentic 1940s pieces) and some quality leather shoes with a block heel and you're good to go.

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Here's a more formal look using a smart tweed suit as a base. I've combined some of our 1940s stock along with a few 1980s look-a-likes. Can you spot the originals?* Again, I've used photos from the family album for inspiration.

* Original 1940s : A CC41 fur coat, the grey worsted wool jacket, the leather handbag & black hat.

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How about a working wardrobe? These 1940s British Army battledress trousers teamed with a Shanghai silk blouse make for an elegant look whilst the patched Holdfast denim jeans are the epitome of the Make Do & Mend era. Sturdy leather brogues and a fully fashioned knit add a utilitarian vibe.

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Let's not forget the chaps! I've used photos of my very dapper Grandpa for ideas. I've chosen a CC41* wool overcoat along with a 1960s blazer, some 1940s tweed trousers, a 1950s doeskin waistcoat and a classic Tootal paisley scarf. The English-made leather brogues, traditional Shetland knit & feather trimmed trilby, although from the 1970s, are very much in the style of an earlier era. The vintage camera case makes a substitute for a gas mask.

* CC41 - The Utility logo was a British Board of Trade requirement which appeared on footwear, furniture, textiles & clothing and was introduced in 1941, lasting for ten years. It stood for Controlled Commodity and designated that the item met with the Government's austerity regulations.

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Finally, here's a more casual look. The duffel coat is ex-British Army, the tartan grip is from the 1950s and the rest; the cricket jumper, bush shirt, silk cravat, flat cap and leather sandals are a mix of 1960s, 1970s and 1980s 'cos even with a war on there was still time for fun.

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On a WW2 related note I thought I'd share these photos of Jon's Dad (the likeness is uncanny). A war hero, gymnast and keen photographer. Sadly, I never met him.

Hope to see you on Sunday but, if you live the opposite end of the UK, then keep calm & don't panic. My friend Dee is hosting a VE Day Fair in Taunton this coming Saturday.

See you soon!