Clothing: 1930 - 1940
In the 1930s Dunedin women were wearing
clothes radically different from those of
the 1890s. Images of femininity had
expanded to include visible arms and legs,
short hair and make-up. Hats and gloves
were important accessories, always worn
with a coat on the street or at any public
occasion. For daywear the trend was toward
a waisted, fitting bodice or blouse with
a bias cut skirt to the mid-calf.
For evening wear dresses extended to ankle
length or longer. Fabrics were often patterned
with floral designs, stripes, or geometric
patterns of polka.
The Hollywood influence of popular films
opened up new possibilities of dress, hairstyle
and cosmetics. Dresses were available for
purchase ready-to-wear or made-to-measure
at shops, or fabrics and patterns could
be bought and something made at home. Developments
in textile technology and the production
and marketing of clothes expanded choice
and stimulated rapid fashion changes.
The decade ended with another war and thousands
of men returned to military uniform as their
everyday dress.
A
late 1930s day dress showing the influence
of the Duchess of Windsor's wedding dress
in its shaping. Probably made by a local
dressmaker. (Otago Settlers Museum Collection)
A
home-made dance or party dress, using recycled
fabrics. (Otago Settlers Museum Collection)
This
worsted cloth suit, typify men's suits of
the 1930s. The garment has wider lapels
than its 1920s equivalent and a slightly
waisted shape. Its maker is unknown. (Otago
Settlers Museum Collection)
A
pair of 1930s combination underwear, making
use of rayon or 'artificial silk', as it
was popularly called at the time. (Otago
Settlers Museum Collection)
French
knickers, as their name suggests, were an
item initially made popular in Paris fashion.
They were much more suitable underwear for
the fitted styles of the 1930s. These ones
are silk, but cotton and rayon versions
were also available. (Otago Settlers Museum
Collection)
Brassieres
had been developed in the 1920s. This was
part of the move away from the corset to
the less constricting combination of bra
and knickers. This is an early example of
a homemade bra using an underwire. (Otago
Settlers Museum Collection)
[Return
to Overview]
|