The terms 1940s cocktail dresses, 1940s bombshell dresses, and 1940s pinup dresses have all been used to describe any sexy dress that is “vintage inspired.” I love that these clothes have become so popular with designers in the USA, UK and AU that they have opened up online and offline stores to cater to the demand. Seeing these fashions everywhere is what inspired me to write the 1940s Style Guide eBook. However, as I was researching 1940s clothing, it became very evident that these “new” 1940s pin up fashions were not very 1940s at all.
Vintage Inspired Party and Cocktail Dresses
Christian Dior was the first to term “cocktail dress” in the late 1940s. Her designs were part of the New Look with large circle skirts, fitted bodices, and the introduction of sleeveless tops that became the center of 1950s fashion. They don’t resemble anything like the tight pencil skirts and dresses that are being labeled 1940s today.
The major exception is not the clothing, but the hairstyles. Betty Page, famous pinup model in the 1950s, kept her hair in a 1940s style with victory rolls or a bouffant. This hair style combined with mostly late 1950s clothing, and is what’s currently taking the retro world by storm.
Authentic 1940s style clothing hasn’t entered the market place in the USA as much as it has in the UK. What is available now is mix of some 1940s elements on 1950s style dresses. I thought it would be fun to take a few examples of these cocktail / pin up / bombshell dresses and show you where 1940s style influenced these vintage designs.
Patriotic Pin Up Dresses
A patriotic dress is suggestive of the 1940s war time effort, when women showed their support by wearing Navy motifs. V for victory and anchors were pinned and embroidered on dresses, pants, and sweaters. This dress shows 100% war time support with the cute 4 button bodice, white collar, and navy stripes. The skirt’s long length is correct for the ’40s as well. It is not a tight pin up dress, but is pin up style nonetheless.
This is a great choice for your next WWII or USO 1940s sailor dress.
Sexy Pin Up Dresses
When I think of pin up dresses, this is what I imagine. Sexy red tight pencil dresses with charming cap sleeves, a sweetheart neckline, and a knee length skirt. You can’t help but look like a bombshell girl in this dress. It is made by Stop Staring!, a brand that is all about recreating 1940s and 1950s pin up inspired dresses. The long length, side ruching, and sweetheart neckline are what gives this dress plenty of ’40s style. Wear this with a sexy 1940s pin up hairdo and you’ll look amazing wherever you go.
Pin up dresses are sometimes called wiggle dresses. The form fitting dress causes the wearer to wiggle while walking hence the name. The best thing about wiggle dresses is that they look amazing on curvy women. Very sexy, but in a sophisticated “vintage glamour” kind of way. If you don’t own a wiggle dress, I highly recommend giving one a chance.
Adorable 1940’s Dresses
My favorite pin up pictures from the 1940’s are not the ultra tight, overly sexy photographs and paintings. Instead, they are the innocent ones where girls are wearing everyday ’40s dresses while they get caught in some precarious “revealing” position. The clothes look so cute and so authentic to the 1940s. This pleated dress is very 1940s with the puffed cap length sleeves, a high waist, belt tie, A-line skirt, and ruffle trim. It’s the type of dress you could wear to a pin up shoot and then off to your best friends party. This dress is a best seller at ModCloth with multiple color and size options. I have one and I love it!
Little Black Cocktail Dresses
Here is another pin up dress that embraces the little black cocktail dress style. Black dresses became an all time wardrobe staple in the 1940s. Women wore them in the semi formal afternoon and into the evening. One dress for many occasions was the way to be frugal and fashionable in the 1940s. Thus, the cocktail dress was born!
This dress is a basic 1940s style wiggle dress with sheer sleeves and neckline. It is a vintage look that can span the 1940s to the 1960s since it is such a classic and simple cut. Wear it to your next semi formal party and sip a martini in style.
Shop Pinup Dresses
Debbie Sessions has been teaching fashion history and helping people dress for vintage themed events since 2009. She has turned a hobby into VintageDancer.com with hundreds of well researched articles and hand picked links to vintage inspired clothing online. She aims to make dressing accurately (or not) an affordable option for all. Oh, and she dances too.