Fashion (WWI) – Old Magazine Articles

The Great War and It’s Influence on Feminine Fashion (Vanity Fair, 1918)

The military influence on feminine fashion predates the conflict of 1914-1918 by a long shot and the evidence of this is undeniable. These 1918 fashion illustrations show the influence that the war was having on American designers during the final year of W.W. I.

Click here to read about the fashion legacy of W.W. I…

To read about one of the fashion legacies of W.W. II, click here…

Click here to read about the origins of the T-shirt.

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World War I Fashions in the Spring of 1916 (Strauss Magazine, 1916)

Assorted dry observations regarding what the women of Gotham were sporting that last American Spring of peace (Congress would declare war on Germany during the April of 1917).

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Victory and Paris Fashion (Vogue Magazine, 1919)

The Paris Victory Parade celebrating the end of the 1914 – 1918 war was a long awaited and much anticipated fashion event and Mme. Parisienne was not going to miss it for all the crepe de Chin in China. This VOGUE correspondent contrasted the Paris that existed a short time earlier, the gray, deserted Paris with the Paris of the 1919 Victory Parade and notes how eager the natives were to recreate that mirthful, light-hearted Paris of 1913 that they all remembered so well. There is a great sense of joie de vivre throughout the article, but it very rapidly becomes a laundry list concerning who-wore-what-where.

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Paris Fashions: Nine Months into W.W. I (Vanity Fair Magazine, 1915)

By the Spring of 1915, the women of Paris, having seen that the Great War was not going away anytime soon, decided that it was time to add some gaiety into their wardrobe. Steadily – since the August of the previous year, there had been such bad news and although the rationing of fabric continued, there was still much available for the asking.

Click to read about the U.S. fabric rationing during W.W. II.

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French Fashion During the War (Almanach Hachette, 1919)

Printed in 1919, the editors of ALMANACH HACHETTE published this single page overview of the feminine fashions that appeared on the streets of Paris during the war years.

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Fashions from the Last Summer of the War (Vanity Fair Magazine, 1918)

Six very fine fashion drawings illustrate what was generally perceived to be the chic silhouette during the August of 1918.

There may be some women who can get along without satin frocks, but it is exceedingly doubtful..

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Summer Mode for an Era’s End (Vanity Fair Magazine, 1914)

The Paris fashion world that thrived during the August of 1914 was rightfully intrigued by the chic creations conjured up by the House of Worth, Drécoll, and Mme Paquin.

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Feminine Hats from a War-Weary France (Harper’s Bazaar, 1918)

Six fashionable illustrations from Harper’s Bazaar of the Fall hats for 1918:

Paris is exceedingly critical in regard to hats even in wartime, and the new ones are most interesting. Black velvet of course is rampant, and Marie Louise especially is using much much black panne velvet…

This wartime fashion review makes one passing reference to the millinery efforts of Coco Channel.

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World War I Fashions: Summer, 1916 (Vanity Fair Magazine, 1916)

Ignoring the general unpleasantness taking place outside of town, the taste-makers of Paris soldiered-on as best they could, creating garments for the summer of 1916 that were both original and feminine and bore the mark of Paris’ characteristic opulence.

Click here to read about the New York fashions of 1916.

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A Great Paris Couturier Lends Her Talent to American Uniforms (The Stars and Stripes, 1918)

One year prior to her retirement, Madame Paquin (1869 – 1936) was asked by the U.S Army to help with a particular element of uniform design.

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