| With the end of WWII in 1945, the Americans entered the inevitable awkward transition from war to peacetime. Men were returning from the war and trying to resume their pre-war lives. Women, who had been holding jobs traditionally held by men, were encouraged to return to their posts as wives and mothers. Certainly some women were reluctant to give up their newly found sense of independence, but many women were happy to take up their traditional roles again. America turned its interest to family life and the big Baby Boom had its effect on fashion for both men and women.
The main image for women was a demure femininity suitable for the sober role of motherhood. Although many silhouettes were espoused during this period, the two most enduring were the wasp waist with a long slender skirt. Dancing lost some of its popularity as a pastime as the cocktail party became the most suitable entertainment for young families. Men's suits were two piece rather than three piece, the trousers generally unpleated, and the overall shape boxier than in the past. | |
