Fancy Dress Party Ideas > 1940s party

1940s fancy dress costume ideas

As a result of the second World War, people often had to ration their clothes, and make do by mending old clothes. Clothes tended to be drab, and had a military-uniform style to them. It was thought to be bad taste to be too dressed up, and you were thought of as more patriotic if you wore a more uniformed look.
Wear boxy square shouldered padded jackets and short straight skirt.
Turbans, head scarves, and wedge shoes were common.

Charlie Chaplin was an English comedy actor, most famous for his portrayal of the 'Little Tramp'. Wear a shirt, tie, waist coat, jacket, a flower or handkerchief in the breast pocket, oversized trousers and shoes, sport a little "toothbrush" moustache, heavy eye makeup, carry a cane, and walk with a wobble.
Winston Churchill leader of Great Britain, 'the Bulldog'. Famous for his bowler hat, overcoat, walking cane, and large round body.
Joe Dimaggio - famous American baseballer, later married to Marilyn Monroe.
Veronica Lake was a popular actress in the 1940s. She had platinum long blonde hair, and pretty features.
Humphrey Bogart is most known for his portrayal of Rick in Casablanca, a bar owner in Morocco who re-falls in love with an ex-during the war. He wears a hat, raincoat, and smoked like a chimney. In another scene he wears a white dinner jacket and bow tie with slicked back hair.
Marlene Dietrich was a German-born American actress, singer, and entertainer. She was and still is an entertainment icon. She occasionally appeared in trans-gender clothes eg. in top hat and tails, with cigarette. Rumours abounded about Dietrich's lovers and ambiguous sexual orientation. Madonna mimicked her in her music video "Express Yourself"
Pinocchio hit the screens in 1940s. Go as Pinocchio himself, the good fairy, the cricket, the cat, or Geppetto...
You could also go in a Bugs Bunny costume, as this character premiered in the 1940s.

Music
Jazz

Dance
The Jitterbug

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