1940s Fashion: The Definitive Sourcebook

I do love a pretty tea dress and, when it comes to fashion inspiration, the 1940s is one of my favourite eras to look to. From the war time make-do-and-mend movement, where sparse fabric supplies did little to stop elegant inventiveness, and the Land Girls to the introduction of Christian Dior's exquisitely glamorous and full-skirted New Look, it was a fascinating era in fashion history. You may remember that last year I reviewed an enchanting book called 1930s Fashion: The Definitive Sourcebook, and I am delighted to introduce its 1940s counterpart which I was kindly given the chance to review.
With 600 beautiful photographs and illustrations the book takes you straight to the heart of 1940s style: from cute swimwear and the underwear which created the silhouette of the era to elegant evening gowns and even trousers. With a compehensive introduction offering a highly intriguing background to how 1940s fashion was shaped, the book contains an extensively explored look into a wonderfully creative bygone era.
1940s Fashion: The Definitive Sourcebook is a fabulous tome and doesn't disappoint after the 1930s one before it set such a high standard. They're books I'll treasure on my shelves and take out time and time again for a little fashionable inspiration, but would also be fantastic for design research. If you're currently enamoured with The Great Gatsby glamour you can also find a little of that glitz in the Fashion Sourcebook- 1920s, as edited and published by the same team.

1940s Fashion: The Definitive Sourcebook by Emmanuelle Dirix & Charlotte Fiell is published by Goodman Fiell, RRP £30, available from www.carltonbooks.co.uk (@carltonbooks)