Hello and welcome to Fashion Bites! I'm Ellen Byerrum, author of the screwball noir
Crime of Fashion Mysteries featuring Lacey Smithsonian, a fashion reporter in
Washington DC, The City That Fashion Forgot. As you know, Lacey solves crimes with
fashion clues, and we can use a few fashion clues when we examine other
decades. Today we're going to check back into the 1940s Ball, but first let's talk
a little bit about the 1940s and why there should be a ball celebrating a
time when the Second World War was threatening our way of life, a war in
which millions and millions of people died. The 1940s big bash held in Boulder,
Colorado, every June is not held to glorify war, but to celebrate the
American spirit to persevere in the face of uncertainty, to acknowledge tough
times that test our mettle, to honor the men and women who served in the armed
forces, the Greatest Generation. As Thomas Paine wrote during the American
Revolutionary War, "These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier
and the sunshine patriot will in this crisis shrink from the service of their
country, but he that stands by it now deserves the love and thanks of man and
woman." So it is with the 1940s and perhaps today as well. We are still
meeting challenges, but Americans in the 1940s met challenges with "gumption." When
is the last time you heard that word? The reality, however, was that it wasn't a
movie in the golden light of nostalgia. Although privations in other countries
were more severe, Americans were urged to sacrifice. The advice of the day was: "Use
it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!" I'm eternally glad we can still
find a few clothes from the 1940s, which are getting harder and harder to find.
For this year's Ball I wore a copper colored crepe dress with a
long peplum overskirt and sequined embellishment on the right shoulder, as
well as a saucy hat. In the 1940s dress I am wearing right now
you also see embroidery on the right shoulder. There's matching decoration on
the left hip. This was a common theme and this is an example of the effect of L-85
clothing regulations, where designers were forced to be more creative with a
limited amount of fabric they were allotted per garment. Americans learned to
live without luxuries as the factories making those goods turned their
production to new wartime uses. Car factories began manufacturing tanks and
Jeeps and Americans would not get completely new model cars until 1948.
After the war they were getting warmed over '42s with new trim and grilles. Sewing
machine manufacturers were told they were now making machine guns instead of
sewing machines. Nylon and silk were designated for war uses, such as
parachutes, and not ladies' stockings. The only silk that could be purchased
was strictly intended for wedding gowns. However many brides chose to wear suits
and spare the silk for the military. Goods were rationed and the Office of
Price Administration put a price cap on such things as whiskey: It could sell
from 69 cents to $2 a gallon. Other rationed items included sugar, meat,
leather shoes and gasoline. What else was happening? During the 1940s a
first-class stamp was 3 cents! Rita Hayworth married Orson Welles. And a
horse named Count Fleet took the Triple Crown. The movie "Casablanca" was released,
giving Americans hope that with Humphrey Bogart on our side we just couldn't lose.
And there was music everywhere, as if it were the soundtrack to their lives.
Americans were listening to big-band music by Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller and
Harry James. They swooned to Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby and they weren't merely
listening, they were dancing! People were swing dancing and foxtrotting and
jitterbugging and Lindy hopping. They danced to bands whenever they got the
chance, and when you couldn't use the car to get
to a dance you'd dance to records and to shows on the radio. You might have to
dance with your family, your brother, your sister, but you danced, because it helped
you get rid of the feeling of anxiety about the war, if only for a few hours.
It's part of the reason that I am beginning a new book about Lacey
Smithsonian's Aunt Mimi, which is set during World War Two.
It starts at a community dance. Now let's go to the Ball and check out those dances
and see how they are holding up today... It's a beautiful evening on the main
dance floor of the Ball, set against the Flatiron mountains. If you're looking for
fashion clues, keep your eye on the man in the white zoot suit. This look,
currently undergoing a resurgence of popularity, is linked to notorious crimes
of fashion: the Zoot Suit Riots of 1943. The origin of the zoot suit is traced to
the Harlem Renaissance of the 1930s, when African-American men wore them because
they were big and loose and easy to wear while dancing. They were popularized by
entertainers like Cab Calloway. The zoot suit trend spread to Los Angeles and
Latino men and other minorities wore them. Unfortunately, during the war the
Zoot Suit Riots broke out in Los Angeles. Servicemen beat up on Latinos. The riots
continued for days. They claimed the suits were unpatriotic because they used
"too much fabric." Well, that was one excuse -- the riots were also tied to racism. But
tonight sailors, soldiers and zoot suiters are all dancing together. The
once divisive zoot suit is just another Forties style.
Were we speaking about wearing comfortable dancing clothes?
Here's another fashion clue: It looks like this woman in the blue denim
overalls has just left her job at the factory, welding airplane parts together,
and she can't wait to show off her new dance moves. And don't forget, it's always
nice to have a willing partner, like the guy in black, right here. The Ball
attracts a crowd of all ages, big and little, young and old, hot and cool -- and
people at all dancing levels. Hey, these guys look pretty good!
During the war, your best guy might be flying overseas and you have to go to
the dance and might wind up dancing with your sister or your best friend, but it
was a common sight at dances during the Forties.
Earlier we were talking about dancing with your sister? Well, we saw a couple of
families dancing together at this year's Ball. A couple of sisters and Mom and
Dad, switching off partners -- and gosh, it looks exciting!
So we're thinking they're underneath the age of "too cool for Mom and Dad..."
For you single people out there, the 1940s Ball can be very romantic. Most
years, some couples choose to become engaged at the Ball, but this year one
couple went further and tied the knot and danced the night away in their
beautiful evening attire.
Some women can't resist a uniform, even if it's worn on your friendly
neighborhood milkman! Here he is, with a fresh quart of milk
and a great big smile.
You can have your choice of dance floors at the Ball. Across the field, inside
Rick's Cafe, which has a wonderful Moroccan Casablanca theme, there's
some excellent swing music and also more dancing... During the 1940s, Frank Sinatra
was a teeny bopper's dream and teens known as "bobby-soxers" were apt to swoon
as they swarmed his concerts. Oh Frankie, oh Frankie, oh Frankie!
It wouldn't be an homage to the era without Mr. S., portrayed here by
Derek Evilsizor, albeit a few years after the Forties, during the Fifties and Sixties Rat Pack era...
I hope you enjoyed our trip to the 1940s, complete with soundtrack...
That's all I have for now. If you want to know more about me or my books, check out
my website at Ellen Byerrum dot com. If you liked this video please hit the LIKE
button and consider subscribing to this channel. That way you won't miss any. And
please feel free to share. This isn't a secret society. Bye!
For more infomation >> ＃不懊悔的懊悔是什麼意思？（感情聖化要理問答43） - Duration: 6:20. 
For more infomation >> 今日のセルフトーク 7月7日「完璧でなくていい」 - Duration: 2:22. 
For more infomation >> Porsche 911 - Duration: 1:06. 
For more infomation >> Toyota Aygo 1.0 VVT-i x-play 5drs - Duration: 1:05. 
For more infomation >> 06/07/2018 13:36 (R. Rio das Graças, 2 - Jardim do Jockey, Lauro de Freitas - BA, 42700-000,) - Duration: 5:00. 
For more infomation >> ESTA FRUTA DIMINUI A DIABETES, COLESTEROL, ÚLCERA, CONSTIPAÇÃO E TRIGLICÉRIDES - Duration: 1:59. 
For more infomation >> Veja Como Limpar e Clarear Seus Travesseiros Amarelados em Casa - Duration: 5:04. 
For more infomation >> Mc Garden - IMPACTO ft. Richter e Logan Negro (Clipe Oficial) - Duration: 4:12. 
For more infomation >> Come sbarazzarsi dei talloni screpolati per sempre con un rimedio fai da te - Duration: 1:54. 
For more infomation >> Gossip: Elisa Isoardi e Matteo Salvini in crisi? Dalla conduttrice messaggi criptici - Duration: 4:17. 
For more infomation >> Rodar com o combustível no finalzinho pode queimar a bomba? - Duration: 0:59. 
For more infomation >> Mercedes-Benz E-Klasse E 200 Cabriolet AMG Prestige Automaat - Duration: 1:10. 
For more infomation >> Muere rescatista tras ayudar a niños atrapados en cueva | Al Rojo Vivo | Telemundo - Duration: 3:54. 
For more infomation >> Veteran pushing for fallen shipmates to be included on Vietnam War Memorial - Duration: 1:14. 
For more infomation >> Rimedi naturali per eliminare pidocchi e lendini in poco tempo - Duration: 8:11. 
For more infomation >> Arrestan a madre hispana por vender a su hijo de 7 años | Al Rojo Vivo | Telemundo - Duration: 0:39. 
For more infomation >> Chris Brown fue arrestado y liberado tras un concierto | Al Rojo Vivo | Telemundo - Duration: 0:41. 
For more infomation >> Playtime (Original animation meme) - Duration: 0:40. 
For more infomation >> NOW: Popular kids video game may contain graphic content - Duration: 1:16. 
For more infomation >> Esta técnica hace que una niña hable ocho idiomas | Al Rojo Vivo | Telemundo - Duration: 3:05. 
For more infomation >> Mercedes-Benz E-Klasse Estate E 200 Estate Business Solution | AMG | Widescreen | LED - Duration: 1:06. 
For more infomation >> Can You SHRED On A BASS? - Duration: 9:32. 
For more infomation >> Nissan QASHQAI 1.2 DIG-T 115pk Tekna, TREKHAAK, PANORAMADAK - Duration: 1:02. 
For more infomation >> Ariana Grande Responds to Pete Davidson's Manchester Attack Joke - Duration: 1:32. 
For more infomation >> Volvo XC70 2.4 T AWD 7 Persoons/NAVIGATIE/Youngtimer - Duration: 0:54. 
For more infomation >> July 6, 2018: NJTV News with Mary Alice Williams - Duration: 27:09. 
No comments:
Post a Comment