When women were first considered for combatant and non-combatant roles in the United States Army in the early 1900’s, women’s fashion had very little to do with being able to fight. It was not until World War II that women began to fight in larger numbers against male soldiers. Women’s fashion in that period of time was only worn for dress, often times to be camouflage when the soldiers were on duty or to show off scars and tattoos that may have been removed by surgery. Women’s fashion at that time did not focus on the fact that most women were not soldiers, but clothing was still an important part of a woman’s life and they would wear anything to make themselves look good.
As women began returning from overseas combat zones and were returning from being in the factory work areas of America, they had a new look about them in the 1940s. They were no longer just uniformed but were now also sporting fashionable dresses that were cut higher and had more pleats at the top of the dress. Women’s fashion at that time focused on their shape, not the shirt they wore underneath. Women’s clothing was no longer for being cute, but was designed to make them stand up straight and look as though they were working. Much like the soldiers of yesteryear, many women of the 1940s fashion sense decided that they wanted to look like the men they saw in the streets and go out and fight in the battle lines.
As the war effort continued and the world war raged on, the soldiers wore the same clothing as civilians so that they could have a uniform to match the fighting conditions. This fashion included materials used for the uniforms, which included denim, spandex, leather, and synthetic fibers. The materials were lightweight so that the soldiers did not become exhausted as quickly from walking and running. Women’s fashion of that era also began to incorporate materials used for making gloves, hats, and scarves, which also helped to keep them warm and dry in cold weather.
