The decade is synonymous for being the end of the Second World War and these 40s fashion finds help to further characterize the iconic time in history. There are several important fashion trends that dominated the scene from war-time couture that was much more understated and discrete to the leftover styles of the pre-war flapper dresses.
What's important to note about the decade is that the hardship faced around the world brought with it much more simplistic fashion that was more about utility than form. This produced women's wear that was more on the masculine side, which would inevitably help influence the female role in the business world as well as the social approval of women's lib.
32 Fabulous 40s Fashion Finds
From Parisian Glamor Pictorials to Hot Post-War Portraits:
Michael Hemsworth — Jan 25, 2013 — Fashion
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Sensual '40s Photography
Fanny by Esperanza Moya is Sensually Prim and Proper
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Stylish Nurse Shoots
The Nimue Smit W Korea Editorial Prescribes Retro Fashion
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Sophisticated Sepia Photoshoots
The Acne Paper No. 14 Editorial Stars a Vintage Karlie Kloss
27
Hot Post-War Portraits
The Kanarek 'Elegant 50s' Shoot is Classy and Cultivated
26
Parisian Glamor Pictorials
'Mode de Circonstance' is Alluring
25
Patiently Lonely Photoshoots
Waiting For by Koty 2 is Femininely Romantic
24
Eclectic Retro Glam Spreads
'Heroine' by Natasha Estelle Features Daring & Vibrant Fashion
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Retro Red Fashion
The Elle Russia '50 Ottehkob Kpachoгo' Editorial Stars Beegee Margenyte
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Vintage Vixen Photography
Lara Stone is a 40s Fashionista for September's Vogue Paris
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Forties Glamour Couture
John Galliano for Dior Draws Inspiration from Illustrator Rene Gruau
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40s-Inspired Coupletography
The Fischer Spring 2010 Lookbook is a Retro Love Affair
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Teasing Temptress Editorials
The Hailey Clauson August 2011 Vogue Russia Spread is Seductive Glam
18
Grainy Gatsby-Inspired Editorials
The Time Traveller Client Magazine Editorial is Retro-Infused
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Eclectic Englishman Editorials
The Shunichi Oda Essential Homme Photoshoot is Retro-Modern
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Forties Fetish Couture
The Flapper-Inspired Louis Vuitton Autumn 2011 Line is Impressive
15
Unexpected Bombshell Photoshoots
The Carmen Electra Schon Editorial Show's the Star's Softer Side
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Militant Officer Editorials
The Blazej by Patryk Rosinski Portrait Series is Retro-Inspired
13
Faded Pin-Up Features
Crystal Renn Stars in a Whiteout Shoot for Muse Magazine Winter 2012
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Glistening Glamour Editorials
The Harper’s Bazaar Turkey December 2012 Issue Dazzles
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1940s Editorials
Head Back in Time With 'Fashion... And All That Jazz' in Harper's Bazaar
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Chic Sunlit Editorials
This Helmet Magazine Fashion Shoot Will Make You Miss Summer
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Vintage 40s Photoshoots
The Schon Magazine Last Words Editorial is Retro
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Couture Clone Captures
The Ones 2 Watch Modernism Editorial Channels a 60s Inspiration
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Fierce 40s Fashion
The Prada 2012 Spring/Summer Collection Oozes Retro-Modern Glamour
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Funky '40s-Revived Fashion
The Frida Gustavsson Ellen Sweden 2011 Editorial is Chic
5
Passionate Pin-Up Shoots
The Bregje Heinen L'Officiel Paris Editorial Gets Retro Flowing
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Dapper 40s-Inspired Menswear
The Marc Jacobs Spring/Summer 2013 Ready to Wear Collection is Classi
3
40s Fur for Fall
Designers Bring Back Post-Depression Luxury Fashion
2
Forties Film Fashion Campaigns
The Hailee Steinfeld Miu Miu Shots are Classically Elegant
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Spirited Vacation Editorials
The Dazed & Confused Crystal Blue Persuasion Photoshoot is Merry
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Futuristically Textured Fashion
The 74 Magazine 'HOKKUS POKUS' Editorial is Vibrantly Dark
Sensual '40s Photography
Fanny by Esperanza Moya is Sensually Prim and Proper
Ethereal Apocalypse Editorials
The Other Side of Thames Fashion Story Finds Beauty in Destruction
25 Exquisite Edita Vilkeviciute Editorials
From Erotic Ebony Fashion to Fully Flowered Faces
Seducing Socialite Editorials
Zeit Magazine 'Die Vermessung Der Frau' Stars Magdalena Frackwiak
Real Life Cartoon Couture
The Harper's Bazaar China ‘London’ Editorial Celebrates Urba
Sophisticated Sepia Photoshoots
The Acne Paper No. 14 Editorial Stars a Vintage Karlie Kloss
Fluorescent Light Editorials
The Harper’s Bazaar China Art October 2012 Photoshoot Stars Wan
Woodland Warrior Photography
Suzanne Diaz Looks Ready to Hunt in Suzanne Diaz
Retro-Kitsch Songstress Editorials
The Vogue Italia August 2012 Photoshoot Stars Lana Del Ray
Caged-In Couture Collections
The Gareth Pugh Spring 2012 Show is Bold and Bondage-Inspired
Model-Collecting Photography
The Matcho Suba AW11 Campaign is Creatively Omnipresent
Insect Face Paint Editorials
The Lab Online Curiosity Editorial is Artfully Organic
Biker Bombshell Editorials
The Siri Tollerod Elle Norway Photo Shoot is Leather-Clad and Sultry
Retro Career Girl Captures
The Madison Headrick Oyster Editorial is 80s-Inspired
Passionate Noir Photography
The Fall 2012 Fault UK Feature Entices with a Sleek Aesthetic
Patiently Lonely Photoshoots
Waiting For by Koty 2 is Femininely Romantic
Mischievous Monochrome Shoots
The Love SS 2012 Editorial Features 17 Iconic Models
Opulent Folkloric Fashion
The Russian Elle November 2012 Issue Boasts Culturally Inspired Couture
18th Century-Inspired Menswear
The Heathcliff Menswear Fashion Shoot is Romantically Chic
Candid Celebrity Outtakes (UPDATE)
The Photos of Cameron Diaz by Terry Richardson are Released
Stormy Androgynous Editorials
i-D Magazine 'Work Hard and Be Nice to People' Stars Arizona Muse
Beehive Hair Lookbooks
The Bloom Bazaar Editorial Features Marie-Antoinette-Inspired Styles
Minimalist 60s-Inspired Editorials
The XOXO The Mag 'Rising Sun' Cover Shoot Stars Chanel Iman
Vanguard Surrealism Tributes
The Spanish Harper’s Bazaar November 2012 Issue Embodies Retro
Romantic Demure Editorials
Miranda Kerr for Sunday Telegraph 2012 Valentine's Day Issue
Black Ball Gown Editorials
The Vogue Germany 'Master Pieces' Photoshoot is Dual Toned
Mismatched 90s Editorials
The Elle Girl Japan August 2012 Free Photoshoot is a Throwback
Ornately Monochromatic Portraits
The Bastian Thiery Attitude Magazine Editorial Exudes Elegance
Sherlock Holmes-Themed Lookbooks
The Marc Jacbos Spring/Summer 2013 Advertisements Go Undercover
Sepia Parisian Photoshoots
The Fashion Gone Rogue 'A Night in Paris' Editorial is Raw and Romantic
Revealing Sports Shoots
Nikolay Abrosimov by Marat Mukhonkin Features Unconventional Activewear
Retro Seaside Editorials
The Barabara Fialho Beach Beauty Shoot Has Fun Without the Sun
Intense Hair-Munching Shoots
The Misse by Niklas Hoejlund Images are a Trip to the Past
Solemn City Boy Editorials
The Edgar Berg Things Are Easy Photoshoot is Withdrawn
Haute Alien Editorials
The Future Perfect WSJ Fashion Story is Sci-Fi Chic
Moody Garden Photgraphy
The Adrien Sahores by Cecile Bortoletti Portrait Series is Dreamy
Boardwalk Buddy Campaigns
The Original Penguin SS 2012 Lookbook is Preppy and Beachy
Chromatic Motherhood Pictorials
The CR Fashion Book 'Lullaby' Editorial Captures Chic Nurturing
90s Attire Editorials
The Romanovsky by Robert Binda Portrait Series is Effortlessly Cool
Lustful Luxury Boudoir Shoots
The Fashion Gone Rogue Karlina Caune Photos are Steamy
Foggy Futuristic Photography
The Vogue Italia 'A Dreamy Winter' Spread is All About White
Formal Cowboy Photography
'The Lonely West' by Jerick Sanchez Plays with a Vintage Western Theme
Palatial South Asian Couture
The CR Fashion Book ‘The White Mughal' Editorial Exudes Rich Cu
Seductive Alleyway Photoshoots
The Sarah Howard 'Almost Famous' Editorial is Grungy and Gorgeous
Fierce Juxtaposing Editorials
The Vogue Taiwan October 2012 Issue Entices with Ornate Garments
Dreamy Duo Fashion Ads
The Max&Co. Fall 2012 Campaign is Captured on a Crisp Autumn Day
Eccentrically Theatrical Editorials
i-D Magazine Summer 2012 Issue Stars Calder Kusmierski Singer
Darkly Glamorous Editorials
Harper’s Bazaar Korea November 2012 Stars Gucci-Clad Lindsey Wix
Boldly Branded Editorials
The Mi Vida Logo Boasts an Array of Couture Designers
Provocative Pig Snout Shoots
Photographer Steve Krait Captures a Seductive Temptress
Romantic Epicurean Baubles
Prada Resort 2012 Jewelry Collection Offers Decadent Delights
Couture Snowboarding Fashion
The Foam Magazine 'Ice, Ice, Baby' Editorial is Mixed and Matched
Demure Damsel Depictions
The Magdalena Chachlica by Koty 2 Editorial is Subtly Gothic
Militant Sci-Fi Editorials
The New World Order SID Fashion Story is Utilitarian
Ombre Retro Coifs
Karolina Waz by Marcin Kempski is Full of Multicolored Designs
Contrasting Subculture Captures
The October 2012 Harper’s Bazaar Russia Issue Blends Mods
Dizzy Color-Clashing Catalogues
The Marc Jacobs Resort 2013 Collection is the Eclectically Elegant
Rebellious Folk Fashion
Country Love by Lukas Dziewic is Stylishly Defiant
Etherial Lakeside Nymphs
The Marie Claire Czech 'Amore Eterno' Editorial is Whimsically Chic
80s Exercise Editorials
The Miss Aerobic Fashion Magazine Photo Shoot is Retro-Infused
Double-Image Lookbooks
The BlackBarrett Spring/Summer Campaign is Twice as Nice
Pensive In-Street Photoshoots
The Under The City Editorial is Thought-Provoking
Sassy Monochrome Captures
Bambi Northwood-Blyth for Dossier Journal Fall 2011 is Vivacious
Militant Officer Editorials
The Blazej by Patryk Rosinski Portrait Series is Retro-Inspired
Coif-Surfing Photo Blogs
Hair Barrels Has Surfers Hitting the Waves of Famous Hairstyles
Retro Masculine Attire
The Julius Ryan Karsten by Advan Matthew Portrait Series is Prim and Proper
Darkly Militant Menswear
The Cellar 10 Men Photoshoot Features an All-Black Wardrobe
Circus Act Editorials
Crystal Renn & Alana Zimmer are Star Performers in Vogue Russia January 2012
Mad Men-Inspired Womenswear
The Stewart Parvin Fall 2011 Couture Collection is 50s-Influenced
Innocent Off-Kilter Shoots
The Marie Claire Wander Lust Editorial Stars Mona Johannesson
Rugged Skiier Catalogs
The Robb Report Winter 2012 Lookbook Captures Cozy Casuals
22 Chic Crystal Renn Captures
From Feasting Photography to Bottomless Monotone Fashion
Mad Hatter Garden Photoshoots
The Harper’s Bazaar Hong Kong More is More Editorial Embodies
Sultry Sun-Drenched Shoots
The Dansk SS 2012 Photo Shoot is Sensual and Risque
Gilded Minimalist Ensembles
The Michael Kors Resort 2013 Collection is Sleek Yet Opulent
Ornate Glamor Editorials
The Ones 2 Watch Grand Bazaar Fashion Story Celebrates Excess
29 Jaw-Dropping Josh Olins Shoots
From Foxy Latina Lookbooks to Lounging Schoolgirl Fashion
Militant Sports Equipment Accessories
The 'SPOORT' FYI Magazine Editorial is Unconventional
Posh Pinstriped Frocks
The Marc Jacobs Spring 2013 Collection Showcases 60s Cool Demeanor
Elegant Vintage Bob Editorials
The 1920s Series by Lenne Chai Recreates Looks of the Early Decades
Aquatic Maldives Fashion
The Onia Resort 2013 Collection is Inspired by Island Life
Menswear-Inspired Suit Styles
The 'Boyish Charm' Design Scene Editorial is Androgynous
Decadent Impromptu Photo Shoots
Blogger Kelly Framel Goes Glam On a Paris Photo-Op
Eccentric Gentleman Portraits
The Brothers in Arms Visual Tales Photoshoot is Eclectic
80s Revival Styles
The Material Girl 'Double Identity' Editorial Reintroduces Old School Outfits
Botanical Beauties Shoots
H&M Conscious Fall 2011 Campaign in Head-to-Toe Floral Prints
Disordered Dinner Party Campaigns
Lanvin Spring Summer 2012 by Steven Meisel is Stylishly Chaotic
Dangerously Glam Editorials
Harper’s Bazaar Singapore 'Art of Darkness' Stars Vera Luijendij
Retro Femme Fatale Photoshoots
The 'Decadent Decay' Series is Dashing and Dilapidated
Globetrotting Americana Editorials
The Harper’s BAZAAR China ‘Coast to Coast’ Sh
Polished Gentleman Portraits
The Cameron McNee Sphere Magazine Editorial is Dapper and Debonair
Luxe Double-Breasted Collections
The Jil Sander Fall 2013 Menswear Collection is Military Inspired
Bat-Like Sunglasses
Anna Zasada by Jacek Zajac is Subtly Sinister and Very Sensual
Feisty Fedora-Clad Supermodels
The Harper’s Bazaar Russia Naomi Campbell Editorial is Timles
Dapper Punk Catwalks
The Colcci Fall/Winter 2013 Collection Marries Classics with a Daring Edge
Crazed Dapper Gentlemen Pictorials
The Dukes Editorial Appears in the October HUgE Magazine
Off-Kilter Artist Advertorials
The Vivienne Westwood Fall/Winter 2012 Campaign is Boldy Eccentric
25 Monochrome Celeb Photoshoots
From Kate Moss to Jared Leto, Black and White Portraits Are Sharp
Luxe Luggage Catalogs
The Loewe Spring/Summer 2013 Lookbook is Dapper and Debonair
Dapper 40s-Inspired Menswear
The Marc Jacobs Spring/Summer 2013 Ready to Wear Collection is Classi
Lavish Vacationing Snapshots
The Harper's Bazaar Korea July 2012 Richardson Photoshoot is Luxe
Surreal Nightmarish Editorials
Jamie Bochert for Last Magazine Spring 2012 in a Fiery Shoot
Minimalist Mime Menswear
The 'Two of a Mind' Avenue Editorial is Classically Chic
30 Sizzling Sigrid Agren Photoshoots
From Vintage Swimwear Editorials to Duo-Dogged Brides
Vibrant Farm Girl Campaigns
Que Duong Captures a Charming Veronica Cheri Campaign
Sleepwear-Inspired Menswear
The Domingo Rodriguez Spring/Summer 2013 Collection is Pajama-Chic
Prismatic Crystalized Wallpapers
The Swarovski Wallpaper Collection Captures the Brand's Tradition
Eccentric Embroidered Menswear
The U.SSKB x Dr. Romanelli Collection is Biker Inspired
Posh 40s Editorials
The 'Color me Beautiful' Series Showcases a Retro High Society
Stoic Vintage Shoots
The Numero Tokyo November 2011 Issue is Dark and Retro
Retro Mirror Captures
Self Portrait by Mazen Abusrour Recreates the Popular Female Obsession
Militant Femme Photoshoots
The Vogue Mexico ‘Al asalto’ Editorial Boasts Vivacious Fas
Clashing Chromatic Editorials
The November 2012 Harper’s BAZAAR Issue Boasts Bursts of Colo
Chic Celebubaby Blogs
Huggies Highchair Critics Tumblr Capitalizes on Baby Celebs
Artful Army Editorials
The Combat Vogue Hommes Japan Photoshoot is Military-Chic
Mother-Daughter Campaigns
Susan Sarandon and Daughter Eva Amurri Star in Ads for Neiman Marcus
Fashionable Voting Campaigns
The Wildfox Says Vote! Ads Targets Young and Stylish Americans
Feathered Militant Ski Wear
The November 2012 Elle Canada Issue Boasts Chilly Weather Coats
Militant Couture Captures
The Dark Side Essential Homme Editorial Features Utilitarian Styles
12 Spellbinding Karlina Caune Photoshoots
From Snoozing Couture Campaigns to Retro Editorials
Snuggling Celebrity Campaigns
Alessandra Ambrosio and Ashton Kutcher for Spring/Summer Colcci 2012
Starlet Tourism Campaigns
Rihanna Encourages Barbados Tourism with an Attractice Video
Crimson-Covered Editorials
The '90s-Inspired Toni Garrn Muse Magazine Fall Shoot Pops with Color
Demure Damsel Portraits
The Richard Niccol 'Tie the Knot' Topshop Collection is Chic and Ladylike
Contrasting Cosmopolitan Photoshoots
The Numero France Nuit Blanche Editorial is Divergent
Dog-Biting Celebrity Captures
Tom Brady for VMAN is Portrayed as the Alpha Male
Celeb-Obsessed Tees
The F****** Y****! x Roberto Piqueras Limited Edition T-shirt is Nostalgic
Antique Moustached Portraits
The Grey F***** Young! Exclusive Captures a True Gentleman
Deceptively Dirty Designer Ads
Marc Jacobs Gets Cheeky in the Jack of All Shades Video
Tough Celebrity Fighter Photoshoots
Chloe Sevigny by Terry Richardson for Out Magazine is Fierce
Mod Vacationing Guides
Cupcakes and Cashmere's 'Traveling Tips' Are Full of Flair