When was clothes rationing introduced

People like Digby Morton and Hardy Amies contributed to the scheme by designing a prototype range of clothes. They realised that for a good price you could get some really good quality clothes.

We have a whole plinth in the exhibition devoted to it and when people see the clothes and how well they endure, they will be surprised at how good quality this stuff is. In terms of public perception, the different branches of the armed forces were certainly considered more attractive than others.

The RAF were much luckier; ordinary airmen had a very neat blazer that showed off the shirt and tie and it looked much more dashing. And you could see that through clothing. The Womens Royal Naval Service outfit was however coveted, and the WRNS was the most popular service for women to try to join — even though it was the smallest.

Included here are two types of luminous arm band, luminous discs and button badges, and luminous adhesive tape which could be added to the edges of clothing. The aim was to make the wearer more visible to pedestrians and vehicles in the blackout. But in terms of practical wartime fashions there was a real opportunistic commercialism that developed with retailers responding to wartime conditions and the dangers people were living under, so it was a chance to flog people some potentially useful items.

Luminous buttons, pin-on brooches, luminous handbags and white coloured coats were sold in order for people to be seen in the blackout, which was one of the most invasive things for ordinary people during the war.

But the problem with the blackout was a steep and sudden rise in collisions in the street between cars and pedestrians. As a result some retailers cultivated the desire to incorporate high visibility with accessories that had some panache and style. You see this with respirators; rather than carrying the mask around in a very tedious looking cardboard box with a piece of string, the gas mask handbag with a special compartment for the gas mask became a wartime trend.

Some people wanted a more attractive solution and it reminds you of the ways retailers were trying to appeal to customers to come through the door and spend their money. Jacqmar of London made propaganda scarves from and were based in Mayfair. Jacqmar silk scarves were wonderful and they were quite niche and high end in terms of affordability. They were rationed and required around two clothing coupons; you would have paid quite a fair sum for them. After the end of the Second World War, rationing continued.

In some cases it became stricter after the war. With many men still in the armed forces, an austere economic climate, and a centrally-planned economy under the post-war Labour government, resources were not available to increase production and imports.

Strikes often made things worse. Cheating became widespread, and often the ration books of the dead were kept and used by their relatives. In the Conservative Party played upon public resentment at continued rationing, scarcity, controls, austerity and government bureaucracy.

People had seen how the socialist policies of the Labour Party had failed to alleviate shortages and were ready for alternatives. Their appeal was especially effective to housewives, who found shopping conditions harder after the war than they had been during it. It was alleged that clothing rationing ended because attempts to enforce it were thwarted by massive illegality, including black markets, unofficial trade in clothing coupons, many forged, and bulk thefts of unissued clothes ration books.

Either way, its ending in came too late to save the Labour government. People were fed up of shortages and rationing, and turned to the Conservatives to end them. About the ASI. Eleven million men and women served in the US military during the war, and they all needed uniforms. Clothing using less fabric became fashionable. Suit jackets were fitted, with padded shoulders, and rested between the waist and hip.

Skirts took on a slim silhouette, often with an A-line flare. The peasant look was also popular, but without full skirts and ruffles. Since metal zippers were unavailable, wraparound dresses and skirts were introduced. See my s Fashions Pinterest board for lots of pictures.

Clothes rationing began on June 1, , two years after food rationing started. Clothes rationing ended on 15 March Clothing ration book - Can you spot the two books for children? People were also urged to " Make do and mend " so that clothing factories and workers could be used to make items, such as parachutes and uniforms, needed in the battle against Germany.

Everyone was given a Clothing Book with coloured coupons in it. Every item of clothing was given a value in coupons.