Weekend Eye Candy - Charles James, 1940

Starting in 1933, Charles James showed variations on culottes in his collections.  These leg-wrapping garments always caused quite a sensation. This version, from 1940, shows his brilliant "Figure-8" skirt.  While the piece looks like a skirt, you can see how it is actually one pant leg with the rest of the fabric wrapping the other leg and buttoning at the front waist.  The skirt is cut on the bias from a single pattern piece that is shaped somewhat like a kidney bean.  It is paired with a bare midriff top and gold accessories including gold platform shoes.

Weekend Eye Candy - June Bride, 1940

Bride Barbara Cushing (later to be commonly known as Babe Paley) wore this exquisite silk jersey bridal gown by New York designer Mabel McIlbain Downs in 1940.  Downs was one of several American designers who became better known after WWII essentially shut down Paris couture. 

Photo by Horst.

Weekend Eye Candy - Lucille Ball, 1940

Lucille Ball wears a plush white fox fur jacket, 1940.

Summer Dresses - 1940

From the last French collections before the fall of Paris to the Germans. Hemlines are much shorter and will continue to inch up as fabric restrictions force changes in design. Here, dresses for the heat of summer from 1940.

Blue and white rayon print dress by Lucien Lelong.

Marcelle Dormoy dress in white and black organza.

Maggy Rouff printed rayon crepe dress.

Jean Patou rayon dress in two tones of green.

Robert Piguet dress in black faille with a pink and black striped vest.

Photos 1, 3, and 4 by Joflé. Photo 2 by Studio Iris. Photo 5 by Robert Rigassi.

Corsetry - 1940

"Long and lean", "slim silhouette" and "slender lines" are words used over and over in a magazine from 1940. To look her best in these fashions, every woman wore a good corset like the ones shown here.
Nemo Sensations girdle and bra made with Lastex yarn, will "mold a new and lovelier you".

Le Gant laced "Sta-Up-Top" girdle extends above the waist to "erase the spare tire and give the long lines of fashion".

Gossard all-in-one gives a "long concave curve from the bust to the hip bone. The pull of the elastic straps tapers the waist".

With this Charmis combination, "you are assured of a firm yet supple line, the latest look". Note the ruffle at the hem of this corset and the Le Gant above. I've never seen this before, but the ruffle is there to cover the garters so they don't show through. Great idea!