Download Black and White PDF | More Paper Dolls from the Cut & Color Couture Series
Today’s 1940s style paper doll happened because I had access to full digitized sears catalogs from 1942. I don’t know who put together the website simply called Catalogs & Wishbooks, but I am grateful to them on a regular basis. It is a collection of dully digitized catalogs from major department stores- Sears, JCPenney, Montgomery Ward. You can search the catalogs or to just look through. It’s simple and very very internet old school. I love it so much. It’s why this paper doll exists, because it gave me access to fully digitized catalogs of the era.
To summarize the era very briefly, World War II really influenced women’s fashion in the 1940s (not surprising, I know). As resources became scarce due to wartime rationing, practicality and functionality took precedence over extravagance. This led to the emergence of simpler silhouettes, with tailored suits and dresses becoming popular. Women’s outfits often featured shoulder pads, defined waists and just longer than knee length skirts. Plus, military inspired details like patch pockets and shoulder details were popular. Fabric rationing created “efficient” dresses, particularly in England where rationing was most intense. There’s also a lot of whimsy in hats at this period.
Our 1940s style paper doll has dresses, hats, purses, swimsuit, and shoes which all come from the Sears 1942 catalogs. From the Spring Summer Catalog, on page 195, there is the swimsuit (The white one) and the shoes on page 146. I mean, I can’t exactly grab a swimsuit from the Winter catalog. Her hat comes from the Winter catalog on page 119 (I avoided trying to draw the net on the hat.) The dresses all come from the Winter Catalog on page 61, on page 71 and on page 47.
It’s getting chilly up here as winter sets in. I sort of love this time of year- the leaves turn and everything sort of moves toward preparing for winter. The seasons dictate life in Alaska, which is one to the things I really like about it. You can not ignore the seasonal change up here. Winter is around the corner.