1940s shorts

The 1940s were not the first decade to reveal women's legs with a pair of shorts but they did propel it into popularity, especially with you...

1940's shorts

While there is much to be gleaned from the sartorial inspiration provided by yesteryear starlets and staged mid-century fashion shoots in magazines (and goodness knows I adore both of these things unceasingly), my biggest source of vintage fashion inspiration has - and I believe always will be - the looks that real everyday women like myself were sporting during my favourite decades. I'm intrigued to see how those on a budget dressed, to know how they did their hair, what shoes they opted…

1940s simplicity pattern

Patterns from the Past resells original out-of-print vintage sewing patterns from the 1920s to modern day. Find your next sewing project or inspiration today!

The 1950s decade was one of the first that embraced women wearing shorts for more than just beach wear or for pinup girls. Women's 1950s shorts came in several lengths and styles to fit a variety of leisure activities women enjoyed. The shortest length was the shorties short, followed by an above the knee Bermuda,

Short And Shorts - 1941, LIFE Good shot of fit of 1940s shorts.

Shorts were not a new item in women's 1940s wardrobes, but they weren't very common. The 1930s style short had a high waist with wide waistband and pleated legs, giving it the look of a tennis skirt/skort. This continued to be the trend in the early 1940s for women gradually slimming the leg and bringing