From Churchill’s “Blood, toil, tears and sweat” speech in 1940, in which he asked the House to declare its confidence in the Government, to Cliff Richard and The Shadows “Travellin’ Light” in 1959 there are rarely two decades that experienced such diversity.
The World War 2 year of January 1940 saw the first rationing of food in the form of bacon, butter and sugar.
Conversely, and due to a boom in the post-war global economy, Britain saw a dramatic rise in the standard of living leading the then Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, to make a 1957 speech that “most of our people have never had it so good”.
From the Women’s Land Army of 1940, and homogeneous dungarees, to the 1950s fashion silhouette fuelled by a wave “goodbye” to rationing.
From longline bras and girdles to circular knit seamless stockings. From bullet holes to bullet bras.
From “The Great Dictator”; a 1940 political satire comedy drama starring Charlie Chaplin, to the 1959 Marilyn Monroe classic “Some Like it Hot”.
Two decades a second apart but; from 1940 to 1959, years that could hardly be further apart.
1940; one year after the end of the “Great Depression”. 1959; only two years before President John F. Kennedy declared the start of the “Space Race” to the Moon.
Fashion changed. Films changed. Fred Astaire changed.
@Rations2R_n_R we look forward to our journey through the 1940s and 1950s.
Our excursion shall be comprehensive although mainly focused on fashion; both in terms of outerwear, underwear and accessories.
We shall adorn and embellish our journey with the arts; in the forms of dance, film and stage.
A guided charabanc tour through the Golden decades of the 1940s and 1950s where Gentlemen were true Gentlemen and it was not viewed as politically incorrect to treat a Lady as a Lady. Conversely the WW2 years saw women take on roles previously restricted to men; and laying the tenuous foundations of a path; although three-quarters of a century later a still incomplete path, towards equality in the workplace.
We would accept that we may be looking at the era through rose tinted glasses as much of the time was spent in conflict. However the fashion of the time is still easily procured; both online and in stores, and many movies and musical compositions have attained a legendary status.
We look forward to opening our door in the spirit of the era and extending the heartiest of welcomes.
Rations2 Rock "n" Roll 