World War II and Nylons Ok so anyone into vintage fashion, it's history as well as knowledge of World War II and it's various effect in the U.S. economy, knows how it effected nylon sales and their use. Interesting how everything seems to effect everything and be apart of an era. Music, fashion, politics, cultures around the world having a common denominator. Entertainment, fashion, movies, etc. During World War II the, in a nutshell the U.S economy was in dire straights. The average person was poor, couldn't afford high fashion or fashion period. Also the clothing makers and store owners couldn't get materials or garments, could barely stay afloat financially, because of the war. Many women were called into duty by our Military. Many housewives and mom's had to enter the work force and perform jobs that only men did. Now they, the women of this country were keeping it going while our men, their men and many woman served in the war. This also effected the bra. Women wore uniforms in the Military and doing various jobs during the war which required uniforms and a sturdy bra underneath. Materials such as silk were used to make numerous Military things. But during WWWII Japan stopped selling silk to the U.S. so the maker of nylons Du Pont made a deal with our Military to use nylon material instead of silk. This is what caused the shortage of panty hose. Already making panty hose since the 30's. In 1939 Du Pont sold as many as 4 million pairs if nylons in a single day! Between 1945 and 1946 there was actually riots over the storage of nylon stockings for women, once war was over, in the U.S. This caused women to fight at the campaign event day. 40,000 women showed up and only 13,000 pairs of nylons. It's was in Pittsburgh. And crime such as robberies occurred down south in Louisiana were people were robbing homes with lot's of stockings. And a killing in Chicago over nylons. Women began to use creams, lotions, stick cakes and painting sems down the back of their legs to create a fake panty hose look. Panty hose were now on the Black Market and sold for $20 a pair. That was during the war. That's why in my article about bullet bra's I mentioned that during WWWII only well to - do, well off and rich women had the luxuries that we now think of as the basics. That changed after the war ended in 1946. Finally every woman would have access and could afford nylons. After the riots and crime ended Du Pont made 30 million pair a month starting March 1946. It was declared by magazine's and newspapers that never in history has a commodity ever received so much free advertising in the history the newspapers industry. Wow! The history of nylon stockings. Incredibly interesting indeed. Du Pont, World War II, the U.S. Military, fashion, housewives, Military women and women in the work force. History is awesome, enlightens many of us, as well as inspires generations. Columnist Dianna Prince Vintage Consultant and Pinup Stylist One of my favorite and prized article's in my series on the history of vintage under garments and lingerie! Thank you to Delicious Dolls Magazine, for my column Pinup Talk by Dianna Prince, and publishing this article. April 2018. Tear sheets, and images from our park shoot. Kara, the official model of The Pinup Master Course and The Dianna Prince Pinup Academy.
Article in my column on the history of WWII and nylons. Styling and photography by Vintage Stylist Dianna Prince Las Vegas Delicious Dolls Magazine Pinup Talk by Dianna Prince
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