Here’s one of my wartime Utility Suits. They were called this because they were made in a very basic way – without expensive notions, simple design and conserving on fabric by making hems shorter. This was a way of supporting the war effort so that metal, wool and silk (plus certain other things) could be conserved for making equipment, parachutes and uniforms. Women wore these less-expensive costumes to save money and as a demonstration of their patriotic duty. This example was still made with excellent tailoring and good quality wool gabardine.

I said good-bye to her yesterday (sob) but I still have so many beautiful post-war and early 1950’s skirt suits. Somethin’s gotta give . . . . . . . . . . . … The archive clean-out and new discoveries go on, so stay tuned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MORGANA MARTIN, THE MAGICVINTAGESPY

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