Wartime Style: Fashion and American Culture During 20th Century Conflicts

This work is a comparative study of the three ＂great＂ American wars of the 20th century: World War I, World War II and Vietnam. The book explores several aspects of American popular culture, like fashion, film and societal mores. While a number of books have covered fashion during individual wars, this is the first study to compare several major conflicts, drawing some conclusions regarding the lasting influences of wardrobe over an entire century.

This book provides short background information for each war, briefly covering earlier conflicts that shaped the hostilities of the 20th century. Although the emphasis is on women’s clothing, participation and service, men are not ignored. Their fashions not only speak to the times, but the enormity of their sacrifices.

Lora Ann Sigler is professor emerita of art history at California State University. She lives in San Pedro, California.