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By photographers David Douglas Duncan, Carl Mydans, Hank Walker and others.
Every weekly issue from the golden age of LIFE magazine from 1936 to 1972 is available on Google books at:
books.google.co.uk/books/about/LIFE.html?id=R1cEAAAAMBAJ&...
Photo by Nina Leen via Life.
From the article:
"WOMEN LOSE POCKETS AND FRILLS TO SAVE FABRICS
Uncle Sam, disguised as Stanley Marcus, of Dallas' Neiman-Marcus, one of America's great fashion stores, last week assumed the role of fashion designer. In a sweeping order affecting all women's and girls' outer wearing apparel, the WPB (War Production Board), of which Mr. Marcus is apparel consultant, decreed to what lengths and width dresses, skirts, coats, suits, sleeves, belts and hems might go. Not so much as the flap of a pocket was overlooked in this order, aimed at 1) getting more garments out of materials available, and 2) preventing obsolescence of styles now current.
All new garments cut from wool after April 9 must conform to the WPB regulations. . . The changes involved as so slight that if the order had been treated like a military secret the layman probably would never have noticed the difference. That is exactly what the government hoped to achieve. The restrictions will save 15% of yardage now used. Categories exempted from WPB restrictions are infants' apparel, bridal gowns, maternity dresses, vestments for religious orders, burial gowns."