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Imperial War Museum, London, jusqu’au 31 août 2015Some of the themes developed in the exhibition&#160;Functional and practical clothes: During the war, “it became increasingly important for clothes to be practical as well as stylish”. For example, handbags with special compartments to carry a gas mask were produced.A fashion innovation imposed by wartime conditions: the “siren-suit”: “A new all-in-one garment called a “siren suit” was also introduced as suitable wear for the air raid shelter” (because it could be pulled on quickly over nights clothes to go outside and escape the air raid shelter). The “siren-suit” has puffed shoulders, bell-botton cuffs to the legs, a fitted hood, a detachable belt and piping decoration.[caption id="attachment_2019" align="aligncenter" width="221"] A "siren-suit"[/caption]Uniforms : Women (in Britain’s wartime services) in uniforms, photo by Cecil Beaton which shows the variety and attractiveness of uniformsClothing rationing : Clothing rationing was announced at 9am on Sunday 1 June 1941 by Olivier Lyttelton president of the board of trade[caption id="attachment_2022" align="aligncenter" width="236"] Clothing rationing[/caption]Clothing rationing…even in Vogue[caption id="attachment_2023" align="aligncenter" width="255"] Rationing in Vogue[/caption]Creative ways to beat rationing restrictions : how to learn to repair, renovate and make your own clothes ? How to create new clothes from old?Thanks to “Make do and M booklet; series of instructional leaflets featuring cartoon character Mrs Sew and Sew”, Sewing class, “Make do and Mend fashion shows” during which women show off the results of  their creativity.[caption id="attachment_2024" align="aligncenter" width="333"] Make do and Mend[/caption][caption id="attachment_2025" align="aligncenter" width="327"] “Make do and Mend fashion shows”[/caption]A (fantastic) film presented in the exhibition about "Mrs Sew and Sew"  Beauty during the war: beauty as duty: Make-up, nail care and hair styling are still important even while on military duty or in the munitions factoriesExamples of messages women can read in the magazines and ad: “To work for victory is not to say goodbye to charm. For good looks and good morale are the closest of allies” (Yardley costmetics ad, 1945)“During these rather difficult days, it is not only a woman’s pleasure to look her best –it’s her downright duty as well" (Bear brand strockings ad)Textiles and patriotismAfter the war : In 1945, patriotic clothing and accessories that celebrate victory are produced, but the end of the war did not mean the end of austerity and of restrictionsIn 1947, the New Look of Christian Dior is widely reported in Britain’s press. The Picture Post published the article “Paris forgets this in 1947”... And also lots of documents about the Society of  London Fashion Designers created in 1942 to represent the collective interests of the fashion industry of Britain ; The Utility Scheme (Civilian clothing 1941 CC41)…In conclusion... A very interesting exhibition with lots of documents (clothes, textiles, accessories, magazines, private archives, audio, video...). Only 2 regrets : no exhibition catalogue, why ? And why so few information about the displayed documents (place of origin, owner, date...)A lire avant ou après l'exposition : Julie Summers, Fashion on the Ration, published in association with IWM, 2015Géraldine Howell, Wartime fashion. From Haute couture to Homemade, 1939-1945, Bloomsbury, 2012