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Julie Summers
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Fashion on the Ration: Style in the Second World War Kindle Edition

by Julie Summers (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 169 ratings
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In September 1939, just three weeks after the outbreak of war, Gladys Mason wrote briefly in her diary about events in Europe: 'Hitler watched German siege of Warsaw. City in flames.' And, she continued, 'Had my wedding dress fitted. Lovely.'

For Gladys Mason, and for thousands of women throughout the long years of the war, fashion was not simply a distraction, but a necessity - and one they weren't going to give up easily. In the face of bombings, conscription, rationing and ludicrous bureaucracy, they maintained a sense of elegance and style with determination and often astonishing ingenuity. From the young woman who avoided the dreaded 'forces bloomers' by making knickers from military-issue silk maps, to Vogue's indomitable editor Audrey Withers, who balanced lobbying government on behalf of her readers with driving lorries for the war effort, Julie Summers weaves together stories from ordinary lives and high society to provide a unique picture of life during the Second World War.

As a nation went into uniform and women took on traditional male roles, clothing and beauty began to reflect changing social attitudes. For the first time, fashion was influenced not only by Hollywood and high society but by the demands of industrial production and the pressing need to 'make-do-and-mend'. Beautifully illustrated and full of gorgeous detail, Fashion on the Ration lifts the veil on a fascinating era in British fashion.

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  1. Print length
    241 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Profile Books
  5. Publication date
    March 5, 2015
  6. File size
    7898 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Not Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00QFXBBLI
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Profile Books; Main edition (March 5, 2015)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 5, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 7898 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 241 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 169 ratings

About the author

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Julie Summers

Julie Summers

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Julie Summers was born in Liverpool but grew up in Cheshire. Her first book, Fearless on Everest, published in 2000, was a biography of her great uncle, Sandy Irvine, who died on Everest with Mallory in 1924. Her grandfather, Philip Toosey, was the man behind the Bridge on the River Kwai and her biography of him appeared in 2005. Fascinated by how people cope with extreme situations, she has turned her attention on the effect of the Second World war on non-combatants - the women and children. Recently she published Fashion on the Ration, a book that looks at what we wore during the Second World War. Her book Jambusters, the story of the WI in wartime, has inspired ITV's brand new 2015 drama series HOME FIRES, featuring Samantha Bond, Francesca Annis and many others.

She describes herself as a biographer and historian but the most important thing for her is to be a story teller. www.juliesummers.co.uk

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
169 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Quilt Lady
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating
Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2023
Verified Purchase
This wonderful book gives you a window into the lives of women in WWII. Rationing, fashion, beauty and how to manage all during wartime England.
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Nadine L Stewart
5.0 out of 5 stars this is a good substitute.
Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2015
Verified Purchase
Comprehensive study of the period. If you can't get to the exhibit at the Imprerial War Museum, this is a good substitute.
4 people found this helpful
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Celtic Myth
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting history of a special time and place.
Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2016
Verified Purchase
A fascinating look at the ingenious ways British women managed to keep up their morale and appearances despite rationing and austerity during World War Two. "Make Do and Mend" became a way of life for the times and has endured in many ways right through to the present time. I was six years old when the war started and by the time I was eight, along with most girls of that time, I could knit socks on four needles and turn bed-sheets sides to middles and cuffs and collars on shirts to get double use out of them, so this may bring back similar memories for others who lived through those years and times...
10 people found this helpful
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Sis Steele
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for vintage clothing fans
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2015
Verified Purchase
Excellent view of a time when ingenuity mattered, life still went on in spite of war, and new fabrics were created.
5 people found this helpful
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Becky Merager
3.0 out of 5 stars I was disappointed The type is so small it is difficult to ...
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2017
Verified Purchase
I was disappointed The type is so small it is difficult to read. Very few pics to illustrate
7 people found this helpful
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Rhonda Lomazow
5.0 out of 5 stars ... fashionistas or anyone who is a history buff will love this book
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2016
Verified Purchase
Fabulous book fashionistas or anyone who is a history buff will love this book,
4 people found this helpful
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Heather Steel
4.0 out of 5 stars This makes one aware of the mammoth task Britain faced ...
Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2017
Verified Purchase
This makes one aware of the mammoth task Britain faced to ensure equitable access for all to increasingly scarce resources, and the proactive ways they went about it. The logistics as revealed in this work are breathtaking. Also of interest to design students, is utility as the source of what has become characteristic British style. Not an in-depth study, but still very insightful to especially later generations not acquainted with WWII.
4 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Book
Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2017
Verified Purchase
Interesting read. Subject that is not normally discussed when writing about WW 2.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

J. Lewis
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 15, 2021
Verified Purchase
This book is extremely informative and absolutely fascinating I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the history of fashion or wartime history. It is very “readable “ and I whizzed through it, I would not regard it as exhaustive, rather, a good initial read and a springboard to further research if one wanted to explore the subject further and aspects in greater depth, for example the involvement of couture designers in the development of “utility” clothing and also the export of British fashion during the war years are two areas I think it would be fascinating to discover more about. I particularly liked the use of diaries and letters written by the public to illustrate the affect of “make do and mend” and how people managed to prolong the life of their clothes by remaking them into different items. I found myself wondering whilst reading the book, what became of these people and was delighted to find that this was included at the end.
I have previously read “ The Uninvited Guests “ by the same author, the story of some of the country houses requisitioned during the war, I recommend both books very highly.
2 people found this helpful
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Jl Mcdonnell
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful history book
Reviewed in Australia on July 18, 2019
Verified Purchase
A reminder about the resourcefulness of people, and especially women. This account brought home to me not just the historical facts of WW2 to the allies but how those facts affected everyday citizens.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars WWII Civillian clothing
Reviewed in Canada on December 13, 2015
Verified Purchase
A good overview of what it took to stay clothed during WWII. More pictures would have been nice, especially of the results of make do and mend ethos.
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Reading Revelations
4.0 out of 5 stars Well researched
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 30, 2021
Verified Purchase
Very well researched with a lot about rationing and the policies and reasoning behind it. Not as much detail on the actual fashions of the day as I was hoping but still a very good book.
2 people found this helpful
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Judith Burley
4.0 out of 5 stars A very good look at history
Reviewed in Canada on December 21, 2015
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed this look at a period I did to live through. It caused m to reality these people lived through.
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