Story: Fashion and textile design

Dressing up during the war, 1942

Dressing up during the war, 1942

American troops were stationed in New Zealand between 1942 and 1944, during the Second World War. This was a boon to local fashion designers because servicemen bought garments for their New Zealand girlfriends. It is not known whether any of these women attending a dance at Wellington's Majestic Cabaret in 1942 are wearing dresses made by local designers, but it is possible – American servicemen were generous buyers of women's evening wear. 

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, E. M. Alderdice Collection
Reference: PAColl-0089-1-06

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Kerryn Pollock, 'Fashion and textile design - Fashion designers emerge, 1940s', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/44285/dressing-up-during-the-war-1942 (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Kerryn Pollock, published 22 Oct 2014