Something very exciting has happened! I was given the opportunity to costume "The Philadelphia Story" for a local community theater and I am beyond enthused to begin my costuming preparation. It's not every day that you get to make a group of people wear historic dress (I truly mean historic dress! Not historic costumes). I intend to dress them in appropriate under garments to provide proper silhouettes, and they will be HAPPY about it!

Thus begins my research into the past and how the historic events played a part in the evolution of fashion in the United States between 1935 and 1940. It was a tumultuous time and clothing styles drastically changed. Men and women would decide not to emulate the famous actors and actresses in the golden age of Hollywood and instead move toward the more frugal and multi-purpose clothing of war-time America.

A lot happened in 5 years, including:

• In 1935, the Nazi party formally revoked German citizenships for all Jews.
• In 1936, Edward VIII abdicating the throne of England to marry his American mistress, Mrs. Wallace-Simpson.
• In 1937, the Hindenburg exploded in NJ, killing 36 people.
• In 1939, England and France declared war on Germany.
• In 1939, Otto Hahn, Lise Meitner and Fritz Strassman discovered nuclear fission.

Meanwhile, America was still recovering from The Great Depression (1929). Hemlines dropped and waistlines rose as fashion moved away from the frivolity of the 1920s and people became more invested in clothing with versatility. More women entered the workforce and, as such, their clothes became more angular and tailored. The release of "Gone with the Wind" in 1939 inspired fashion houses to release more feminine and romantic clothing and sewing patterns, due to the film's massive popularity.