| The fashion industry is a cut-throat industry. Often | | | | For instance, women had their eyebrows either |
| aspiring designers can't just climb their way to the | | | | tweezed or painted on very thin and very defined. |
| top, they have to claw their way there, and most | | | | They also wore their lipstick in what was called a |
| never make it. However don't be discouraged, a | | | | "cupid's bow" which was where the |
| handful of them do make it. I think that it would be | | | | upper lip was accentuated rather than the fuller, |
| the more career savvy decision for you to move to | | | | bottom lip. |
| the United States, preferably New York City. | | | | The hair was worn in a loose "finger |
| However, the choice is yours. Montreal and Toronto | | | | wave." If you really want to see a true lady of |
| are both modern, great cities that I'm sure would | | | | the 1940's, I suggest you rent the movie |
| have plenty of opportunities. However, if you really | | | | "Chinatown," Faye Dunaway's character |
| want this, my advice would be to move to NYC. I | | | | Evelyn really captures a woman of the 1940's. |
| don't really know if successful European and | | | | Back to clothing, silk stockings were a wardrobe |
| American designers travel to Canada to help | | | | staple for any 1940's woman. However, the United |
| students, but I'm sure if you enroll in a fine design | | | | States was rationing silk, being in the midst of World |
| school in Canada you would have some designer | | | | War II. So the only silk stockings woman could get |
| guests, as most schools do. | | | | their hands on had a very noticeable line down the |
| The International Academy of Design and | | | | back of them. In order to hide this, women would |
| Technology (located in both Toronto and Montreal), | | | | take a permanent marker and draw down the back |
| the Ontario College of Art and Design, the Seneca | | | | of their legs in order to hide the large run in their |
| College of Applied Arts & Technology, and the | | | | stockings. |
| Superior Fashion School of Montreal are all great | | | | The basic silhouette for women from the 40's was |
| schools that you might want to look into, if you | | | | broad shoulders, a small corseted waist and full hips. |
| haven't already. I have no idea as to what your odds | | | | Fabrics were very light as many new synthetics |
| are when it comes to working with designers like Dior | | | | were being introduced. Also, while Hollywood glamour |
| and Dolce and Gabbing, nobody can really determine | | | | was very 'in', the US was at war at the time, |
| that. | | | | rationing was in effect and many women were not |
| It's all really a matter of how badly you want it, and | | | | able to afford things like pantyhose and stockings. |
| how hard you are willing to work. I don't really think | | | | One thing women did at the time was draw a line of |
| the five best fashion jobs in Canada differ from the | | | | the back of the leg to make it look like they were |
| five best fashion jobs in any other country. Also, I | | | | wearing stockings, even if they weren't. (silk |
| don't think anyone can determine what the five best | | | | stockings had seams). Shoes had a heel and a slight |
| fashion jobs are in any major country/city, as it is all | | | | platform. Round toes, peep toes and ankle straps |
| just a matter of taste. Merchandising, marketing, | | | | were common. If you're looking for famous 40's |
| photography, journalism....the list is endless. Fashion in | | | | women to model your look after I'd look for images |
| Canada is nowhere near as in demand fashion is in | | | | of Veronica Lake, Rita Hayworth or Ingrid Bergman. |
| Europe and the USA. If you want the REAL fashion | | | | All had the classic '40's' look. |
| industry, head to New York, Paris, or Milan. | | | | One of the most effective ways of communicating |
| The 1940's was a very glamorous era in the history | | | | 40's fashion is through hair and make-up. Hair was |
| of fashion. The stars of the day that you would | | | | worn long, smooth with intricate finger waves. |
| probably be interested in researching would be: | | | | Make-up was striking and simple. A dramatically |
| Katharine Hepburn, Gary Cooper, Joan Crawford, | | | | arched brow, liquid black liner (ONLY on the upper lid) |
| Spencer Tracy, Vivien Leigh, Judy Garland, Cary | | | | and bright classic red lipstick. But very matte, no |
| Grant, Lauren Bacall, and Humphrey Bogart. Each of | | | | gloss ever. You mentioned the New Look, but that |
| these stars had a style all their own. Kate Hepburn, | | | | style didn't debut until the late 40's and didn't become |
| especially helped usher in a new style, in that she | | | | more popular until the 50's. With the new look |
| always wore slacks, she was hardly ever seen in | | | | shoulder silhouettes became more 'soft', the waist |
| gowns or skirts, this was extremely rare for that | | | | was worn more tightly corseted and hips became |
| day, she was definitely ahead of her time. Women of | | | | even fuller. |
| the 1940's emulated what they saw on the screen. | | | | |