Motherhood & Glamour in War

If the average woman from the 1940s went shopping in the average store today, she would likely be shocked. Fashions change, to be sure, but she would probably be astonished by how casual our appearances are.

The majority of women before World War II were meticulous about dress, hairstyles, makeup and nails. Even at home, gorgeous robes covered pajamas and house slippers came with heels. Of course, not everyone could afford these luxuries at the end of the Great Depression but most women made what we would call a concerted effort.

Beauty on the Ration

When war broke out, rather than ditch this effort, they redoubled it. Even with rationing and the general lack of makeup, soap and hair care products, a huge emphasis was placed on good grooming. In fact, taking care of one’s appearance became a patriotic “duty.”

When mascara, eyeliner and eyebrow makeup were unavailable, women burned corks and used the soot mixed with water. When rouge was nowhere to be found, they used slices of beet. Eyeshadow was used minimally but lipstick reigned supreme—and it had to be red. Red lipstick became synonymous with victory. There was even a rumor that Hitler hated makeup, particularly red lipstick. Governments promoted the use of red lipstick. Just think of it—a war raging on six continents and lipstick was that important! But those little scarlet and crimson tubes represented the fighting spirit of the Allies, strength and determination in the face of an enemy bent on domination. They really did their part.

The Crowning Glory of Hair

Almost as important as red lipstick was a neat, attractive hairstyle. Millions of women were joining the workforce during the war years. Those going into the military followed strict protocols for hair style and length. Those working in factories or farms needed first to be sure their hair was safe from machinery. Scarves and snoods kept hair safe not only from machines, but also from dirt and pollution. When going out, hair was usually uncovered but still arranged in an updo. Victory rolls were as much a part of the era as red lipstick. And, shiny hair was becoming ever more desirable with the recent advent of detergent-based shampoo to replace soap.

Wartime Clothing Shortages

Clothes were rationed just as food was, and limits were placed on the amount of fabric and buttons that were allowed. Even with the extremely limited points available for buying clothes, having them didn’t guarantee the needed items would be in stock. People who couldn’t afford to have shoes resoled put cardboard in their shoes. Men who were away at war sometimes came home to find their wives had reconstructed one of their suits into a skirt and jacket. Knitting and crocheting were popular pastimes. “Make Do and Mend” were the order of the day.

Silk stockings became impossible to find because the silk was needed for parachutes. Wallace Hume Carothers had been working on a new polymer that transformed the world when his nylon went into production in 1939. Nylon stockings were all the rage that year at the World’s Fair in New York…and then the nylon was also needed for the war effort. Women—who didn’t want to go out without stockings—were forced to resort to whatever method they could find to mimic stockings. There are many accounts of women who stood on the kitchen table while someone drew fake stocking seams on their legs. There is even an account of a group of women who went to an auto detailer and had their “seams” painted on!

Jasmine (this one a gift from my own mother) could be infused into homemade beauty preparations.

Skincare, the Basis for Beauty

World War II and the years shortly before it were monumental for the cosmetics industry. Elizabeth Arden, Helena Rubenstein, Max Factor and several others had developed products and services under stiff competition just before the war. They all found themselves working hard to keep their businesses afloat as war, the movement of millions of people, and supply chain interruptions shifted daily routines.

Simplicity and cleanliness became the foremost goals. Soap could be hard to get because the fats used in its production were needed to make glycerin for munitions, but this was an era of cleansing until the skin was squeaky clean. Cold cream was also popular, but women wanted soap to be sure every last bit of dirt, pollution and grime were removed from their skin. Moisturizing creams—besides leaving a light film of cold cream or vanishing cream on the skin—were desirable, along with the newly developed deodorant. And no woman could overlook dental hygiene and nail care. Polish was often neutral, sometimes red, and nails were generally at a length that wouldn’t interfere with work.

Motherhood in War

Women had so many roles to fill during World War II but nothing could stop the role of caring for children. For some women the war brought a brutal separation from their children. Nearly a million children were evacuated from London because of the Blitz. They were taken by train to countryside towns and villages, and waited on platforms for families to choose them. Some were loved and treated well, some were not. Women whose children remained at home cared for them in spite of war work and every other additional task added to a homemaker’s day. In the United States, school children were busy contributing to the war effort by collecting scrap paper and metal. The war brought its own particular challenges to mothers around the world, and there are countless recollections of the sacrifices they made, right up to bluffing Nazi officers in order to feed their children. And apparently, they did it with panache.

My own mother was born right in the middle of the war. And on this Mother’s Day, words fail to express the love in my heart for her. And for her mother, who was one of these women who persevered through terrible trials. They have proved their mettle. May such women be an inspiration for those of us today.

References

Courses in Charm advertisement. Life, April 16, 1945. Volume 18 No. 16, p. 73.

Drene shampoo advertisement. Good Housekeeping, March 1944. Volume 118 No. 3.

Lady Esther 4-Purpose Face Cream advertisement. Country Gentleman, April 1944. Volume 114 No. 4, p. 95.

Elizabeth Arden advertisement, unknown source.

Yardley advertisement. Life, April 23, 1945. Volume 18 No. 17, p. 17.

Eureka advertisement, unknown source.

 One of my mother’s favorite Bible verses that she, ever hospitable, has mentioned in conversation several times throughout my life:

“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.”

Hebrews 13:2