The practical suit

The suit was very much a staple in the wardrobe of women in the 40’s, as it had been in the decades before and after. You got married in a suit, you worked in a suit, and you shopped in a suit, travelled in it or took a country walk. It could be dressed up with a hat and jewelry, thus stretching the wardrobe for those on a meager budget. In short, it was a very practical combination of garments, the most common combination being a jacket and a skirt.

Coco Chanel in the 1940's.

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A suit can also be in three pieces, with a matching coat. (Add a waistcoat and you get four...)

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Of course, it doesn't have to be a jacket with a skirt to add up to a suit, it can be with a dress too, like this lovely design from 1951 by Mollie Parnis.

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And, for a woman, a suit doesn't have to be made in the same fabric top to bottom, like this one by Balmain in 1949.

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The most classic of suits. With small variations, this style can be found in most decades.

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A more outrageous design that probably wasn't worn by the average woman. It's nice, though.

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Grey and pink is a lovely combination.

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But so is navy and grey.

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And pink and black is a rather classic combination too.

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New Look

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