Your Guide to 1940s Dresses Formal

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All about 1940s dresses formal, including 1940s style grecian gowns, evening skirts & tops, victorian & princess ballgowns, ruched shirred & pintuck dresses & fitted dresses.

This post is all about 1940s Dresses Formal

This is part of our 1940s dresses series.

Other posts in the series:
Your Guide to the 1940s Cocktail Dress
1940s Summer Dress – Your Casual Vintage Style Guide
The Complete Guide to Womens 1940s Casual Dresses
Your Complete Guide to the Vintage 1940s Swing Dress

1940s dresses for formal occasions ranged from simple and classic to fabulously ornate.

Often the ladies’ dress choice hinged on how rich she was, or how deep her pockets were.

Ladies adding glitz to their formal evening dresses with chic decorative elements (such as sequins, beads, and applique).

Of course their dresses were also paired with stunning jewelry and glam accessories (pumps, fur stoles, gloves, etc).

The most popular dress silhouettes for formal dresses in the 1940s ranged from sheath (long vertical profile), to a line, to ballgown styles.

The most iconic 1940s formal dress styles were cut in these flattering shapes, and included Grecian Gowns, Evening Skirts & Tops, Victorian / Princess Ballgowns, Ruched, Shirred, & Pintuck Dresses, and Fitted Dresses:

“Always dress like you’re going somewhere better.” — Andrew Wiggins

That (in a word) sums up how the 1940s did formal dress styles.

1940s Evening Gown: Grecian Gowns

The Grecian style dress was cut from a sheath or column silhouette–in other words, a fitted vertical profile.

In the 1940s, this was a popular formal gown style for fancy evening events and parties that did not require dancing.

The dramatic pointy shoulder pads were a key element in creating a statuesque form.

Embellished buttons and sparkle added plenty of glam to the dress.

Silver, gold, and black belts were also popular choices to accent the waistline.

1940s Evening Gown – Grecian Gown: Barbara Stanwyck 40s Style

“Just be truthful—and if you can fake that, you’ve got it made.” — Barbara Stanwyck

Barbara Stanwyck oozes sophistication and Old Hollywood glam in this stunning Grecian styled early 1940s dress.

She wears this gorgeous dress in the 1943 drama and romance Flesh and Fantasy starring opposite Charles Boyer.

Notice the long elegant silhouette of the dress.

This is because it is fashioned with an extended vertical profile.

The gold applique on the bodice adds a touch of elegance to the simple white fabric and perfectly matches her dramatic jewelry.

1940s Dresses Formal – Grecian Gown: Rita Hayworth 40s Vintage Style

Rita Hayworth once again sizzles wearing a glittering Grecian inspired 1940s dress in Gilda.

Notice how this dazzling vintage gown incorporates some of the classic Grecian elements–the long vertical column–and pointy shoulder pads, and gold embellishments, but then adds a few unexpected design elements that really takes it over the top, like the all-over sequins and mermaid trumpet train.

The classic blending of the white and gold elements–all in glitters–is such a delightful and glamorous 1940s spin on Grecian style.

Did someone say Vintage Glam?

Other posts you might like:
19 Stunning Vintage Glam Outfits

1940s Dresses Formal – Grecian Gown: Katherine Hepburn 40s Vintage Fashion

This outfit is regal elegance in the most classic sense!

In 1941 Katharine Hepburn balances lovers and turning heads in her one of a kind Grecian dress in the Philadelphia Story.

Notice how this 1940s dress blends the Grecian elements (white drapey dress and gold / jeweled applicque) into an a line cut dress.

We love the unique style blending!

“Good girls go to heaven. Bad girls go everywhere. ” — Katharine Hepburn

Other posts you might like:
The Katharine Hepburn Style Guide – Her Vintage Tomboy Fashion

1940s Special Occasions Dresses: Evening Skirts and Tops

Pairing a long ballgown skirt with a elegant blouse or glitzy sweater or jacket was also a favorite 1940s formal style.

Not only could one mix and match a million different styles, it was also practical for the pocketbook.

Why? Well, a lady could use the same blouse in the daytime and simply swap out the skirt for ballgown style, and voilà… say hello to your slinky formal evening dress.

Not only that, but since many of the ladies in the 40s were talented seamstresses, they could always shorten the long ballgown skirt, and hello they now had a stunning A-line day skirt.

Blouses, slinky short sleeve sweaters, and fitted blazers or cardigans would be glammed up with lace, sequins, beads, and other glitzy applique.

This paired with statement jewelry or a broach, and the only thing missing was… that glass of bubbly.

Talk about a timeless red carpet style for any special event!

1940s Dresses Formal – Evening Skirts & Tops: Carole Landis Vintage Style

Carole Landis looks absolutely sensational in her glittering evening skirt and top!

And oh my, don’t you love the unexpected color pairing of the gold and mint green?  Notice the perfect fit and her high heels peeping out from her long skirt.

In the 1941 comedy romance Moon over Miami, she and her sister’s characters are trying to land rich husbands, after becoming almost penniless.

Even though her top is spun from a glittery gold material, statement sequins take it to another whole level.

1940s Evening Gowns – Evening Skirts & Tops: Ingrid Bergman 40s Style

In 1946 Ingrid Bergman looks absolutely radiant in the white evening skirt and top.

Dressed like this, it’s no wonder the Nazis leader (who falls helplessly in love with her) doesn’t suspect she is an American spy.

Alfred Hitchcock’s edge of your seat thriller Notorious is a must see for it’s 40s fashion and killer plot!

Oh, and did we mention that her real love interest in the film is played by none other than the gorgeous Cary Grant?

For this 1940s formal dress style, a fitted white blazer is paired with a matching ballgown skirt in white.

Ingrid Bergman pairs a dazzling diamond wreath sparkler necklace of pear and round-cut Harry Winston diamonds.

Yes, those are real!

The other 40s accessories that add unmistakable glam to this outfit?

White gloves and her stunning fur wrap, also in white.

Other posts you might like:
Here’s Looking at You, Kid! Ingrid Bergman’s Sensational 1940s Fashion in Casablanca

1940s Formal Gowns: Victorian / Princess Ballgown

The release of the American epic Gone with the Wind in 1939 took the world by storm.

We love how it influenced the styles for ballgowns and formal dresses in the 1940s!

Suddenly the “Victorian era style” (or should we say Cinderella?) fashion was super popular for evening dresses, especially with young ladies and teenagers.

Fitted bodices with short sleeves, were paired with voluminous floor length full skirts.

These were just perfect for twirling in a waltz or flirting across your fan from that handsome someone at the high society events.

Notice how these voluminous silhouettes contrast with the 1940s vertical form favored for Grecian formal dresses.

1940s Formal Dresses – Victorian Ballgown: Vivian Leigh Style

Vivian Leigh has no idea how much she will influence the next decade of fashion (the 40’s!) as debuts as a spoiled Southern Belle in the Civil War romance, Gone with the Wind.

Check out the light airy fabrics that are so feminine and perfect for the summer.

Also, check out how many bows and frills there are in her ballgown.

Talk about the ultimate Old Hollywood red carpet inspiration for your next special occasion!

1940s Special Occasions – Victorian Ballgown: Joan Fontaine 40s Style

See any similarity with the 1940s ballgown that Joan Fontaine wears in 1941 to the Victorian styled ballgowns from Gone with the Wind?

In the Hitchcock mystery, Suspicion, Joan Fontaine is a shy heiress who meets a handsome gentleman (played by Cary Grant) that she falls for, and then suspects is trying to murder her.

More 40’s fashion and suspense!

This 1940s formal dress is over the top with frills and lace, and just doesn’t seem to quite work for the young heiress, in our opinion…but what do you think?

1940s Formal Dresses – Princess Ballgown: Elizabeth Taylor 40s Style

The gorgeous Elizabeth Taylor who was just as famous for her violet eyes, as her eight marriages, looks looks absolutely gorgeous in these 1940s ballgowns.

These pics snapped across 1948-1949, highlight some of the stunning 40s formal dress style variations.

(We love this pic of her that was snapped in 1948 (right). It is backstage, as her Mom is helping her dress before a performance in London.)

In the late 1940s the Victorian Era (or Princess) Ballgown, started shedding some of it’s frills, so to speak!

Sleeves now were optional, as strapless bodices suddenly were totally in, and oh so glam.

Also, check out the changes in her ballgown skirt—this style is a full a line skirt versus a massive voluminous ballgown skirt.

We love the off the shoulder sweetheart necklines and translucent sleeves!” So feminine, classy, and timeless!

The question is, where are her big diamonds?

As Elizabeth Taylor famously said…..

“Big girls need big diamonds.” — Elizabeth Taylor

She then went on to collect one of the most world famous collections and fortunes in jewelry!

1940s Special Occasions – Victorian / Princess Ballgown: Linda Darnell Retro 40s Fashion

Speaking of princess ball gowns, we love the Linda Darnell’s stunning 1940s ballgowns that she wears for the 1948 drama Unfaithfully Yours, where her highly jealous and suspicious husband keeps suspecting her of cheating.

(We personally thought the plot was a bit of weak sauce, but the incredible 1940s fashion more than made up for it.)

Her summer ball gown is in a beautiful and airy white with bold rose embroidery accents, whereas her evening ball gown for the opera performance is fashioned from dark velvet and has a single jeweled cross-cross shoulder strap, with a bit of lace accentuating the sweetheart neckline. 

The fitted bodice contrasts beautifully with the voluminous full skirts. 

These are both such dreamy and romantic princess style ballgowns.

1940s Dresses Formal: Wrap Dress

Remember the wrap dress from earlier that was a favorite 1940s summer dress style?

Well this gorgeous style was another one that was a favorite for glam formal events.

The ways to criss-cross, drape, and shir and pintuck with these dresses was just endless, and could be oh so elegant.

1940s Dresses Formal: Vintage Wrap Dress Outfits

Simply check out these glam wrap dress creations that are just so incredibly sexy, yet show no skin.

Ida Lapino (bottom), the Queen B of Femme Fatale roles “B” rate film noirs of the 1940s and 1950s sizzles in a slink gold criss-cross dress. 

The drama in the outfit? 

The angular buckles and over the top shoulder pads which contrast with the rest of the drapey sexiness of the wrap dress.

And of course her short hair is sculpted in perfect retro waves.

Anne Sheridan (top) simmers in a very similar velvet wrap dress that totally screams Old Hollywood Glam.

We love the impeccable cut and femininity of this style. 

1940s Formal Gowns: Ruched, Shirred, & Pintuck Dresses

The 1940s had various sewing techniques that were used to add texture, interest, and unique elements to cocktail dresses.

These design elements emphasize the curves and minimized the waist, making them flattering additions to the 1940s wardrobe and were also a favorite technique for formal dresses.

Dresses in the 1940s – Ruched Dress: Lauren Bacall Vintage Style

Lauren Bacall looks so gorgeous in this formal 1940s evening dress.

Talk about a stunning Vintage Glam outfit!

Notice those how the ruching (intentional pleating) on her dress adds texture and a unique style to this otherwise very simple dress.

This post was all about 1940s Dresses Formal

What is your favorite style of 1940s formal dress?

Ready to search your local thrift store in the search for one of a kind formal vintage gowns?! 

Get ready to be the talk of the town at your next fancy dinner, special event, or on dance floor, as you sashay the night away in Old Hollywood glam.