Get That Forties Feeling For VE Day Anniversary

This year is
the 75th anniversary of VE Day and with a special public holiday to
mark the occasion there will be celebrations and commemorations across the
country. We will remember the people who
sacrificed their lives for the safety and the future of others, the triumph over
fascism, and celebrate those who survived to tell the tales. Of course, street parties and other events
will have a 1940s theme, so people will dress up and accessorise in the spirit
of the period and our jewellery is ideal for adding a touch of glamour.
As its VE Day
opt for red gems like garnet or ruby, or blue gems like topaz to represent the
red and blue of the Union Jack. Our
Cherry Bomb garnet earrings have a retro cluster style to them making them
ideal for this look. They're versatile
enough to wear with modern outfits, while the vintage nod makes them pair well
with 40's style dresses as they're not too showy. The matching necklace and ring can be added
for an elegant, put-together look which embodies the period perfectly. The Classico ruby pieces also have a vintage
style that works really well with a period outfit, as they look like the style
of piece that might have been inherited at the time. During the war jewellery wasn't a priority so
people didn't really invest in new pieces, preferring to wear older styles they
had been left by relatives, so for a really authentic look the Classico ruby
set is perfect.
If you're
after blue accessories our Lovable and Regal Blue rings embody the period in
the same way the Classico design does, and there's a sapphire version of the
Classico design if you love that look for a 40's feeling. Matching earrings, necklaces and rings in all
these designs allow you to pick and choose what you accessorise with, but remember
many people wouldn't have had the full set of anything just after the war, with
the exception of the upper classes that would have been able to afford the
pieces beforehand. When accessorising an
authentic 40's look, opt for no more than two pieces of jewellery plus a
brooch. Brooches were much more
fashionable during that period than now and they would often be worn with a
shawl or scarf, so you can add some glamour that way. Why not wear a relative's badge or medal from
the time as a brooch?
Our Melody
sapphire or ruby necklaces are inspired more by a 1930s art nouveau style, but
because this style would still have been relatively recent in 1945, they would
be ideal to accessorise with for VE Day celebrations. The design is simple enough to be worn in the
modern day with a variety of outfits, but when paired with 1940s clothing they
will tell a story.
It's not just
the jewellery which evokes that 40's feeling, shoes, handbags and hairstyles
also go a long way to creating the right look.
Shoes should be flat or with a low, practical heel. Many people would have had 2 pairs of shoes
at the most, so they needed to be sensible for everyday wear. Brogues are a style in keeping with the
period and you can find suitable examples in many charity shops. Handbags would have been simple, and perhaps
ones which had been used for many years.
Short straps are more in keeping with the period than a long, cross body
style, so look for clutch bags or ones which can be worn in the crook of the
elbow – if in doubt ask yourself whether the Queen would wear it.
In terms of
hairstyle, there are a few signature elements to a 40's do. Rolls and curls were very popular and there
were hardly any straight hairstyles.
Partly to do with the fashion of the time, and partly because hair care
could be a timely exercise (especially when shampoo became scare) these curled
and pinned styles meant women could leave a week or longer between washes. Headscarves were also popular for hiding
dirty hair and keeping it away from the face in a practical yet stylish manner,
so if you can't get your hair to hold a curl opt for a headscarf or hat to
cover your head.
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