Digital History Internship Projects

The Second World War impacted every area of American life. The global conflict abroad came ashore in countless ways, and thus shaped the cultural and social norms of everyday American life. Particularly, arts and culture were greatly affected by the shadow of the war, and everything from movies to magazines to music became shrouded in the desire for American victory. Fashion and dress also did not escape the impacts of war, and the clothing on one’s back quickly became a means of expressing support for the war effort, particularly for American women. Clothing served as a way for women to both perform their patriotic duties and maintain a level of normalcy and stylishness.

The study of fashion from the World War II era can communicate important aspects of how the war impacted American women on the home front, and trends and fads can provide a unique perspective with which to view the cultural memory of war. Though oftentimes overlooked as an important aspect of such memory, the depth of a hemline or length of a sleeve can speak volumes about the impacts of war on the average American woman, and how those impacts are remembered historically.

This project was created by SUNY New Paltz history senior Gabriella Gilbride under the supervision of librarian Adrianna Martinez in Spring of 2023 .