Ladies' suits and skirts illustrated in Pettigrew & Stephens' sale catalogue, January 1933.
The 1930s marked a period of severity and shortage as the nation was hit by the Great Depression. As a result, fashion too had its ups and downs, particularly in regard to skirt length. As if in warning, just before the crash, skirts suddenly went down and down. In the early thirties, fashion came to a "stand still".
During the Depression, classic suits and dresses came into their own. Garments had to last and classics emphasised good quality and reliable conservative styles. Suits were worn with neat, white blouses which became the distinctive attire of the office worker, the college girl and the young society matron.
Reference: Mitchell Library, GC 381.14106541443 PET
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Libraries Information and Archives
Keywords:
department stores, economic recessions, fashions, Great Depression, Pettigrew & Stephens, sale catalogues, shopping, shops, skirts, suits, women