SECTION I: ANTHOLOGY OF ESSAYS
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Politics, Patriotism and Protest Movements
rooms trading their day clothes for coveralls, encouraging them to work for the war effort. It’s a titillating image, one of power and sexiness in American women. It demonstrated that American women could work tough jobs and remain feminine in a masculine role. And the jobs were tough and dangerous. Female workers needed comfort and support from their undergarments in order to move and work properly. The Corset Guild of Great Britain was founded in 1943. The group went as far to petition 10 Downing Street to release much needed material for appropriate corsetry. Ultimately, corsetry was classified under “Essential Works Order,” a victory for British women working in factories.
In America, a more novel approach was taken with the creation of the Saf-t-Bra (Fig.4.9, pg. 104), introduced by Willson Goggles, Inc. in 1943-44. With the American
Subsequently, America thrived in a post-war era. The
focus on safety and protection, just as the right tools
1950s were a time of economic growth and stability. As
were required for the job, the right undergarments were
comfortable as the 1950s seemed to be, the 1960s were
required for the workers. The Saf-t-Bra, and similar ex-
poised to be the decade of turbulence and change. The
amples, used hard plastic in lieu of soft material to cover
emergence of the Civil Rights movement and feminism,
the breasts. It was worn over cotton padding and under
the assassination of two Kennedys and Martin Luther King,
coveralls to protect female workers from flying shrapnel
Jr., and America’s involvement in Vietnam propelled the
and stray hot rivets. Although the extent to which the
1960s and its youth to respond to societal changes that
Saf-t-Bra was produced and worn is unclear, it demon-
were happening quickly. As seen in prior examples,
strates that once again women were at the forefront of
fashion changed with society, as did undergarments.
demanding change in their undergarments to meet their fashion and comfort needs. 60
The use of psychedelic drugs and the popular Mod subculture influenced bold, colorful patterns in under-
ART FRAHM , “ COVER - ALL BEAUTY,” 1944
Fig. 21 above
Published by Louis F. Dow and Company. San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts.