1930s & 40s Hollywood was a time of glamour, sophistication, and escapism, with visionaries whose needles and thread wove magic into he fabric of cinema. Let’s look at some of the most iconic designs of the time, and the influential designers behind them.

Known for her distinctive sultry voice, smouldering looks, and undeniable talent, Bacall carved a niche for herself as a legendary actress who captivated audiences for generations.
 
But how did she transform herself from a shy, high-pitched drama school student to one of Hollywood’s timeless alluring and sultry actresses?

150 years ago if you wanted to go to the beach as a woman you would be wearing several layers of cumbersome cotton or flannel just to dip your toes - thankfully things have changed a lot since then, and swimwear is much more liberating for women now than it was all that time ago. But how did we go from wearing a multi-layered swim ensemble to our modern bikinis where sometimes almost nothing is left to the imagination?

The pin-up models of the 1940s/50s are iconic symbols of the time, with scantily clad ladies being painted on military vehicles, appearing in war propaganda, and being popular in general in America especially throughout the war and post-war period. Pin-ups were nothing new though, and the idea of ‘pinning up’ art and photos has been around since at least the 1800s, if not earlier!

Looking back to the golden years of vintage Hollywood in the 40s/50s, everything seemed as glamorous and star-studded as possible! But just how far did the golden age of cinema go to maintain appearances?