ABSTRACT
Pleated trousers are the best choice for the Forties. Flat front pants lack the roominess needed to represent the Forties. A Seventies suit may have a jacket suitable for the Forties, but the pants are usually too slim, too low rise, or too bell bottomed. Exchange them for a more generous cut. Cuffing the pants is one of the simplest ways to make a modern pair of pants look Forties. Wide cuffs haven’t been popular in recent decades and give pants a vintage feel. Wearing the pants at the natural waist is another simple way to evoke the Forties. However, men’s pants haven’t been worn at the natural waist for over half a century, and sometimes this looks strange to an audience used to seeing men’s pants stop at the belly button. The characters can appear too hourglass or too grandfatherly. As a designer, it’s best to discuss this with the director early in the design process. Decide whether authentic pant height helps or hinders the production.
