There were a lot of reasons to love Agent Carter during Peggy Carter’s short-lived reign on ABC, and for me personally, the realistic peek into 1940’s postwar fashion was one of them.
World War II was the biggest influence on Western fashion at the time.
Fabric rationing led to a trend for simpler clothes, and women’s fashions suddenly became more practical due to the influx of women joining the workforce—like Peggy Carter, whose career began in the Strategic Scientific Reserve during the war. Women’s heels were low and skirts were plain and knee length without as much as a pleat or frill.
Agent Carter takes place during a transitional time in fashion history:
The war has passed, so most still have their wartime wardrobes. But within the next year, Christian Dior had introduced the “New Look” to revive the French fashion industry, leaving some to experiment with flashier, more glamorous styles.
Peggy’s fashion doesn’t change drastically postwar:
She still favors her sensible skirts and plain blouses. While this can show her attachment to her wartime life, it also speaks volumes about her character– she’s as practical as she is tough and there’s nothing to get in the way of her doing her job.
Speaking of her (ahem) attachment to her wartime life, she’s seen in red, white and blue rather often. In all fairness, wartime fashion did have a tendency to be patriotic, though any Marvel fan can connect it back to her relationship with Steve Rogers.
It’s pretty clear why Peggy is such a popular cosplay choice. Besides being a total badass, her wardrobe is a pretty, feminine, and a fun way to take a dip into vintage fashion.
You can stream both seasons of Agent Carter on Hulu now.
Need some more fictional fashion in your life? Check out last week’s style icon, Kat Edison.
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Tristan George
Tristan puts her fashion business degree to good use as the operations manager at Jordandené. She spends most of her free time writing, baking, and watching reruns of The Office.
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