Rationing of clothing in Australia, 1942-1945

Abstract

In almost any society, clothing provides far more than a utilitarian covering for the body. It is frequently a means of self expression, a prop for vanity, a focus of consuming interest and attention. In the most subtle ways , that may not be readily discernible to the outsider , clothing can indicate much about the wearer's attitudes, tastes and social position. The collective attitudes of any society to its clothing can likewise reveal much about its ethos - the extent to which, for example, conformity, or modesty, or material possessions are valued. Clothing is thus a commodity by which many human foibles and feelings may be revealed. It is our outermost shell and though it may be removed and changed, it remains an integral part of ourselves. Show more