1942
War fashion
Dress for battle.
by Alex Q. Arbuckle(opens in a new tab)
Flame resistant suit with hood and bulletproof vest.
Image: Herbert Gehr/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
In World War II, women in Allied countries served their nations in numerous roles, both on the homefront and in the theatres of war.
The American Women’s Voluntary Services trained hundreds of thousands of volunteers to provide services in support of the war effort, from aircraft spotting to firefighting to ambulance driving.
Across the pond in Britain, the Women’s Land Army put women to work farming and feeding the country.
In 1942, LIFE photographer Herbert Gehr arranged a photoshoot to show off a small sample of the uniforms of different kinds of servicewomen, from standard nurse’s garb to outfits to help women survive gas, fire, and other hazards of war.
Flame resistant suit with bulletproof vest (hood down).
Image: Herbert Gehr/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Red Cross outdoor coat.
Image: Herbert Gehr/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Floater coat, capable of providing flotation for three days.
Image: Herbert Gehr/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Red Cross Motor Corps uniform.
Image: Herbert Gehr/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Civil Defense canteen uniform.
Image: Herbert Gehr/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Red Cross Motor Corps uniform.
Image: Herbert Gehr/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
American Womens Voluntary Services ski patrol uniform.
Image: Herbert Gehr/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Land Army uniform.
Image: Herbert Gehr/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Navy uniform.
Image: Herbert Gehr/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Decontamination suit.
Image: Herbert Gehr/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Red Cross nurse’s aide uniform.
Image: Herbert Gehr/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Red Cross uniform.
Image: Herbert Gehr/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Civil Defense nurse’s uniform.
Image: Herbert Gehr/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
American Womens Voluntary Service motorcycle uniform.
Image: Herbert Gehr/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Image: Herbert Gehr/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
