‘40s Flashback : Actress Joanna Cassidy Stars in a Revival of Glamour Style

Who would have thought that we’d remember Joan Crawford for her dress style as much as for her screen credits? Yet this spring, fashion echoes the Crawford look, with new takes on her kind of glamour. Shapes of the ‘40s have found their way into collections from California to New York, with designers reviving the silhouettes and some of the spirit of the Crawford look, particularly in pantsuits. Jackets have well-defined, rounded shoulders and fitted waistlines for a shorter proportion than most women are accustomed to wearing. Matching pants with the ‘40s flare fit snugly through the hips and fan out to a wide finale. Skirts are mid-calf length and narrow. The combination--broad shoulders with narrow hips--is sinuous yet strong, suggesting the silhouette of military uniforms, which were so much a part of American life in the ‘40s. Joanna Cassidy, who wore a glamorous Crawford look so well in “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” models these updates on the old theme.

Makeup: Jeff Jones / HMS Bookings; hair: Bernhard Tamme / Celestine-Cloutier; Jeff Jones / HMS Bookings; stylist: Joanna Dendel