Americans Watch and Worry.

Even before the United States entered World War II, American life had been transformed by the fighting in Europe. While terrified at the prospect of war, Americans nonetheless felt relief at the first stirrings of economic recovery from what had seemed like the endless Depression of the 1930s. U.S. factories worked hard trying to meet the civilian and defense needs of European allies, which improved employment in the United States. But as much as Americans enjoyed the new prosperity generated by the war, the security for which they longed was threatened by the increasing pressure for the United States to enter the hostilities. In December 1941 President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared war on Japan, and Americans soberly prepared for battle.

Domestic Preparations.

As with many industries, the war presented the American fashion world with both unprecedented restrictions...