Final answer:
During World War II, the fabrics most readily available for clothing were cotton and wool, due to rationing and the conservation of materials like silk and nylon for military purposes. Fashions became more practical to match the work women were undertaking and the fabric shortages that affected the civilian population.
Step-by-step explanation:
During World War II, everyday materials were conserved for the war effort, heavily influencing civilian clothing choices. Cotton and wool were the predominant fibers available, as cotton accounted for over 80% of all fibers used at the outset of the war, with wool making up nearly all of the remainder.
While nylon had been developed by individuals like Bill Pittendreigh and companies such as DuPont, its use was largely allocated to the military for parachutes, tires, and other supplies due to its durability and lightweight properties.
Civilians faced rationing and thus, clothing was often practical and simplistic to comply with fabric shortages and manufacturing shifts towards the war effort.
Women also adapted their fashion due to work in fields like munitions where practical clothing was essential. Civilians participated in scrap drives, conserving materials such as silk and nylon, which necessitated the use of more easily available fabrics like cotton and wool for civilian clothing.
Even after the war, nylon shortages persisted, leading to inventive uses of surplus parachute material for making dresses.
The lack of luxury fabrics meant that during the war, garments were often repurposed and recycled, with conservation as a key theme. This shift in fabric use and fashion reflected the times' austerity and the need to support the military in all aspects of civilian life.