WW2 Utility Clothing era

From the beginning of 1941, materials such as leather, wool and cotton for clothing were in limited supply due to the second world war. The government ensured only a limited number of clothes were in shops for purchase to reduce the choice available to people. Therefore, many people looked rather similar in very similar outfits! People were required to use clothing coupons to purchase clothing and both the manufacturer and retailer underwent price restrictions.

"Make Do & Mend"
 People were rationing and clothing coupons were limited, so people would fix and revamp old dresses with lace and embroidery, re-use the wool from old jumpers and draw lines down women's legs with pen or eyeliner for a seamed stocking effect, as hoisery was too expensive or in short supply.

Model Frida Gatavsson wearing 40's utility style

Hairstyles
Celebrities such as Dita von Teese and Marilyn Monroe wore typical 40's hairstyles: finger-waves, vintage curls and quoiffs - all styled, in the 40s, with rollers, rags and heated implements.
Hair was also often pinned back and women rarely sported fringes. Fringes were quoiffed or curled back into the rest of the hair.
It's still very fashionable, although deemed classy, vintage or posh, to wear 40's curled hairstyles. They're often a popular choice for weddings, proms and dinner parties. The hairstyles are usually worn with the typical 40's make-up of red lipstick, black eyeliner and outlined eyebrows.

References:
http://www.kirkbymalham.info/KMLHG/war/utility.html