Suit, Siren: Women's, Civilian

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Order this image under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

Purchase & License

If you are interested in the full range of licenses available for this material, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team.
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Order this image under fair dealing

All Rights Reserved except for Fair Dealing exceptions otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised.

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

Purchase & License

If you are interested in the full range of licenses available for this material, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team.

Description

Physical description

Zip fronted step-in overalls style garment of dark blue fabric, having bell-bottom cuffs to the legs, and with a fitted hood. The hood is lined in Cambridge blue fabric, as is the detachable waist belt and piping decoration to the cuffs. The shoulders are decoratively puffed. A quick-release drop down panel is fitted to the posterior, secured by metal pop-stud fasteners, permitting the wearer to carry out personal ablutions without removing the entire garment.

History note

A peculiar if not practical form of dress that evolved during the Second World War was the one-piece garment known as the 'Siren Suit'. Of jumpsuit style, these appeared in a variety of colours and were a convenient form of clothing to be hurriedly put on over night clothes before rushing to the bomb shelter during air raids.

Object Details

Category

Uniforms and insignia

Related period

Second World War (association)

Materials

Zipper: metal

whole: wool

Dimensions

Wrist: Circumference 210 mm

Collar: Circumference 340 mm, Collar Height 56 mm

PR Ankle: Circumference 525 mm

PL Ankle: Circumference 530 mm

Thigh: Circumference 635 mm

Waist: Circumference 780 mm

Chest: Circumference 965 mm

Hips: Circumference 965 mm

Scarf: Length 1030 mm

PL Shoulder Seam: Length 130 mm

PR Shoulder Seam: Length 135 mm

Belt: Length 1365 mm

Hood Front: Length 185 mm

Centre Front Crotch: Length 280 mm

Hood: Length 285 mm

Centre Back: Length 440 mm, Length 815 mm

Centre Back Crotch: Length 455 mm

Centre Front Zip: Length 515 mm

PL Sleeve: Length 620 mm

PL Inseam: Length 630 mm

PR Inseam: Length 630 mm

PR Sleeve: Length 630 mm

Centre Front: Length 800 mm

Bust Points: Width 205 mm

Between Shoulders: Width 370 mm

whole: Calf (circumference) 540 mm

Catalogue number

UNI 5309

Object associations

Associated people and organisations

British, Civilian

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