A dapper Tim Hughes gets in the mood for a night of partying - 1940s style.

CLARK Gable, Bette Davis, Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra.

For sheer style, few decades can touch the 1940s. And while its movie stars were glamorous and beautiful, its music was, at best, sublime.

Tomorrow those years of wartime style will be revisited with the first of a series of themed decade nights at Oxford’s best-loved club night – Trashy.

The long-running club, based at the O2 Academy is turning the clock back to the days of the Blitz, rationing and risqué cabaret, for Burlesque not Bombs.

The night is being presented by resident DJs Nelly B Page and Tommy Kneecaps, pictured, and features the charms of the Chantilly Belles live burlesque act.

“It’s going to be an amazing night,” says Nelly, over tea at Oxford’s Grande Café.

The night is the first in a series of monthly events celebrating music and fashion from the Second World War to the present day.

“The idea was to celebrate the retro aspect of Trashy and it seemed a great idea to celebrate each decade – starting tomorrow with the 1940s. We have some great music from the decade and we want everyone to dress up.”

Nelly has been getting into role, by cutting a swish figure around town in an shortened black dress, red stockings and a fascinator.

Tommy, meanwhile, is the perfect chap in dapper striped suit and hat.

“There are so many things people can wear,” says Nelly. “We want people to have fun dressing up. It’s not at all elitist, just great fun. I’m really excited to see what people come up with. The lads can wear suits and military uniforms, while the girls have it easy by just looking glamorous in a dress or corset. And if the boys want to come in a corset and the girls in a uniform, that’s cool too.

“All the bar staff and DJs will be dressed up – and if you do too you will get really well looked after – as well as getting in for free.”

So what tunes can we expect? “There will be all the usual Trashy favourites,” she says. “But a few 1940s-style gems thrown in as well – so there could be anything from Frank Sinatra and Fred Astaire, to Glenn Miller and Vera Lynn. The 40s had some great tunes like We’ll Meet Again, In the Mood, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, and, of course, As Time Goes By, from Casablanca.

The DJ set will be interspersed with performances from the Chantilly Belles – featuring Manchester pin-up artist Gemma Parker, one of the country’s best burlesque artists.

“I can’t wait,” says Nelly. “It’s going to sexy, shocking – and very funny!”

Doors open at 10.30pm and the night runs until 3am. Tickets are £6, or free for those in 1940s fancy dress. For details of Gemma Parker, see www.gemma parker