Category Archives: Uncategorized

Fashion in World War I: August 1917

Posted on August 1, 2017 by Clare

Evening dresses referencing ‘Ancien Regime’ and ‘Empire’ styles The August 1917 edition of Les Élégances Parisiennes looked resolutely ahead to the future, both immediate and long-term. For the immediate future, couturiers and fabric manufacturers were preparing their new ranges for … Continue reading →

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Fashion in World War I: June 1917

Posted on June 3, 2017 by Clare

The June 1917 edition of Les Élégances Parisiennes highlighted some of the paradoxes of fashion production in war conditions. This issue showed a foretaste of styles for the coming autumn –  in recognition of the increased lead time required to … Continue reading →

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Fashion in World War I: May 1917

Posted on April 29, 2017 by Clare

The May 1917 edition of Les Élégances Parisiennes reported on some encouraging signs for the French fashion industries. The textile trade fair in Lyons had been better attended than in its first year, and with over 2,300 stands including 380 … Continue reading →

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Fashion in World War I: February 1917

Posted on February 2, 2017 by Clare

The February 1917 issue of Les Élégances Parisiennes continued to discuss the two key issues for all branches of the French fashion industry: how to maintain export sales in the short term, and how to counter challenges from German rivals … Continue reading →

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Fashion in World War I: January 1917

Posted on December 31, 2016 by Clare

The January 1917 edition of Les Élégances Parisiennes revealed that the French fashion industry was being threatened not only by German competitors, but by the actions of British allies. This threat came not so much through British products as through … Continue reading →

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Fashion in World War I: November 1916

Posted on November 4, 2016 by Clare

The November 1916 issue of Les Élégances Parisiennes gives some interesting insights into the ways that fashion uses and reworks the past. As  Ulrich Lehmann’s Tigersprung: Fashion in Modernity pointed out, uses of the past in fashion are not neutral … Continue reading →

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Fashion in World War I: April 1916

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Clare

In April 1916, the first issue of Les Elegances Parisiennes appeared, incorporating some of the journalists and features from Le Style Parisien, but with stronger links to French couture and luxury textile trades. The contents were an uneasy mixture of … Continue reading →

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Fashion in World War I: March 1916

Posted on March 4, 2016 by Clare

For March 1916, we return to American Vogue, where the war was seen as having a broadly positive effect on the fashion industry. An article with the long-winded title  ‘The Warp and Woof of Spring: France is producing some of … Continue reading →

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Fashion in World War I: December 1915

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Clare

The ‘Fete Parisienne’ of couture fashion in New York generated welcome publicity for Paris couturiers – and funds for French orphanages. But it also highlighted some of the tensions between French couture houses which originated designs and American wholesalers and … Continue reading →

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Fashion in World War I: September 1915

Posted on September 11, 2015 by Clare

In September 2015, Le Style Parisien showcased styles for the coming winter season by leading Paris couturiers, with detailed description of gowns and accessories. More interesting than these were the accompanying meditations  on the current state of the French fashion … Continue reading →

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