At this time of important fashion shows throughout Europe and the US for Autumn /Winter 2011-2012 here are three fashion plates showing how womens' fashion has changed radically , or has it? since 1806.1. A French pale pink empire style dance dress, rear view, showing a demure and fragile girl holding a small fan and spray of flowers. her matching hat adorned with pink draped feathers , the upper sleeves slashed and puffed on upper arm and the lower edge of her bodice cut in slightly medieval style. Very 'feminine'!
2.The front cover of the famous French store Printemps Summer 1929. Here two women wear straw cloche hats and elegant day dresses. One dress is made in crepe de chine, the other in crepe de laine, both are well tailored with lowered waistlines that have plenty of swing in the skirts. The hemlines are spot on for this year's fashion 2011-12, they both hold small box leather handbags. This period was between World War 1 and 2 so it was a comparatively carefree and wealthy period.
3. Two women in completely different mode. World War 2 is well under way, and the two women look quite practical and masculine in their 1942 Winter wear. Their blond hair is severely swept up and they both wear high silk cravats at the neck. One wears a precariously perched astrakan hat that matches the collar etc on her slightly military styled suit with its broad shoulders. Hemlines are again de rigueur for season 2011-12, and even the rather heavy weight brogues and sturdy walking shoes worn with ankle socks wouldn't look out of place on the cat walk for this Autumn - Winter 2011-2012!
Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose - The more things change, the more they stay the same?
very interesting - all of those styles would look fashionable today
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