House Dress c. 1936

Curator: What a striking design! Julie C. Brush's "House Dress," circa 1936, presents such a compelling example of Art Deco influence through watercolour and drawing. Editor: My first impression is… intense. The busy patterning, that combination of orange and black…it feels bold and a little bit chaotic. Not exactly what I’d expect for a "house dress." Curator: It certainly challenges our contemporary understanding of leisurewear! As a design for a mass-produced garment, this watercolor rendering suggests a specific market—one fascinated with high style applied to the everyday. We should think about the economic conditions of the 1930s—was this design meant to inspire aspiration, or realistically be translated into affordable material goods for a wider segment of the population? Editor: That’s key. The use of watercolor, for example, suggests a pre-production phase—it’s about envisioning the final product. Was this a lone design, or part of a portfolio presented to garment manufacturers? Who exactly was producing these images, and how were their creative contributions acknowledged, or not, within the wider industry? Curator: Excellent questions! I also wonder how this garment might fit into the wider art deco movement—did the garment receive praise within an art historical context for it's visual elements, or were garments designed for a more functional purpose not regarded in the same light? The vibrant coloring and complex surface patterns draw me to it instantly, and perhaps was just as visually engaging when on display in shops, museums or galleries at the time it was made. Editor: It’s also intriguing to consider this piece within a social history framework— what statements were women expected to make or not make within fashion, and how did this shape what manufacturers thought they could mass-produce. A woman adorning herself in loud clothing may have been frowned upon by society at the time! I believe this can still be said about societies around the world even today. Curator: Precisely, how social forces influenced a company’s marketing choices surrounding color and patterns is definitely at play here. Editor: This image of a potential dress opens such an interesting window onto questions of consumption, labour and the construction of both individual and cultural identity!