Toujours Chic Les Robes, Hiver 1921-1922: Elienne 1921 - 1922

This fashion plate, 'Toujours Chic Les Robes, Hiver 1921-1922: Elienne' by G-P. Joumard, uses ink and possibly watercolor to depict a stylish dress of its time. Fashion plates like this one were not just about aesthetics, but also about labor. The textiles, the stitching, the embroidery – all represent hours of skilled work. Consider the crisp lines of the dress, likely achieved through careful tailoring and the use of materials such as the ‘drap amazone bleu’ and white satin. This image is not just a design but also an implicit promotion for dressmakers, embroiderers, and others involved in the fashion industry. While appearing effortless and chic, the dress embodies the complex network of production and consumption. Fashion plates played a crucial role in shaping desire and driving the cycle of seasonal trends. When we consider the skilled work involved in this artifact, the line between commercial design and art blurs, inviting us to see the value in all forms of making.