Très Parisien, 1923, No 5: 18.-MONIQUE. - 1. Robe en "Moire Autique"... 1923

This fashion plate, Très Parisien, Number 5 from 1923, by J. Dory in the Rijksmuseum, presents two figures in the most modern outfits. It’s all cool lines and soft colours with a dash of art deco exuberance. I can just imagine Dory making this, in the studio, listening to jazz. The colours are mostly muted—soft pinks, browns and creams—but they all suggest a vibrancy, and even a little defiance of the old ways. Look at the figure on the left, with her pink dress and matching hat. It’s a confident splash of colour in a world that was still mostly monochrome, at least in fashion terms. It’s also a nod to the material, the moire antique is front and center. Then there's the figure on the right, with her patterned ensemble—like a walking, talking work of art. For me, these images whisper of new possibilities, of women finding their own way in the world, of artists like Dory helping them do it, and the dialogue between fashion and art through the ages.