Shift 1935 - 1942

Rosalia Lane sketched "Shift", a fashion design, with pencil on paper. Here, the dress, with its high waist and puffed sleeves, evokes the Empire silhouette that emerged during the Napoleonic era, a visual echo of classical antiquity's flowing robes. We see a similar aesthetic reappearing centuries later in a variety of forms, from Neoclassical paintings depicting idealized figures draped in simple gowns, to early photography. Consider how these garments have evolved. The high waistline, initially a symbol of liberation from more restrictive fashions, returned in different times, often with a changing cultural landscape. The emotional power of these styles lies in their ability to evoke a sense of timeless elegance and grace, appealing to our collective memory of classical beauty. As styles have changed, we can see this dress as a symbol of transition and continuity.