La Belle Époque - The Beautiful Era
One of my favorite eras for clothing is the 1910s. Known as the Edwardian period in the US and La Belle Époque in France, this period is marked by softer silhouettes and opulent details. When the Ballets Russes performed Scheherazade in Paris in 1910, there was a craze for Orientalism in fashion. Couturier Paul Poiret was the first to translate this vogue into harem and geisha inspired fashion. Poiret is also credited with the elimination of the corset in couture fashion and the design of the first outfit which could be worn without a maid. Art Deco influences can also be seen in fashion with decorative motifs and the use of metallics.
I am smitten with the opera coats and evening capes of the era, crafted in velvets, silks, and brocades with ornate embellishments and fur trim. Vogue did an amazing fashion spread "Fashioning the Century" which coincided with the Paul Poiret exhibit at the Met. These fashions look just as fresh now as they did one hundred years ago.
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| Georges Barbier illustration, 1912 |
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| Velvet evening cape with stenciled border |
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| Steven Miesel "Fashioning the Century" Vogue 2007 |
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| Paul Poiret evening coat, 1911 |
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| Steven Miesel "Fashioning the Century" Vogue 2007 |
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| Evening coat, 1913 |
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| Silk evening coat, available on Etsy |
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| Paul Poiret evening coat, 1912 |
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| “Prè Catelan” coat 1918, Paul Poiret |
1 comment:
this is the most exquisite era!
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