Fine Arts

French Fashion and Modernism
Kimberly J. Sessoms
Dr. Sara Orel and Dr. Julia DeLancey, Faculty Mentors

Fashion manifests the creative power of an era and often defines decades and social movements. This is especially true of fashion trends of the early twentieth century. Fashion, like other art of the period, began to make radical changes to the traditional conservative styles of the Victorian era. Designers took an active role in the discourses of art and modernism. They began to express themselves and their artistic interests with their designs. Couturiers such as Paul Poiret used their creations to promote what it meant to be modern, while fashion illustrators such as George Lepape aided the designers by advertising their designs and their own ideas of modernism through their fashion plates. They successfully sold these ideas to the public who bought and wore their fashions. This paper will examine how early twentieth century fashion designers and illustrators promoted their ideas of modernism and the modern experience through their creations.

Keywords: Fashion, Modernism, Paul Poiret, George Lepape, France

Topic(s):Art History

Presentation Type: Oral Paper

Session: 4-1
Location: OP 2210
Time: 8:15

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