Journal des Dames et des Modes, Costumes Parisiens, 1914, No. 159 : Robe de Garden Party (...) 1914

This 1914 pochoir print by H. Robert Dammy appeared in the Journal des Dames et des Modes, a French fashion magazine. It depicts a woman in a ‘garden party dress.’ The Journal catered to an elite readership, reflecting the values and aspirations of the French upper class. The magazine actively participated in shaping those values by offering its readers a look at the latest trends in fashion, design, and lifestyle. Note the woman’s dress, ‘en mousseline blanche et liberty orange,’ is made from muslin, a lightweight cotton fabric and the design is in ‘liberty orange’ a print inspired by Liberty of London. In a time when social status was meticulously coded through dress, the journal served as a guide to proper presentation for those who could afford it. Analyzing this image through the lens of social history asks us to investigate the aspirations of the wealthy during the Belle Époque. Researching primary sources like fashion magazines, diaries, and social commentaries will help contextualize the work as an artifact of its time.