Rugby ;Costume tailleur de Redfern 1914

George Barbier made this pochoir print titled "Rugby; Costume tailleur de Redfern" in 1914. It presents a stylish vision of leisure that speaks volumes about the cultural moment in which it was made. Fashion plates like this one served as a crucial link between Parisian haute couture and a wider, aspirational audience. The Redfern tailoring house, advertised here, catered to a wealthy clientele, epitomizing elegance and social status. What's intriguing is how Barbier juxtaposes this refined image with figures in rugby attire. Sportswear was not yet fully divorced from its associations with amateurism and the upper classes, indicating that leisure and physical pursuits were becoming increasingly fashionable among certain social groups. To understand the image more fully, we might delve into the history of fashion magazines of the period, or research Redfern's place within the fashion industry. Examining the social history of sport and leisure at the time, we can contextualize its significance. Art doesn't exist in a vacuum; it reflects the values, aspirations, and power structures of its time.