Dress c. 1937

Editor: This is a fashion drawing titled "Dress" by Ray Price, made around 1937. It's quite detailed, showing a design with stripes and ruffles. What strikes me is how formal and almost restrictive it looks. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It's interesting you pick up on the formality. I see this drawing as a powerful artifact of its time, reflecting the complex social dynamics around women’s fashion in the late 1930s. Think about the context: The Depression was ending, yet there was growing anxiety about the war. Fashion, then as now, was never just about aesthetics. It mirrored and molded societal expectations, especially those imposed on women. Editor: Expectations like what? Curator: Well, consider the silhouette—corseted waist, long skirt. It speaks to a desire for elegance and perhaps even a clinging to tradition in a rapidly changing world. But it's also about control, both visually and physically. How much freedom of movement do you imagine someone would have in a dress like this? What does that suggest about the wearer's agency? Editor: I see your point! The restrictive design could reflect limited roles available for women at that time. It is interesting how fashion reflects gender, race and class structures. Curator: Exactly. The choice of materials, which we can only infer from the drawing, would further define the wearer’s status and access to resources. And who was the target audience for designs like this? Predominantly white, upper-class women. By analyzing design choices and the historical period, we reveal these intersectional narratives. Does thinking about it this way change how you perceive the garment? Editor: Definitely! I will never think of garments in the same way again. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Keep questioning the relationship between art, history and power. It's a rewarding path.