Dress 1935 - 1942

Jessie M. Benge created this watercolour design for a dress, but the date is unknown. The garment's form dictates the composition, structured vertically with the dress commanding the center. It is flanked by sketches of complementary lace details and a simplified line drawing of the dress's back view. The dress itself is a study in contrasts. Benge uses a muted mauve for the dress fabric, giving it depth through light and shadow, particularly in the skirt's voluminous folds. This softness is sharply offset by the geometric precision of the black lace trim, which adds a layer of complexity. Notice how the lace's intricate patterns against the smooth fabric create a visual and tactile tension, destabilizing any sense of straightforward elegance. Consider the strategic placement of floral embellishments down the bodice, drawing the eye upwards. Benge's design uses the dress not just as clothing, but as a structured form with its own language. This piece exists within a larger discourse about fashion as art and the semiotics of dress.