Dress Cape c. 1938

Editor: This is Nancy Crimi’s "Dress Cape," made around 1938, a design rendered in watercolor. The muted color palette and almost architectural lines give it a very poised, dignified feel. What strikes you when you look at this design? Curator: It’s fascinating how this piece, seemingly a simple fashion sketch, can be understood through its socio-historical context. Given the date, around 1938, we need to ask: What was the role of fashion in society during that period? This was a time of economic depression and impending war, yet fashion still played a crucial role in expressing identity and social status. Do you notice the possible cultural influences at play here? Editor: I do see elements that suggest an Asian influence, particularly in the collar's shape. Curator: Exactly! The incorporation of such elements into Western fashion reflects a broader trend of cultural exchange and appropriation. But what does it *mean* for a Western designer to draw inspiration from another culture? How does this impact our understanding and reception of the piece? And to whom would such a garment appeal? Editor: That’s a great point. I guess it highlights the complex relationship between fashion, identity, and cultural exchange – maybe aspirational, maybe slightly problematic. It would have been targeted at affluent women of the period? Curator: Precisely. It invites us to examine the intended audience and how the cape could perform different roles. Considering how art institutions showcase fashion drawings, we must remember these pieces gain new significance when publicly exhibited as artifacts of social and political dialogues. Editor: So, it’s less about the cape itself, and more about what it tells us about society at that time and what such designs communicated? Curator: Precisely. And about how these meanings are constructed and change when a fashion design becomes art through curatorial selection. Editor: This reframes the drawing entirely. Thanks, it's much to think about! Curator: My pleasure. I have certainly broadened my awareness, too.