Très Parisien, 1925, No. 11, Pl. 9: Créations BERNARD et Cie - COSY 1925

This fashion plate, printed in 1925 by J. Dory, shows us a glimpse of Parisian style almost a century ago. I can just imagine Dory, poised with their pen, capturing the essence of ‘le dernier cri’ with these elegant outlines. It's interesting how the artist uses very few lines to suggest the different textures of the fabrics – the sumptuous fur trim, the shimmer of the beaded dress. This is not simply a rendering of clothes, it's an evocation of an attitude. The woman on the left, enveloped in purple, seems to hold herself with a certain hauteur, while her companion exudes a playful confidence. When I look at this image, I am reminded of other artists who have been fascinated by fashion, like Sonia Delaunay, who also sought to capture the dynamism of modern life through the colours and forms of clothing. Each era inspires the next, and maybe even my own practice, which is all about how simple gestures can convey so much.