This lesson explores how fashion design developed before 1900, from client-based dressmaking to the emergence of the modern fashion house. It also examines how printed images helped styles travel beyond Paris.
Fashion design concerns the purpose and intention behind garments, shoes, accessories, and how they are designed and constructed. Before the mid-19th century, there was no clear division between haute couture and ready-to-wear. Many women's garments were made to measure by dressmakers and seamstresses working directly with clients; tailors also made some women's garments from wool.
All flashcards
What distinguished Charles Frederick Worth's fashion house?
It employed many makers, and Worth became influential enough to guide clients' choices.
What was the New Look presented by Christian Dior in 1947?
A postwar silhouette featuring an accentuated bust, a tiny waist, and full skirts.
What is a bias cut in fashion design?
Cutting fabric diagonally across its lengthwise threads to help create flowing garments.
What was the garçonne look?
A 1920s style with a straighter, more androgynous silhouette, often without a defined waist.
How do fast-fashion companies affect clothing trends?
They make ready-to-wear trends widely available and contribute to rapid trend turnover.
Quiz questions
What profile did the S-Bend silhouette create in women's fashion around 1900?Answer: The chest was pushed forward and the hips back.
What construction feature distinguished Mariano Fortuny's Delphos dresses?Answer: They used specially pleated, dyed silk to create fluid, close-fitting garments.
How did Madeleine Vionnet's bias cutting help shape her gowns?Answer: It let fabric follow the body with flowing movement and little structure.
What effect did Christian Dior's 1947 New Look have on postwar fashion?Answer: It revived a luxurious, feminine silhouette after years of wartime restriction.
What characterized fashion in the 1960s, according to the historical overview?Answer: Several styles coexisted, shaped by youth culture, designers, and social change.