| World War I Fashions in the Spring of 1916 (Strauss Magazine, 1916) Assorted dry observations regarding what the women of Gotham were sporting that last American Spring of peace (Congress would declare war on Germany during the April of 1917). Summer Mode for an Era's End (Vanity Fair Magazine, 1914)The Paris fashion world that thrived during the August of 1914 was rightfully intrigued by the chic creations conjured up by the House of Worth, Drécoll, and Mme Paquin. Victory and Paris Fashion (Vogue Magazine, 1919)The Paris Victory Parade celebrating the end of the 1914 - 1918 war was a long awaited and much anticipated fashion event and Mme. Parisienne was not going to miss it for all the crepe de Chin in China.
This VOGUE writer contrasted the Paris that existed a short time earlier, the gray, deserted Paris with the Paris of the 1919 Victory Parade and notes how eager the natives were to recreate that mirthful, lighthearted Paris of 1913 that they all remembered so well. Their efforts paid-off and social Paris was back with a vengeance:
"While the people are enjoying these magnificent fetes, social life becomes more madly joyous than before. One no longer knows where to go or which invitation to accept. Dinners, balls, lunches at restaurants, all these gatherings demand a continual renewal of costumes of distinction, all of which contributes to keep the great makers on their mettle."
There is a great sense of joie de vivre throughout the article, but it very rapidly becomes a laundry list of who-wore-what-where. Fashions from the Last Summer of the War (Vanity Fair Magazine, 1918)Six very fine fashion drawings illustrate what was generally perceived to be the chic silhouette during the August of 1918. "There may be some women who can get along without satin frocks, but it is exceedingly doubtful.."
Click here to read about military influences of feminine fashions. Feminine Hats from a War-Weary France (Harper's Bazaar, 1918)Six fashionable illustrations from Harper's Bazaar of the Fall hats for 1918: "Paris is exceedingly critical in regard to hats even in wartime, and the new ones are most interesting. Black velvet of course is rampant, and Marie Louise especially is using much much black panne velvet..." This wartime fashion review makes one passing reference to the millinery efforts of Coco Channel.
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