The [Little] Black Dress
1910-1919
The Dior Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2019 collection displayed countless versions of a black dress walking down the runway. In the period of 1910 to 1919, the black dress had a significant presence as well as a major transformation. Due to the millions of causalities in World War I, mourning attire was a major fashion. The rules of how long one should wear mourning attire within the confinements of one’s house rapidly changed because of the need for women in the workplace as well as them to continue with their lives. Black became a common color for dress and uniform, and by the end of the decade it had transformed into a color of elegance.
Dior’s modern show consisted of elegant, black gowns, suits, and sets that captured the mood and tone of mourning. In contrast with the simple dresses of the 1910’s, Dior’s gowns consisted of intricate lace, netting, and embroidery, mixed with tulle and leather. Dior asked the question “Are clothes modern?” printed on his opening look which was characteristically white. Dior challenged the idea of modernity versus timelessness and created gowns inspired not only by mourning dresses, but also by numerous other eras and cultures. Dior created a black- colored design for every occasion not just isolating the black gown to one purpose of mourning like the mourning gown was intended for. Dior’s Haute Couture reinterpreted the black dress once again and declared its modernity by questioning its originality.
Works Cited
Dior, Christian. Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2019 (Look 16). 1 Jul. 2019. WGSN Catwalk Gallery. WGSN. Web. 2 Jul. 2019. https://www.wgsn.com/catwalk_gallery/#gender=2&season=0&city=0&show=55676.
Dior, Christian. Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2019 (Look 20). 1 Jul. 2019. WGSN Catwalk Gallery. WGSN. Web. 2 Jul. 2019. https://www.wgsn.com/catwalk_gallery/#gender=2&season=0&city=0&show=55676.
"Fashion: Good Style Mourning Dress." Vogue. 15 Apr. 1910: 40. ProQuest. Web. 2 Jul. 2019. https://0-search-proquest- com.library.academyart.edu/vogue/docview/911842674/FE5E1C8BB0FE423DPQ/1?accountid=27957.
"Fashion: War Mourning in Europe and America." Vogue. 15 Jun. 1918: 30,30, 31, 32,
33. ProQuest. Web. 2 Jul. 2019. https://0-search-proquest- com.library.academyart.edu/vogue/docview/904293666/FE5E1C8BB0FE423DPQ/64?accountid=27957.
