1911 c Deep Rose Pink Ombre Evening Gown with Orientalist Influences
"She had picked up a few things in her travels. Macau, New Dehli, and the temples of Angkor Wat had taught her a few things about timeless style, mystery, and why it was a waste to live life without color."
Origin: Unknown
Materials: silk, gold lame thread, cotton
Materials: silk, gold lame thread, cotton
Description: Rare color. How often do you see such a beautiful color looking so fresh and vibrant in a gown of this era? Hardly ever. On top of that, this gown has wonderful workmanship. Ombre dying (where the color of the material fades gently from one hue to another) is rare, because it was much more costly to produce. But it's well worth the time when you look at the delicate, ethereal effect. How romantic!
This gown is much more than a pretty face. It's also a significant piece of fashion history, as it displays the Orientalist influence that was just coming into vogue at the time, championed and explored by designers like the revolutionary Paul Poiret. This gown, with its metallic gold-embroidered threads in bold, boteh patterns, was at the forefront of high fashion in its day. A gown at the forefront of a fashion revolution.
And yet it still gives a nod to the romance of the era as well, with its huge, soft, silk roses at the bodice and upper arm. To me, this gown floats on happiness and hope, the kind of joy that sustains you when you're confronted by sheer, simple beauty.
Condition: Very Good