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Fashion Drawing

1953-1954 (published)
Artist/Maker

This is an original artwork for a fashion illustration by Marcel Fromenti for The Lady, a weekly magazine for women published since 1885. At the time it was made, Fromenti was the main artist for The Lady's fashion articles. The glamorous women in his drawings modelled both couture and high-end ready-to-wear garments with equal panache and elegance. Couture dresses and suits by leading Paris and London couturiers such as Christian Dior, Pierre Balmain and Norman Hartnell were drawn with the same flair as designs from British ready-to-wear labels such as Susan Small, Roecliff & Chapman, and Marcus. The articles described the fashion developments of their day in simple, accessible terms that contributed greatly to The Lady's popularity with its readers. Pencil notes record the designers, fabric and colour details, alongside technical instructions to the printers as to how these images should be incorporated into the printed page and at what scale.

Hubert de Givenchy launched his couture house in 1952, making this drawing an early illustration of one of his designs. From the beginning his garments showed the youthful, understated purity of line that is associated with his work. Although his clothes often appeared deceptively simple, their effect was achieved through skilful construction, cutting and use of proportion. This deliberately outsize coat is cut in a very simple, boxy shape with a large, scalloped cape collar and three covered buttons down the front. The 'bleu bleuet' (cornflower blue) woollen fabric features an unusual ornamental stripe.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Pen and ink, wash and chinese white
Brief description
Marcel Fromenti. Coat by Hubert de Givenchy. For The Lady. 1953-54
Physical description
Fashion drawing. Woman in a blue coat by Hubert de Givenchy, loose cut with large scalloped cape collar and three covered buttons, the fabric with wide patterned stripes. Pencil notes give designer, fabric and colour notes.
Credit line
Given by the Editor of 'The Lady'
Summary
This is an original artwork for a fashion illustration by Marcel Fromenti for The Lady, a weekly magazine for women published since 1885. At the time it was made, Fromenti was the main artist for The Lady's fashion articles. The glamorous women in his drawings modelled both couture and high-end ready-to-wear garments with equal panache and elegance. Couture dresses and suits by leading Paris and London couturiers such as Christian Dior, Pierre Balmain and Norman Hartnell were drawn with the same flair as designs from British ready-to-wear labels such as Susan Small, Roecliff & Chapman, and Marcus. The articles described the fashion developments of their day in simple, accessible terms that contributed greatly to The Lady's popularity with its readers. Pencil notes record the designers, fabric and colour details, alongside technical instructions to the printers as to how these images should be incorporated into the printed page and at what scale.

Hubert de Givenchy launched his couture house in 1952, making this drawing an early illustration of one of his designs. From the beginning his garments showed the youthful, understated purity of line that is associated with his work. Although his clothes often appeared deceptively simple, their effect was achieved through skilful construction, cutting and use of proportion. This deliberately outsize coat is cut in a very simple, boxy shape with a large, scalloped cape collar and three covered buttons down the front. The 'bleu bleuet' (cornflower blue) woollen fabric features an unusual ornamental stripe.
Bibliographic reference
Victoria and Albert Museum Department of Prints and Drawings and Department of Paintings Accessions 1954 London: HMSO, 1963
Collection
Accession number
E.1571-1954

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
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