Hello Angels,

‘ Fashion is a part of the world and part of history. It is not a meaningless swirl of meaningless clothes. They (clothes) reflect the times.’  Valerie Steele

This quote clearly explains  link between history and fashion. There is a common approach that studying fashion design is meaningless. Even today, many people think  fashion design students only design clothes and don’t have knowledge about anything. Actually we have knowledge about everything.

If you study fashion design, you will have knowledge about art history, fashion in history ( most important periods in history), marketing, technology, etc.

When you observe collections, you will realize that every designer influence from something. It can be art, literature even a certain period of history.

For example, Dolce and Gabbana’s Fall 2012 Ready to Wear collection was inspired by Sicilian Baroque tradition.

I love to learn everything about periods and most of time I inspired from history. In today’s post I would like to share everything about Belle Epoque period which is one of my favorite period. Many of the fashion concepts we use today began as original designs from this era.

The Belle Epoque or La Belle Epoque is a period between 1890 to 1914. The era is placed from the end of the Franco – Prussian war until the outbreak of World War I.

It was a period of economic prosperity, peace, cultural innovations and technology. It was considered as ‘Golden Age’. Druing World War I It was called the ‘Lost Golden Age’.

It was an epoch of sophisticated clothes and the peak of luxury living for the rich and the privileged people.

The lifestyle swepty away by war. The war was so atrocious and this caused new lifestyle which is contrast of Belle Epoque lifestlye..

The silhouette of female fashion changed many times during the era.

In Belle Epoque, furs and exotic  feathers were more prominently featured in fashion than ever before.

Haute couture in the mid nineteenth century  in Parisi the center of the Belle Epoque, where fashion began to change in a yearly cycle.

Popular ‘Haute Couture’ were Lanvin, Worth, Lucile & Fortuny, Doucet, etc. Each fashion house interpreted ‘La Belle Epoque’ differently.

General La Belle Epoque fashion details are;

  • Shorter dress length

  • La Belle Epoque evolved from the S shape to the princess like, high waist – drop waist.

  • Middle Eastern, Indian and Asian influence such as dropped to the hips, drapping.

  • Corsets replaced by brassiere

  • The bustle disappeared entirely from day dresses.

  • Handmade corsets made with bone ends finished with embroidery.

  • La Belle Epoque clothes were largely tailor made & custom made.

  • La Belle Epoque clothes were amazingly designed gwons featuring applique, lace, beading,  cord work, etc.

  • What is your favorite period? Let me know below

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