This was a tiny picture to begin with and making it larger has just made it fuzzier. Nonetheless, I think you can see the details that fascinate me. Just what is she wearing? A short sleeved, many-layered bathrobe with a long-sleeved shirt underneath? A dress inspired by another culture beyond my ken? A Google image search turned up nothing similar.
I was drawn to this photo not only by the outfit’s shape, but also by the fabric. To me this looks like an Art Deco design, a style I love for its geometric structure with elaborate details. Here are some examples from the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Too bad we can’t see the colors on our lady’s dress. Is it homemade? Someone has taken care to match the large pattern across the many panels.
Art Deco got its official start at the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris one hundred years ago. It was a big event in the history of modern design and there is a new exhibit investigating its heritage this year. Perhaps Art Deco fabric will make a brief comeback.
When was the photo taken? The shoes could be from the 1920s, but the dress with its unusual structure could have come from any era. I would love to hear your thoughts.
She has an umbrella held like a cane, and her shoes have straps. Is there a child on the porch looking down at her? Is her hair bobbed or just pinned back somehow? What a wonderful mystery this is.
Ceci