Two Centuries of French Fashion, 1949

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We were very lucky to find a copy of Two Centuries of French Fashions, published in 1949 by the Gallery Press for the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences and the Brooklyn Museum. The book records the museum show of 49 wire mannequin dolls created by the Syndicat de la Couture de Paris. The dolls were dressed by French designers to portray French fashions from 1715 to 1906. Just the photographs were gorgeous; the dolls must have been stunning!

First image: 1811, dress (and presumably the poufy organdy pouch by Paquin.

Second image: 1820, day dress with normal wais and sleeves in th style known as "Mammeluck, hat and bag by Jean Patou.

Third image: 1888, fur-trimmed costume with high puff bustle, created by Worth for the Empress Elizabeth of Austria. Dress, hat and bag by Pierre Balmain.