Cloth, to be Troth in Black: In dressing the part; Toiling with the Little Black Dress

What is to be said about the fabric of America? Where to stand in the world of fashions’ trend setters of early 20th century? This book depicts (shorten historical version) three of the most influential designers of 20th century Europe and their impact on American couturiers. Beginning with Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel who first gave the world what has come to represent a staple in most women’s closet, the little black dress (lbd). Chanel having selected the color as Jean Patou dictated the cut for the preciseness of the lbd dress. Christian Dior, known to some as “the gentle genius” was one of two top designers who impacted the world of Haute Couture. Dior’s design was categorized as the Extravagants; whose theme in clothing tends to favor that of a figured silhouette with fuller skirt and the tiniest of a waste line. The other designer was Cristóbal Balenciaga, who achieved acclaim as the master of twentieth century fashion. Balenciaga’s genius was in the construction of the design and his gift to Haute Couture was to add quality to what perhaps might not have been there; a refined enhancement in elegance, giving the haute women what they aspired to be, idealized beauty if only for a day. The Haute Couture designers stressed the importance in the relationship between fashion, modern life and art. With each creation they related the transitory nature, or constant change of fashion as the hallmark of modernity, depicting versatile, traditional and timeless style.