Joan Cornette (1 results)

An exceptional capstone project by a student at the Modern School of Fashion and Design in Boston, Massachusetts, named Joan Cornette, in 1956. Includes a lengthy thesis and approx. twenty-five (25) original fashion designs. A signed review from her faculty advisors notes its "finesse of detail" and high quality "Worthy of a publisher's consideration." The student, Joan M. Cornette (1934-2024) graduated from the School and went on to work at a women's clothing store as a buyer, where she also designed Christmas sweaters. She was also an avid and enthusiastic collector of porcelain dolls, and worked for Vogue designing dolls and outfits for their Ginny Doll line of dolls. Her obituary also lists her as having handmade a replica doll of her late Mother when she was a child, showing her keen creativity and precocity. This lifelong interest in dolls and children's clothing is very apparent in this project, and shows in real time her interests blooming. The project contains the following components: a 138-page typewritten dissertation on the history of children's fashion and "color psychology"; nine (9) contemporary professional photographs of children in latest fashions; a photo and typewritten letter with information about a collection of children's wear by the designer Eleanor Lambert, Inc.; a brochure and letter from the "House of Haute Couture for Children" Marcelle Julien; five (5) original pen and watercolor designs for infants; seven (7) original designs for toddlers; nine (9) for older children; three (3) original designs for matching brother and sister; and one (1) for mother and daughter. Each section of designs has a charming heading (e.g. "Lollipop Set" or "Sandbox Set". Each design is also charmingly based off a different children's story or nursery rhyme (e.g. Snow White, Little Bo Peep). She has also painted title pages for each section with images of children playing together. All is housed in the original textured cream cloth binder measuring approx. 15" by 12.5", stamped in gold. Appears complete. Cornette's final conclusion is striking and shows her passion for children and children's fashion: "I have maintained my theory throughout this thesis that children are individual personalities and should be treated as such when pertaining to the designing of clothes which suit them . the child has a new place in the fashion world." Very good. Light toning, dust soiling. Rings in binder beginning to loosen.