Model photographs, 1915-1919, 1915-1919
Scope and Contents
5.5 linear feet - Model photographs series of the collection include documents Lucile Ltd. lines for 1915, 1916, 1917 and 1919 (not all seasons). Some of the lines are annotated with model titles, listing of fabrics and fabric swatches. In some instances a name of the customer or a price is jotted down. Most often there are multiple takes of the model showing front, back, and side views providing complete presentation of a costume. Some volumes repeat in almost complete entirety, (reasons unknown). Some of the annotations are written in careful script, with ruled lines for uniformity of the letter height, and pasted on a heavier board. Women in these photographs are mostly girls hired to model for Lucile Ltd., however there are some photographs of well known theater and film personalities (See series 1.3.2). Lady Duff Gordon was the first one to have specialized events called "Mannequin Parades" for showing clothes on beautiful women in staged settings, a precursor to today's runway fashion shows. In the collection clothes are modeled by models whose full names were not lost to history: Dolores (Kathleen Mary Rose [married name Willkinson]), Phyllis (Phyllis Francatelli), Dinarzade (Lillian Mulligan [married name Farley] in some sources identified as Lillian Fisher, or Petra Clive), Hebe (Constance Vasselier); as well as those known by only trade names - Arjamand, Melisande, Gamela, Corisande and others. Among photographers listed separately as contributors are, Joel Feder, T. Fall, Burke Atwell (Lucile Studio?), White Studio 1546 Broadway
Dates
- Creation: 1915-1919
Creator
- From the Collection: Duff Gordon, Lucy, Lady (1863-1935) (Person)
- From the Collection: Lucile Ltd. (Organization)
Language of Materials
English
Conditions Governing Access
Access is open to researchers by appointment at the Fashion Institute of Technology Library, Department of Special Collections and FIT Archive. If you have any questions, or wish to schedule an appointment contact us at [email protected] or call (212) 217-4385.
Full Extent
From the Collection: 1 placeholder : 14 linear feet Photographs, sketches, photographs of sketches, brochures, newspaper and magazine clippings, records, advertisements, fashion plates, fashion illustrations, photo transfers, scrapbooks
Physical Description
11 volumes in 14 containers; 5.5 linear feet
General
Published
Processing Information
old-US.NNFIT.SC.1.1 - Model Photographs (series 1) (2014)
Topical
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and FIT Archive Repository