Harpers Bazar As A Fashion Illustration Essay - 1001 Words

My chosen illustration for this image analysis is a fashion illustration from the 20th century called La Cage Improvisà ©e. It was used as the cover for the July 1922 magazine publication of Harper’s Bazar. The cover illustration was accompanied by the title, the year of the publication, and the price of the magazine. â€Å"Bazar assembles photographers, designers, artists and writers to deliver perspectives into the world of fashion and popular culture on a monthly basis† (Georgievska 1). At the beginning of the 20th century Harper’s Bazar published a variety of different columns, from instructional columns on how to tie a bow to pieces on social life. Harper’s Bazar is published by Hearst Magazine Corporation, and is one of oldest and most†¦show more content†¦The reader is able to see part of the garment that is being worn, but the illustration doesn’t inform the viewer about how or when to wear such a garment. â€Å"In his illustratio ns, Ertà © shows the popular gowns and accessories of the season. Although his illustrations are mostly flat and lack detail, the drawings themselves are striking evocations of the temptress type of feminine allure, and are works of art in their own right whose exotic styles are inseparable from the style of the fashions they depict† (Blum 68). The La Cage Improvisà ©e was an example of a highly stylized design of two sinuous women wearing dresses inspired by the stories of Arabian Nights. The dresses are depicted from the side to highlight and exaggerate the fullness of the skirt. The colour, setting and styling of the illustration indicate that the dresses were evening dresses. Evening dresses were typically made of very fine materials, such as silk, chiffon or taffeta. They were often sleeveless or had short sleeves, and featured a waist with layers of fabric to create fullness in the skirt. The hair was often accessorized with a hat or a headband. The classic hat of the 1920s was the cloche hat. Other common styles were the wrapped turban, the straw summer hat and a variety of different headbands. Hats displayed fewer decorations than previously seen but they were still very expressive with either a bow or an art deco shape. Beaded dresses were also very