Journal des Dames et des Modes, No. 45 (20 August 1913)
Not on view
45th issue of the "Journal des dames et des modes", published on August 20, 1913. This issue forms part of the first half of a collection of 36 volumes of the Journal des dames et des modes (June 1, 1913 - May 20, 1914, numbers 37-72), and contains 2 unnumbered leaves of advertisements, 8 pages of text (numbered (41)-48), and one plate (numbered 102), illustrated by Victor Lhuer. The issue begins with a satirical story, written by Pierre de Trévieres, narrating how a Parisian couturier recommends a woman to wear fur coats and bathing suits during the summer: not of the "fall" type, but of the new "summer" type, made in bright and pastel colors. The fashion section of the journal explains how the oilcloth hats introduced in the previous issues have been replaced by bathing hats made with a type of waterproof rubber silk that looks like iridescent taffeta. Fashions of the day also included light coats, which looked like large scarves, worn over linen dresses and tied around the chest; the most elegant versions of these summer coats were of the colors of precious stones: rubi red, emerald green, and orange.
The "Journal des dames et des modes" was published in Paris by Vaugirard between June 1, 1912 and August 1, 1914. Inspired on an earlier journal of the same title (also known as "La Mésangère", which disappeared in 1839), the "Journal des dames et des modes" appealed to "the curious", lovers of rare editions, who valued fashion journals featuring limited editions with carefully executed fashion illustrations that could be equated to works of art. Each issue of the journal was made up of several texts, including poems, commentaries, and narrations of life in Paris, and hand-colored engravings or pochoir prints, executed in vivid colors and drawn by the leading artists of the day, including George Barbier, Antoine Vallée, Léon Bakst, and Umberto Brunelleschi. The combination of writings and illustrations was meant to be a reflection of the cultural atmosphere in Paris at the time, showcasing the best of intellectual, artistic and fashion creations.
