 |  |  |
To start us off, here is an original article about Lucile, flanked by two portraits of the talented designer. The portrait on the left was taken in 1916, while the one on the right is from 1910. Note the diaphanous lines of Lucile's gowns and the lavish embellishment (all the beads on the 1916 gown!). The article is a fascinating read, highlighting Lucile's beliefs about women's clothing.
 |  |  |
Left: 1910 Tea Gowns. Center: 1912 Tea Gowns displayed at a lawn party. Right: A dramatic 1912 evening gown.
Lucile's models were almost as famous as she was. She gave them poetic names, like Hebe, Corisande and Dolores.
This picture shows Lucile's models at a 1914 Paris style show, exhibiting the latest frocks for an admiring public.
This is a sketch for a dramatic afternoon tea dress. Lucile's designs attracted stage actresses and the well-to-do. Her designs were also commercialized for middle-class catalogues in America, and Lucile wrote columns on fashion for several prominent magazines of the day. Her easy-fitting, Romantic gowns paved the way for the "reform" styles of the Edwardian and 'teens eras, since she designed a less restrictive corset and did not bone the bodices of most of her gowns. (Sketch courtesy of the Fashion Institute of Technology.)
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
Top Left: Dainty 1916 lingerie. Center: A filmy, floating 1916 negligee' with matching robe. Right: A stylish 1916 bathing dress.
Bottom Left: A 1917 tea gown designed to float around the wearer. Note all the ribbons and lace. Center: A beautiful 1917 afternoon gown designed for Summer of light organza. Right: Another 1917 afternoon gown, this one features a skirt ruffled at the top to emphasize the hips (prophetic of the early 1920s).
(Photographs from the Fashion Institute of Technology.)
