“Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing”*…

The Robe à la Française, a gown popular throughout much of the 18th century, consists of an open front robe exposing a highly decorative underskirt, double box pleats at the back showcasing expansive ornate Rococo textiles, a square neckline and a conical shaped bodice achieved by a stomacher. The stomacher, or the triangular panel at the front of the bodice, was a separate component of the dress and often featured elaborate ornamentation. Zac Posen’s Fall 2013 showcase, featured a golden yellow gown with a similar triangular shaped bodice. This 18th-century reference was not constructed with an additional panel, rather through clever gathers and darts.

 

Lilah Ramzi is a graduate student of fashion history fascinated by the antecedents of modern couture…

I have come to the realization that much of the creative material produced and designed today has its roots in a previous incarnation or is essentially part nouveau.

Part Nouveau can be used to characterize fashion photography, fashion…