All posts tagged: 1836

Rate the dress: Dull brown in 1835

Last week’s ensemble was all about erasing details: comparing the impression captured in the painting to the reality of the dresses fit and construction.  The painting came up trumps for comfort and flattery, and Jeanne Samary came away with a very impressive 9.2 out of 10 This week’s dress will be all about the details, because they are what carry the dress.  The fabric is a dull brown, the weave a subdued brocade.  Only the elaborate pleating, ruching and puffs add interest.   What do you think?  Does the simple fabric balance the elaborate treatment?  Or is the elaborate treatment, plus the plain fabric, two wrongs rather than a balance?  Or is the elaborate treatment still not enough to add interest to the plain fabric?  Is the dress, despite all the details, still dull and boring?  Or are both fabric and details an exquisite exercise in subtlety and design? Rate the Dress on a scale of 1 to 10