Wien 1900: Streit der Moden (Vienna 1900: The Fight of Fashion)

Description

For many years Vienna 1900 has been a topic of much interest with considerable thought dedicated to the architectural, artistic, and intellectual production of the time. This exhibit hopes to explore women's fashion around this period, a topic often mentioned, but not given the same consideration as other research areas. In fin-de-siecle Vienna a movement of reform dress was growing supported by such figures as Emilie FlÖge, Gustav Klimt, and members of the Wiener Werkstätte. The corset was eliminated and loose, free-flowing forms took their place. However, despite such interest and intiative by these notable persons of the time, many women continued to live out their lives in corsets, seeing reform dress as a disturbing trend and misguided folly. And so began years of struggle between the two as the "Reformkleid" or reform dress, as it was called, came to symbolize women's liberation and emerging feminism.


Credits

Many thanks to Christiane Hertel, Cheryl Klimaszewski, Jennifer Lopatin, and Imke Meyer. Exhibit created by Jillian Galloway and Megan Clark.

Sections

Guided Tour

[Intro] Streit der Moden (Fight of Fashion)

[A] Gallery

Was trage ich wann? (What do I wear when?)

[B] Gallery

Schönheit ist Macht (Beauty is Power)

[C] Gallery

Emilie Flöge: Modistin (Modiste)

[D] Gallery

Formlose Mehlsäcke (Figureless flour sacks)

[E] Gallery

Für die Männer (Men's fashion)

Bookstore

Further Readings and Exhibit References