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[SOVIET FASHION] Mody: Karmanyi albom [i.e. Fashion: Pocket Album]

Moscow: Zhurgazobiedinenie, 1937. Item #451

29, [3] pp.: ill. 14x10,5 cm. Original illustrated wrappers (only front cover preserved). Fragments of the front cover lost, cover is glued to the title page, loss of back cover, otherwise good.

This is a first of this kind pocket size album of summer design (mostly for women). These models were designed by designers from different cities (Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev, Baku, Tbilisi, Kharkiv). All models were approved at the spring/summer 1937 show in Moscow. Each model is drawn on a person next to a small-sized sketch. Every model is numbered, and in the end of the album the list of notes to each model is provided. Overall 109 models.

The main task in the field of clothing and fashion in the late 1920’s - early 1930’s was the production of inexpensive and high quality fabrics, which was very difficult. Especially for this purpose many factories were restored.

The end of the NEP era, as well as the ‘great breakthrough’ initiated by Joseph Stalin, were accompanied by the eradication of individualism and calls for asceticism. The Soviet government through the press in every possible way prevented the penetration of new European trends into the country. The desire to look fashionable could cost at best a career, and at worst - freedom. And yet, no matter how hard the Communists tried to shield the Soviet woman from the western influence of fashion, they did not succeed. Even in the years of the cruelest terror of the 1930s, Soviet women managed to sew long dresses for themselves, took out fur coats, worn a trendy wavy permanent, painted blondes and plucked eyebrows in imitation of Soviet actresses, who in turn were amazed at the ideals of beauty promoted by Western cinematography. In 1930s Hollywood actors became fashion lawmakers and Western standards began to prevail in the Soviet Union. Lviv was one of the most elegant cities at that time. One could buy fur, fabrics, lots of bags and accessories there.

Not found in Worldcat.

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