DOI: 10.25136/2409-8744.2019.2.29113

Abstract: The focus of attention in this research is the contribution of the representatives of Russian émigré to the development fashion industry in France during 1920’s – 1940’s. Despite the increasing public interest towards the history of white émigré of the “first post-revolutionary wave” overall, as well as the activity of its representatives with regards to fashion industry in particular, this problematic remains insufficiently studied within historiography. Using the synthesis of macro- and micro-approaches towards studying history, the author analyzes the impact of the key political, economic, and social processes of this period upon fashion industry, as well as modeling. Moreover, the author applies the comparative and systemic methods of historical analysis, which on the example of careers of the leading immigrant models, allowed determining the role of Russian émigrés in the French modeling industry throughout 1920’s, 1930’s and 1940’s. The conducted research reveals interconnection between the changes in modeling business and the activity of Russian émigrés. It is concluded that the Russian models were highly demanded among the top French Fashion Houses, and certainly exerted significant influence on the establishment of aesthetic ideals of the fashion world of 1920’s – 1940’s.

DOI: 10.25136/2409-8744.2018.6.28186

Abstract: The goal of this article is to determine the level of impact of the emigrant magazine “Illustrated Russia” (1924-1939) for the history of development of the world fashion industry of 1920’s – 1930’s. The author analyzes a wide range of publication from the “Illustrated Russia” dedicated to the fashion theme (articles on the male and female fashion with images; advices on selecting wardrobe, hairstyle and makeup; advertisements of clothes and accessories manufactures) through identification of correlation between the fashionable trends and social processes of that period. Particular emphasis is made on the activity of the Russian emigrants in fashion industry of the 1920’s – 1930’s and their role in development of the aesthetics of fashion in the XX century. The author comes to a conclusion that the materials of the emigrant magazine “Illustrated Russia” help restoring the retrospective picture of evolution of the global fashion industry in the 1920’s – 1930’s and contribute to studying the anthropology of fashion of the Russian diaspora of the early XX century.