The Gazette du Bon Ton and the 1915 War Issue: Aligning Art and Commerce Through Fashion Illustration

TL;DRAbstract

Amid news of men in the trenches of the First World War, and encroaching German soldiers, a group of couturiers, fashion illustrators, and writers huddled together at the Studium’s press in Paris to create the 1915 special edition of La Gazette du Bon Ton. Published in both French and English, and funded by Condé Nast, these artists sought to bring news of the latest fashions from Paris to the United States, where American socialites had been eagerly awaiting news of what was being worn in Paris since the war began. Both the Parisian publishers and the American market had something to gain by maintaining Paris’ hold as the crown of the international fashion market: Paris kept its cash cow since Americans, who were not yet involved in the conflict, had more money to spend on fashion and luxury than Europeans; Americans felt a sense of pride by supporting France in the war effort and wearing the so-called patriotic dress of the ‘war crinoline.’ \nThe new ‘war crinoline’ style was exceedi

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