The Colour of Clothes

This book explores the impact of the autochrome process on photography and fashion, showcasing the transition from Edwardian styles to the vibrant 1920s.

The story of photography’s first practical color process intertwines with the evolution of fashion from the Edwardian era to the liberated spirit of the 1920s. This narrative is vividly captured in the book The Colour of Clothes, which highlights the transformative impact of the autochrome process invented by the Lumière brothers. Their innovation not only revolutionized photography but also documented the shift in fashion from the structured elegance of the Edwardian period to the more fluid and expressive styles of the following decade.

In The Colour of Clothes, the beauty of the autochrome is celebrated through approximately 370 stunning images. Renowned couturiers such as Fortuny, Poiret, Doucet, Vionnet, Lucile, Chanel, and Lanvin embraced this new technique, showcasing their exquisite designs in vibrant detail. The book also includes glimpses from the Salon du Goût Français, an exhibition that highlighted luxury items, as well as Albert Kahn’s Archives de la Planète, which aimed to capture the diverse cultures of the world through autochromes.

The photographers featured in this work range from famous names like Lartigue, Stieglitz, and Steichen to lesser-known talents, many of whom are women who approached the autochrome process with creativity and flair. Regardless of their recognition, they played a crucial role in immortalizing a pivotal moment in photography, allowing the world of fashion to be seen in its true colors.