The Countess of Morannes. An Instant of Fashion

An Instant of Fashion
Was it the effect of the spirit of Pierre Corneille and the patriotic fling that swept over the souls of all French ladies a few weeks ago and had such a profound impact on fashion?
Be that as it may, it seems the passion for the exotic is saying its goodbye to dresses.
Léon Bakst’s amazing drawings for Scheherazade are simply beautiful now; however, they no longer serve as models for our dresses.
The fretful grace of One Thousand and One Nights will remain for some time, but only in the fragile hackle of our hats and in some jewel-decorated turbans… and no more.
More logic in the shape, more sense in the color: this is what this moment is all about.
At the very start of the season, many of us went to the Louvre, a museum catering for Englishmen and Americans, paused for a minute next to the perfectly tailored delicate attire of Watteau’s characters, and did not find them worthy of sneer. I believe the future has some huge surprises in store for us!
For the time being, we all have costumes of velvet that will be very highly prized this winter. For the cold season, we will obviously opt for fluffy wool and plush to go with it, alongside cozy ratteen coats, and voluminous double-breasted vigogne wool coats.
Furs combine perfectly with these fabrics; one of them has already been declared to be chic — mole fur… Bands of mole skin can form a collar or a decoration, they can also belt a skirt; they can also be used for an entire costume that will naturally come quite expensive.
Buttons of crystal will be featured on virtually all of our clothes. Their facets will catch and reflect the remaining rare sunbeams and particles of the blue sky that we cherish so much, because it is such an infrequent guest here now!
Comtesse de Morannes