#delphos

N Washington Street, Delphos, Ohio.

📷 The Sacred Isle of Delphos, Greece.

Mariano Fortuny y Madrazo (1871-1949) is best remembered for two things: vibrantly patterned silks and velvets, and the Delphos gown, inspired by ancient Greek chitons (themselves imported from Asia Minor), which were made from a single rectangular panel of linen or silk sewn into a tube, the top edge fastened with brooches down the length of the arms, and belted to fit to the body. The Neoclassical revival had already begun in the decorative arts by 1907, when Fortuny developed the Delphos, and high fashion was beginning to show its influence as well – but this was much more extreme than anything else in existence at the time. Not only was it originally intended to be worn without a corset at home (corsetless teagowns had been worn for some time already), there was absolutely nothing about its design that hid that fact. The straight, clinging line would soon become mainstream fashion, but when the Delphos dress was first designed it was a radical departure.

look for the name PHILOMELA (requested by @antisisyphus) | { hair and holly lueders' caryatid dress } editorial photo by ellen von unwerth in vogue may 1994, mariano fortuny "delphos" bronze plisse gown w/ venetian glass beads along neckline (c. 191o's), joanne burke "wilted lady" large golden hoop earrings, alkemia "carmen 7" perfume (spiced pear, lychee fruit, praline, vanilla, magnolia, and amber), cult gaia "rene" metallic gold leather sandals

Maison Art Déco, Années 1930 à Delphos, Ohio, USA. Architecte inconnu. (Source photos façades archi capital). - source Sally Jo.

Delphos gown by Fortuny, 1930, Italy.

Museo del Traje-CIPE, CE111882

Medium: Silk, venetian glass beads.