The Unusual Kimono Coat Of Roaring Twenties

Coat from the Roaring 20's, Made in France Medium: wool, silk

This extraordinary coat is made of ivory color wool, supplemented by cuffs and bottom hem of an artificial fur bands, is made inspired by oriental creations of Paul Poiret in the early 20th century. Poiret made significant innovations at the beginning of the 20th century. These were the coats made like kimono and instantly were called kimono coats.
It was in the very beginning of the second decade of the 20th century that an idea emerged about the use of the Far Eastern motifs in the Western fashion world. And just then, Poiret started using a bright color palette, or even soft pastel tones and floral ornament, accentuating coats with bright patterns. 
The kimono coat mentioned in this story brings a summer impression. In addition, it is a typical piece of clothing suitable for a social life during Roaring Twenties, which clearly reflects the spirit of the time when the Art Deco motifs flourished in the fashion and decorative arts in Europe and the United States.

The cut of this coat and its décor composition gives the impression of two inspirational sources - Art Deco with a straight cutting lines, highlighting the abstinence and richness of the coat texture, as well as an Orientalism, which is seen in the bands of the floral motifs. 
The hemlines of the coat and sleeves are decorated with brightly colored stylized flower bands. This is a testimony to the particular interest about the wide range of inspirational motifs of exoticism, everything unusual and the currents of avant-garde. Flavor of Japan is reflected in the floral and botanical patterns, which are further emphasized by the lower clasp of the coat with a single button in the sloping style. It is a typical kimono coat in the Roaring Twenties of the 20th century. Even though the designer has still remains unknown to this day, his connection with the most actual trends in Paris, and the influence of Paul Poiret, is evidenced by a tag that hits the inside of the coat, just below the collar. It says that the coat is made in France.

Source of images: 
​ www.whitakerauction.smugmug.com

Prototype Of The Kimono Coat 

​Eastern art and the aesthetics of traditional costumes became the main inspiration of the 20th century Western fashion world. Paul Poiret and Mariano Fortuny were the first ambassadors of the Far East in the Western fashion scene. The conservative society, which was still accustomed to think of the 19th-century aesthetic categories, was stirred up and shocked at the same time by the two designers who brought the motifs of the Japonisme in fabrics and patterns.  
Paul Poiret became famous for a controversial kimono coat and its alike - chemise dress or shirt dress, that was intended to be worn without a corset. It  featured a slender silhouette line without using an artificial means. Thus, the costume design created by Paul Poiret became a finest example of exotic tendencies of that time.

Paul Poiret. Japanese style gown "Sorbet", 1912 Victoria & Albert Museum, London Image source: Google Search

The Ballets Russes, the background of Orientalism and African art, as interpreted by the Cubist artists, also became the strongest influences in the transformations of the 20th century fashion. One of his new inventions, Poiret called "kimono coat". It had straight, simple cut lines that were typical of East Asian traditional costumes. For Poiret and his contemporaries, "kimono coat" was the result of a dual concept. It had no direct link with the Japanese traditional costume and only the typical manifestations of this culture. No one at that time yet distinguished China, Japan or simply East Asian motives. In the early 20th century fashion, it usually reflected the synthesis of various oriental sources. 

Paul Poiret. An Early Kimono Coat, 1911 Location: Musee Galliera de la Mode da Ville de Paris Image Source: Google Search

The kimono coat (in the image above) made by Paul Poiret is one of the earliest coats in this style. Such a coat design may indicate a layer of outer coat of different thickness, which, depending on the applied material, trim and decorative elements, can be worn on solemn occasions. For example, the kimono coat may turn into an opera coat. Otherwise, the kimono coat can be thoroughly insulated and lined or trimmed with fur. Moreover, it does not lose its seemingly frivolous decorativity, because it is vivid, adorned with flower patterns and glitters... And it is an oriental kimono coat with only one button as the lowered fastener. Sometimes decorations and cut of the kimono coat may appear also in kimono-style dresses intended for wearing during the summer season.
Paul Poiret and his contemporary Mariano Fortuny continued experimenting with various kimono coat patterns, until the 20's both artists created a mini-length coat (for that time) that was so much in line with the Art Deco trends. And just that Roaring Twenties masterpiece was created in the workshop of the unknown author - unusual kimono coat with an elaborate floral ornament. 

You May Also Like: