Bolshevik ideology opposed Western fashion consumption as an intrinsically capitalist practice. Western fashion emphasized both economic status and gender differences under a system that sought to de-emphasize both.
This film is the history of the first “little black dress” in the Soviet Union.
True fashion designs were only available to the most privileged members of the intelligentsia, who ultimately preferred Western fashion to the production clothing produced in the factories. A certain amount of power was needed to wear such a dress.
During the first years after the October Revolution of 1917, which destroyed the Tsarist regime and led to the creation of the Soviet Union, many attempts to create Soviet fashion were undertaken. However, no one had a clear image of how a true communist should look. Attempts to create so-called clothes for workers did not work out. Thus fashion was proclaimed illegal from the communist tribunes. The ideology said that if you dress up, it means you work less than others. And not enough working makes you a sponger.
The now-natural desire to look good and possess beautiful things was then “studied” at the Communist Union of Youth and Communist Party of the Soviet Union meetings, and could cost one a career or even freedom. Women of fashion of those years faced lots of ridiculous charges – contraband, speculation and even marauding.
This film is the history of the first “little black dress” in the Soviet Union.
True fashion designs were only available to the most privileged members of the intelligentsia, who ultimately preferred Western fashion to the production clothing produced in the factories. A certain amount of power was needed to wear such a dress.
During the first years after the October Revolution of 1917, which destroyed the Tsarist regime and led to the creation of the Soviet Union, many attempts to create Soviet fashion were undertaken. However, no one had a clear image of how a true communist should look. Attempts to create so-called clothes for workers did not work out. Thus fashion was proclaimed illegal from the communist tribunes. The ideology said that if you dress up, it means you work less than others. And not enough working makes you a sponger.
The now-natural desire to look good and possess beautiful things was then “studied” at the Communist Union of Youth and Communist Party of the Soviet Union meetings, and could cost one a career or even freedom. Women of fashion of those years faced lots of ridiculous charges – contraband, speculation and even marauding.
