Monet Inspired Dress
This project was solely based off of Claude Monet’s impressionistic painting “Poppy Field in a Hollow Near Giverny”. In the dress, the skirt is covered in red fabric flowers emerging from the flowing green overlay skirt to represent the poppies and grass blowing in the wind. Green beading was added to the skirt between the flowers so the detailing would make it stand out against the simple lace fabric. The top of the ensemble is a light green with a few colored threads delicately running through the fabric adding more value and expressing the colors used in impressionism. The side of the top changes to a softer green showing the layers of the hills and the dark green straps represent the bushes scattered along the landscape. The bodice and skirt were made out of clothing found at a thrift store and the lace was hand dyed. Each flower and bead was individually placed.
“Poppy Field in a Hollow Near Giverny” was painted in 1885. The trends of the 19th century show in the full overlay skirt and the embroidering on the front and back of the bodice. Most women had buttons for their closers as well as hems forming a triangular shape at the bottom. This is replicated on the back of the bodice but left open for a more modern take.