Ann Rutherford’s Spring Styles 1941 , 1941
Photograph

Hollywood played an important role in shaping the fashion sensitivity of Chinese Canadian women who came of age in the 1930s and 1940s. Movies brought the glamour of many actors and actresses into every small town across North America, spreading urban trends, urban clothes, and urban lifestyles. Joan Crawford forwarded the flapper image to the American public, as women across the country bought a similar dress to the one she wore in the film Letty Lynton. The oversized, ruffled dress was reproduced at all price ranges. Besides, women viewed Greta Garbo’s natural beauty as the ideal of femininity and coloured their hair blonde to look like Jean Harlow. This photograph shows actress Ann Rutherford’s dressmaker suit with an upstanding collar, matched to a cashmere sweater. On the right is Rutherford’s silk suit with contrasting stripes, paired with a high-neck crepe blouse. Lillian Sam’s selection of suits is similar to the taste of Rutherford.

Exhibited by:

Violet Wolfe

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