Architectural Designing of Woman’s Costume.
Seattle: Designed and Planned by the Elshin Studios, Printed by the Farwest Lithograph & Printing Co., 1927. First edition. This fashion design manual takes a scientific approach to style, construction, and patterning. In the introduction, Franc Lewis writes, “My advanced method of cutting architectural patterns for woman’s costume is based upon the employment of mathematical ratios in the measurements of the human body obtained through the science of geometry.” The manual also discusses color theory and fine art, and urges each woman to use her artistic skills to “execute her creative ideas of beauty and loveliness…to master the architectural structure of the thing she is going to build.”. With eleven fashion diagrams (most full-page, including one folding plate) and nine text illustrations. With a lengthy ink inscription by the author to a friend (Mrs. Monroe) to front flyleaf. Some toning to endpapers. Otherwise, a fine copy of a scarce work, in the near fine original dust jacket. Publisher’s quarter gray-blue cloth over brown boards with brown printed paper label. With a lengthy ink inscription by the author to a friend (Mrs. Monroe) to front flyleaf. Octavo. 107 pp. Item #17545
The inscription to Mrs. Monroe reads, “I am so happy to share this precious idea with you – your experience, which to some might be a scar, has softened your spirit of feeling for the finer things – to such a degree that I know yours must be a ‘voice of tears’ that means so much to every lover of art. Just one thing can develop this feeling – when the mortal hopes are crushed and automatically adjust to the ‘real.’ Lovingly, Franc Lewis.”.
We could not locate any information on Franc Lewis in the sources available to us, including dates. This appears to be his only published book. OCLC records only four copies: Columbia, Library of Congress, Seattle Public Library, and the University of Washington.
Price: $250.00