White Stole from the Estate of Emilie Flöge, c. 1910

Both the textile designs of Emilie Flöge (1874–1952) and the fabrics of the Wiener Werkstätte are known for the high quality and sophistication of their craftsmanship as well as their self-designed patterns. The White Stole from around 1910 presents a stylistic contrast to the fabrics Flöge frequently used and stands out for its simplicity. The draping fabric in off-white evokes a lightness that perfectly emphasizes Flöge’s style. By promoting reform dresses in Vienna, she was advocating a corset-free society. Efforts to reform women’s clothing had emerged in the US in the mid-19th century and were later exported to England. New designs enabled women to move more freely and to participate more actively in sports and working life. The choice not to wear a corset was often linked to health aspects as well as emancipatory reasons.

AT, 2023