Great War Leaves Fashionable Imprint
June 21, 2018 by Rose Nemunaitis

Many Gather at Unveiling of Geauga’s Vintage Costume Exhibit

The Great War ended a century ago this year, but its impact on fashion left a lasting impression waiting to be viewed at a new exhibit presented by The Geauga Historical Society at Century Village Museum in Burton.

The Great War ended a century ago this year, but its impact on fashion left a lasting impression waiting to be viewed at a new exhibit presented by The Geauga Historical Society at Century Village Museum in Burton.

“World War I changed the employment status of women,” said Dixie Lee Davis, Cleveland-area fashion icon. “Prior to the War, women served as domestics, nurses, teachers and secretaries, but as the men went off to war, women were needed to fill positions previously staffed by men and needed to change their style of dress accordingly.”

The Geauga County Historical Society held a grand opening for its exhibit titled “Great War in Costume 1914 – 1920” June 16 inside the Law House with a program that featured Davis called “How WWI Changed Fashions Forever,” high tea and exhibit tours.

“The war drew to a close in 1918, but it had a lasting impact on fashion,” Davis said. ”The independence and freedom to work that women had gained during the war became the new standard in society despite the push by men to return to traditional gender roles when they returned from war.”

Some major trends in freeing women from the restrictions of the 19thcentury were well in motion by the beginning of the Great War in 1914, and by the end of the war in 1918, were transformed into clothing that suited the needs and lifestyle of the modern woman.

Visitors sauntered inside the 1817 Law House — an example of Greek Revival architecture built by craftsman-carpenter Merritt Nettleton on the southwest corner of Burton Square — which the Sun Oil Company donated in 1961.

Many of the costumes are donated by families in Geauga County, with two WWI uniforms of local interest. Also on loan from the Red Cross is a practical nurse uniform and from the Dittrick Museum of Medical History at Case Western Reserve University, a WWI nurse uniform.

The Textile and Costume Committee has been established for the purpose of preserving, storing and displaying the collections of the Geauga County Historical Society and developing educational opportunities regarding the textile and costume collections.

Carmen Kulgoske and Ann Thomas, co-chairs of the textile and costume committee, guided people through the displays.

“Showing beautiful and interesting costumes is a lovely visual way to bring history alive,” Thomas said. “A discussion of clothing style frequently leads to why and how those fashions came to and historical influences the wearer may have experienced.”

Chardon’s Betty Dauscher paused and smiled as she took in the yesteryear displays.

“It’s beautiful,” Dauscher said. “Tea was wonderful. It’s very, very lovely and informative.”

Kulgoske said women’s fashions were influenced by WWI before and during The Great War.

She added the Woman Suffrage Movement also was very important during this time, with women getting the right to vote in 1920.

“I love history and always try to attend the event if I can. I was a member of Century Village for years,” said Beverly Zupon, of Newbury Township, whose favorite dress was a taupe wool coat with mink collar. “I love the design and the detailed stitching on the back shoulders and hem. In fact, I have created this look on some of my vintage clothing.”

She added, “I have known Dixie for about 30 years and love to hear her speak.”
Davis began her long fashion career at Halle Bros. as an executive trainee. She remained there for 30 years until the store’s closing in 1982, serving the last 12 years as corporate fashion director. She served in leadership roles at Halle’s and Saks Fifth Avenue, where she continues as a consultant on call.

Davis said one of the first ways the war impacted fashion was the introduction of “ready to wear” uniforms for the military.

“Resources effected what women would wear due to the loss of materials,” Davis said. “This led to more streamline fashion. Trousers, short hair and generally less delineation between male and female dress led to many of the androgynous styles of today. Also, for the first time, fashion would not be determined by the whims of the wealthy. Instead, it revolved around the needs of the lower classes.”

Zupon said learning history and how it affected everyday living, like clothing, because of the war is helpful, as today many people are so far removed from war and many of its hardships, such as rationing.

The new display is free and open to the public on Fridays from noon to 3 p.m., June 22 to Oct. 14, 2018.