Corticelli Silk Pamphlet, circa 1923

I promised that I would, over time, show you some of the fascinating ephemera enclosed in Catherine DeVore's fashion and art portfolio from the 1920's... so today I showcase an advertising pamphlet put out by The Corticelli Silk Company in 1923.  This short, stapled booklet has full color pictures of the famous dancer Irene Castle wearing Corticelli Silk!

WHO WAS IRENE CASTLE?

Irene Castle was a fascinating lady... a paragon of class and respectability in the early Teens, who also ran nightclubs, introduced the bob, influenced fashion, acted in films, supported animal rights, and wrote books.  With her husband Vernon Castle, she is one of the founders of modern partner dancing.  

I wouldn't be surprised if Catherine DeVore kept this Corticelli Silks booklet because she was an Irene Castle fan... Check out the similarity of pose and fashion silhouette between an Irene Castle photo and one of Catherine DeVore's drawings:

Irene Castle (Mrs. Vernon Castle) in Ball Costume, from Woman as Decoration by Emily Burbank, New York, Dodd, Mead and Company, 1917.

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CORTICELLI'S "AD 375" BOOKLET

Each page had a picture on the top of Irene Castle bedecked in silk, with text below telling you about the dress she's wearing.  For your ease of reading, I have transcribed the text. 

Page 1 has a brief line of credits: "Copyright 1923, by The Corticelli Silk Company.  Ad 375.  Photos by Campbell Studios, N.Y."  If I understand US copyright law correctly, the booklet will enter the public domain next year (2019).  In the meantime, I'm posting these pictures and text under the Fair Use Doctrine, since this blog post is intended for education and historical research. 

Cover

Dress on the cover
This piquant dance frock by Francis with its tight-fitting bodice and bouffant skirt is another expression of the good taste in dress which has won for Irene Castle the title of "the best dressed woman in the world."  Taffeta?  Of course!  What else but Corticelli Service Taffeta could so well express the crisp lines of such a frock. 

In a season when draped effects dominate this frock is particularly in the mode.  Irene Castle chose to have it made of Corticelli Crepe Tremaine--a beautiful fabric which proves itself ideally suited to expressing soft, graceful lines.  The cape sleeves and the bodice embroidered in gold thread are individual touches which contribute toward making this frock the charming thing it is.

Another tight-fitting bodice and full skirt!  But this time instead of taffeta the wonderful new Corticelli Crepe Denta is used in this lovely afternoon frock which depends so much on the material of which it is made for its charm. 
Corticelli Crepe Denta is quite the newest of the famous Corticelli Silks--and one of the most beautiful!  Ask your favorite store to show you this wonderful new silk.  It may be had in the very newest colors as worn in New York and Paris.  It is 38 inches wide. 
If your favorite store cannot show you these and other Corticelli dress silks please write us.  The Corticelli Silk Company, Box 38, Florence Massachusetts. 

Printed silks and crepes attain a new loveliness.  This Corticelli Castle Crepe is in the new Fallow shade with an Egyptian printed design.  What a charming dress it makes--with the long sash, and fabric flowers about the neck and sleeves giving the needed touch of contrasting color!

The three-piece costume with pleated skirt and embroidered coat is promised a tremendous vogue this spring.  Irene Castle chose Corticelli Crepe Tremaine in tan with coat embroidered in tan, blue and red.  Corticelli Crepe Tremaine comes 39-40 inches wide in the desirable dress colors. 

The Egyptian influence is felt in this frock with the drapery caught in front at the girdle by an odd clasp.  The printed crepe kerchief knotted about the neck is quite the newest thing from Deauville.  Irene Castle chose to have this frock made of Coricelli Crepe Tremaine.

A charming summer frock of Corticelli Castle Crepe in one of the new patterns in Lanvin green and Temple Orange.  A useful dress trimmed with maribou which Irene Castle selected for her own wardrobe.  There are many attractive and exclusive Corticelli patterns to select from.  All are 39-40 inches wide. 

Back Cover

Irene Castle Model Coat of Corticelli Crepe Tremaine, lined with Corticelli Duvene--and trimmed with Lapin fur.
For every demand of fashion--whether it be for soft, beautiful crepes, crisp taffetas or the new printed silks--there is an appropriate Carticelli silk.  Among these are Corticelli Crepe Tremaine, Castle Crepe in new printed effects, Satin Canton, Crepe de Chine, Canton Crepe, and the new extra heavy weight Corticelli Georgette Crepe.  All of these new silks come in 39-40 inche width.