Young French Girl With a Rose

Pre-World War I Children’s Fashion in Costumes Parisiens

This authentic 1914 hand-colored pochoir print from the prestigious French fashion journal Costumes Parisiens captures the evolution of children’s historical attire. The antique illustration showcases a young girl in a stylized walking pose, reflecting the modern shift toward simpler and more functional childrenswear just before World War I. These avant-garde Parisian plates are highly valued by historians for documenting the transition from restrictive Victorian layers to early 20th-century artistic movements like Art Deco.

Early 20th-Century Parisian Robe de Fillette Design

The vintage French typography explicitly highlights the garment as a Robe de fillette (little girl’s dress) tailored for affluent families. The young girl models a pale blue tunic-style dress with clean geometric lines, defined dark trim, and a high-waisted empire silhouette. This elegant period ensemble is completed by a matching white headband over bobbed blonde hair, classic Mary Jane shoes, and a large black feathered dress hat carried by its structural ribbons.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges