Long white dress

Rochelle Brown · 09-09-2002, 01:24 PM

After looking at the work of many portrait artists it seems that the only appropriate thing to paint a little girl or young woman in is a relatively simple long white dress. It seems like a uniform and is a bit monotonous. I can understand not wanting to paint them in their play clothes.

Would it be without good taste to show these young, innocent creatures in say, a jewel colored velvet dress with a matching hat or even a bright pink dress with a fluffy skirt?

Chris Saper · 09-09-2002, 02:33 PM

As commonly painted as the long white dress is, it's still a classic look. In the past eleven years I have only met one little girl who really had a long white dress! (And I don't have any loaners!)

The vast majority of my clients prefer their children in play clothes. Perhaps it's part of the casual lifestyle out here in the west, or perhaps it's because I so often show work that is informal. When I help clients select clothing, I am primarily interested in color, neckline shape and type of fabric (material that moves with the underlying form, rather than fabric that is stiff or starchy or bulky). In any case, color seems to be a way of life (painting life, too).

I think that the selection, for example, of a jewel-toned dress, or party outfit is more a matter of preference than taste. Hats are great fun for young and old.

p.s. One of the most fun portraits I have done was a threesome of kids between 2-10 years of age, who loved to dress up. In costumes. Their mom dragged the huge chest of costumes into the yard, turned it out on the grass, and said "OK! Everyone get dressed up now!" We ended up with a pirate in a red waistcoat, Pocahantas, and a little 2-year old towhead in her Hawaiian outfit, complete with coconut-shell bra. Even though I had scads of really great, traditional photos, the parents absolutely wanted this remembrance of their children at this age. Most clients would not be comfortable moving this far afield of convention, but I can certainly attest to how much fun I had painting this piece.

p. p. s. That is not to say I wouldn't thoroughly love to paint more white dresses! Maybe I should go hunting in the resale shops.

Michael Fournier · 09-09-2002, 06:31 PM

I don't know? I seem to see a lot of variety here http://www.portraitartist.com/girlsindoors.htm and here
http://www.portraitartist.com/girlsoutdoors.htm

As for portraits of the past, Sargent painted many young women and girls in black dresses, as well. I am sure that there are a lot of paintings of girls in white dresses, but there are a lot of men in dark blue suits,too.

Maybe it is just what the girl had on? Perhaps the artist wanted to paint a white dress, since it can be beautiful when painted well.

Also many artists strive for a timeless beauty and some colored dresses are dictated a lot by the fashions of the time. How long does it take you to spot an 80's bridesmaid's dress?

Also there are other factors if you want to delve into human sociology. There is a virginal innocence associated with white. So the association of innocence and youthfulness with white could lead to a subconscious appeal of a girl in a white dress.

As for clothing in portraits in general, I must quote Everett Raymond Kinstler, since he already said it much better then I would.

Quote:

General Considerations
The reason the portrait has been commissioned and the place where it will hang largely determine the kind of dress required. If a portrait is going to hang in an office or boardroom, the attire should suit the occasion: more formal perhaps. An informal portrait, on the other hand, is more suited to a painting that will hang in a home.

On women's attire:
Because women's fashions can change so drastically, it is especially important to lean toward simplicity. There is less likelihood that a simple, classic style will change over the years then will a particular line that is in style for the season. You don't want your painting to look dated in five years. If the outfit is simple, the painting is not too affected by style.

In the end, it is up to you and your client's tastes as to the style of dress chosen for a portrait but, I think I have covered just about every angle on this subject.

Cynthia Daniel · 09-09-2002, 08:08 PM

I think the little girl in a white dress is especially a southern tradition.

Rochelle Brown · 09-09-2002, 11:38 PM

I feel that this southern tradition is very admirable although too monotonous. Red or green velvet can be very flattering and is classic. Although, who can argue with a revered tradition? It seems that today's clothing is too plain compared to the previous centuries. It would be nice to have gold embroidery to paint as well. The painting would be very attractive.

Cynthia Daniel · 09-10-2002, 03:25 AM

In my portrait manager experience, more portraits were commissioned in the summer months when children are out of school, but significantly fewer in the fall and winter when you'd be more likely to find velvet dresses.

Leslie Ficcaglia · 09-10-2002, 09:23 AM

I have never painted a little girl in a long white dress. When advising parents about clothes (both as a painter and much earlier, when I did child photography) I always suggest timeless, classic clothes which are fairly loose and drape well. Sundresses, pinafores, jumpers, or other shortsleeved skirted clothing for girls, and loose shirts and shorts for boys, are what I prefer. If I'm doing a whole figure I often paint them barefoot. I try to avoid clothes that are too fussy and that draw attention from the subject's face and form. At times I'll even change the color or minimize the pattern to make a more pleasing painting; when I've explained my reasoning no one has ever had a problem with that. Many of my photos sessions do occur in the summer, which accounts for the briefer clothing, but I would be just as happy to paint a child (or adult) in velvet. I have painted kids (waist up) in sweaters as well, but as suggested, I don't want the portrait to look dated. I also try for classic hairstyles and in the past have waited for a boy's hair to grow in from a too severe cut before taking the reference photos.

The other day I saw a highschool yearbook from 1975, when long hair for boys was the rage, and I was amazed at how dated and unsavory those with the more extreme styles appeared! Another argument for going for the classic look.

Chris Saper · 09-10-2002, 09:58 AM

I thought long hair on men was the classic look!

Leslie Ficcaglia · 09-10-2002, 12:35 PM

Chris, not THAT long hair! I suppose if you'd put them in a "Blue Boy" sort of outfit it might have worked, but with the wide lapel, polyester shirts they were wearing, uh uh. Maybe you had to see it to believe it.

Rochelle Brown · 09-10-2002, 01:27 PM

Well, men with long hair would probably end up in a different thread. But if you're going to give them long hair you might also give them a handle-bar mustache and a cowboy hat. Although that would definitely look dated, it wouldn't be the corporate look. I still think velvet is a good choice for a little girl's portrait, just in time for Christmas.