In 1909, illustrator Charles Dana Gibson held a contest to find the living embodiment of his iconic Gibson Girl. He chose Belgian born Camille Clifford, who won the $2,000 prize (more than $65k today) for perfectly representing the modern, independent woman of the early 20th century. ✨ This is Fashion Footnotes, where we uncover the stories behind the history of fashion. #FashionFootnotes #GibsonGirl #CamilleClifford #CharlesDanaGibson #1900sFashion #VintageStyle #FashionHistory #IconicWomen | F

Before WWI, the Gibson Girl defined modern femininity, her hair piled high, and an “S”-shaped silhouette. Inspired by Charles Dana Gibson’s drawings and muses like Irene Gibson and Evelyn Nesbit, she embodied freedom and pushed gender norms. #GibsonGirl #FashionHistory #GildedAge #EvelynNesbit #FashionConservatory #FashionIllustration | Fashion Conservatory