Pantagraph

Margaret Thomas Davis drew on past eras, art deco for fashion illustrations

A.Smith33 min ago

The McLean County Museum of History works hard to collect, preserve and document the stories of the people who have contributed to and had an impact on McLean County history. This element of the museum's mission is supported by the generosity of many individuals who donate items to its ever-growing collection.

A great example of this can be seen through the Margaret Thomas Davis Collection, which contains 55 personal illustrations of dresses that have been inspired by various decades throughout history .

The collection features stylistic concepts dating back as early as 1000 AD, pieces influenced by Davis' experience in the 1920s, as well as her own predictions of what fashion would look like in the coming decades (1940s and 1950s). Each illustration is made from a combination of watercolor paint and colored pencil and thoroughly captures the vision behind each of her designs.

Through her collection, one can expect to see historically inspired dresses that represent a culmination of each decade's most prominent trends in women's fashion. Along with the garments, Davis also illustrated accessories that would have been worn with the dresses: hats, gloves, scarves, and jewelry.

Small notes have been left on almost all the sketches, including the decade of influence, as well as the types of textiles and materials that would be used in the creation of each piece.

Davis was born on Nov. 23, 1902, in Bloomington. Her early life in this Midwestern town likely influenced her outlook and interests, but it was her later education that set her on the path toward becoming an illustrator and fashion designer.

Davis attended the Boston School of Art, now known as Boston University's College of Fine Arts, where she honed her skills and developed her passion for dress design.

Luckily for Davis, her college career paralleled one of the most prolific eras for female fashion designers. The interwar period came to be known as the art deco era and was characterized by names such as Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel , who remains highly regarded in the modern world of fashion.

While the 1920s was not the first decade to see the emergence of prominent female designers, the interwar period was a golden age for the industry. More so, the influence of prominent women throughout the era defies the notions that women were simply meant to reinforce the domestic roles they had been fulfilling years prior.

While the 1920s brought on some unique trends in fashion, the Margaret Davis Collection showcases the intermingling of history and fashion design.

Following her education, she worked as an illustrator for The Pantagraph until her marriage to George P. Davis in 1928. Although Davis stepped away from her professional career after marriage, her love for fashion never waned. Throughout her life, she continued to draw, leaving behind an impressive body of work that remains a testament to her dedication to the craft.

Davis's illustrations offer more than just a glimpse into the trends of earlier eras; they reveal a deep connection to the history and culture of fashion. Through her collection, viewers can trace the major shifts in women's fashion over the centuries.

The garments depicted range from the simple and utilitarian to the ornate and extravagant, illustrating how fashion has often reflected broader societal changes. For instance, the influence of the 1920s on her designs is evident in the sleek, straight lines and minimalistic details that she favored and characterized the flapper style that dominated the decade.

Yet, in other illustrations, Davis looked further back in time, capturing the luxurious fabrics and voluminous shapes that characterized earlier periods in fashion history.

While her work spans centuries of fashion, it also provides a personal narrative of Davis' life and creativity. Each sketch reflects her deep love for dress design, a passion that remained with her until her final days.

Davis passed away on June 8, 1996, and is buried alongside her husband at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery in Bloomington . Though her career as an illustrator may have been cut short, her legacy endures through the collection she left behind.

The Margaret Thomas Davis Collection serves as a bridge between the past and present, inviting viewers to explore the rich history of fashion while also appreciating the personal contributions of a woman whose passion for design continued throughout her life.

Davis's sketches remain in the museum's permanent collection and have recently been added to the Online Object Database. To view these sketches, visit the museum's website at mchistory.org/research .

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