Quiet Revolution: Fashion Sketches of the 1950's by Barb Bartels

Barb Bartels began studying fashion design at Parsons School of Design in New York at eighteen, where she developed her skills in garment design, fashion illustration, and pattern making during a transformative era in American fashion. There she received critiques and mentorship from pioneering designer Claire McCardell, whose innovative approach emphasized comfort, movement, simplicity, and clothing designed for the realities of women’s lives. The watercolor sketches featured in Quiet Revolution were created during Barb’s years at Parsons and reflect the influence of that remarkable period. Their graceful lines and expressive silhouettes capture a moment when American fashion embraced elegance through simplicity and ease. After completing her second year at Parsons, Barb chose to marry and raise a family before returning to the fashion industry in the 1970s. She designed and created patterns for Esprit and Gunne Sax before building a successful freelance career in design and pattern making in Los Angeles. These sketches represent both the beginning of Barb’s creative journey and a pivotal moment in fashion history. They reflect the spirit of a quiet revolution—one that reimagined how women dressed with grace, comfort, confidence, and freedom—and stand as a lasting record of her artistic vision and lifelong love of design.

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